There's an old adage about the decision-making process that involves a donkey and a dozen bales of hay. Faced with so many attractive choices, the poor donkey starves to death because he can't decide which bale to eat first.
"America's Got Talent" fans must be feeling the same way after watching the Season 7 finale. When voting for a winner, it's easy to see how some viewers may remain undecided at home. There were plenty of backstage "up close and personal" moments with the six finalists and their families, as well.
Still, one act will walk away with the million-dollar payout. Here's how the Top 6 should finish up:
1) William Close and the Earth Harp Collective: A favorite of the judges, Close refines his act for each performance. Judge Howard Stern seemed convinced of the performer's victory. "This is a million-dollar win for you. You're a contender. You're in it," he said. Stern's endorsement should put Close over the top.
2) Comedian Tom Cotter: Revealing a die with topics on all six sides, Cotter had host Nick Cannon roll for a topic. Launching into a rapid-fire routine on "Poor Choices," Cotter started slowly but picked up steam as the 90 seconds ticked down ("'Sleeping Beauty' -- remember that story? The girl passes out, and the guy starts kissing her. That's illegal, ladies and gentlemen.")
3) David Garibaldi and his CMYKs: Though Stern was critical of his performance in the semifinals, the radio host said Garibaldi's painting of Einstein was outstanding. "This is a piece of art that I would hang in my home," he said.
4) Joe Castillo: The sand artist stepped it up with his version of the toy that uses metal shavings and a magnetic wand to create new faces. Accompanied by a live rock version of "Flight of the Bumblebee," Castillo turned a sand painting of Nick Cannon into each of the judges, morphing his painting from Mandel to Osbourne to Stern. "I think that looks like '80s Howard Stern," the radio host said.
5) The Untouchables: These energetic young dancers performed quite well during the finals, but the group may have peaked. "I'm going to be totally honest with you. I think you are fantastic. I think you are great, but I don't know if I loved this routine as much as I loved the last one," Mandel admitted.
6) Olate Dogs: Richard and Nicholas Olate have done amazing things with their trained canines, but like the Untouchables, audiences may have seen the best of what they can do. The father and son brought a new performer, a dog named Oso (Spanish for "bear"), to the finals, but their act still felt familiar -- great, but still familiar.
The two-hour Season 7 winner of "America's Got Talent" will be revealed in a two-hour grande finale on 09/13 at 8 PM EST.
