Fans of "America's Got Talent" understand that there are episodes that will send them into an absolute frenzy of disgust simply because of the sheer insanity you just witnessed on your TV screen. Then, there are those magical episodes, like the one on July 11, where the planets align, the judges and America get it right, and you are truly satisfied. .
The "T's" have it
The dynamic "AGT" trio of talent (Tim, Turf, and Tom) were fighting to stay in the competition, and for a few seconds, when singer/musician Tim Hockenberry and street dancer Turf were called to the stage together, you held your breath. How could two of the most consistent performers be there at the same time? You mean one of them was going home? Not a chance.
When Nick Cannon announced that they were both moving on to the semi-finals, it just felt right. They earned this one. When a humble Tim said "I really thought it was over for me," you figured he had to be joking. Seriously? He's been the number one favorite since the auditions.
Later on in the show, another "T" man, Tom Cotter, the gifted comic with razor sharp timing and delivery, was told he too would be sticking around for a while. He's paid his dues, he's good and if he can keep the funny flying in the coming weeks, he should easily make it all the way to the end.
Nice tacky wig and mustache, Mandel!
A lot of the results shows can be quite dull, but this one was surprisingly well-paced and fairly entertaining. In addition to the announcements of "who stays?/who goes?," there was a cute, pre-recorded bit from Howie Mandel that had him donning a tacky mustache and wig, and pretending to be the front desk clerk at the hotel where the contestants stayed. Howie had fun with the unsuspecting "guests," and it was pretty amusing.
Other highlights included a strong performance from Gavin DeGraw and a stunning display of artistry and acrobatics from the New York show Traces.
Living the dream
With only one slot left, Ben Blaque, Donovan and Rebecca, and 14-year-old singer Danielle Stallings took the stage. For the final position, it was the judges who would decide their fate. And this time, they nailed it! The graceful and sensual duo of Donovan and Rebecca will be moving forward and all is normal with the world. "One of my dreams was to perform live for this county, and I met that dream," said Donovan.
Overall, it was a great night for fans, judges, and of course, the four diverse and talented performers who made it through to the next round. It's emotional and enriching when people who deserve it actually get rewarded, and it sure adds a touch more credibility to the producers of "AGT."
