(C-Note: some of the acts that you are
about to read involve real danger in front of a live television audience. They were
designed, practiced, and supervised by professionals, taking the
contestants' safety into full account. They are extremely dangerous and
should NEVER be attempted anywhere, by anyone, at any time.)
It's a long way to go
from the street to the stage on America's Got Talent.
Who has what it takes to survive the crowd?
Taking the long journey first is Emily
West, a singer/songwriter from Nashville. She'll be singing "Sea of
Love" with a little bit of Patsy Cline flavor if Patsy was Marilyn
Monroe. She receives a standing O from the two male judges, who call him
"an original" and "the real deal". Mel says she looks like Old
Hollywood. She gets four yeses.
Joining her: Duo Trapeze, Carly Jo
Jackson (singer), and Orlene (table juggler)
Johana, Daniel, and Nicole are
collectively known as Baila Conmigo, who are, of course, dancers.
They've never seen Colombian salsa dancing in the US before. They hope
to be the first. They also have a secret weapon that Johana is calling
"a surprise". The surprising... seems to be more dancers. In this case,
more means better. Mel's never seen salsa done like that. Howie thought
it was "salsa on fast forward". It was all in sync, and so is the vote.
Four more yeses.
From Jersey we head to LA and a tour of
Howie's star on the Walk of Fame... Okay, that was lame. Here we go with
Rachel Butera, an impressionist from New Jersey. Howard recuses himself,
because she's been on his radio show. She does Wanda Sykes, Rosie
O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, and Joan Rivers... and all of them are
spot-on. Everyone enjoyed hearing her. She sweeps the voting panel.
Next up, a group of tech experts known
collectively as Legaci. They're... singing. Good, because they're
rubbish at speaking. They harmonize on J5's "Who's Loving You". It
becomes a bit cacophonous, but leave it to a little bit of stage magic
to get them through. Howard says that the four most boring people in the
world open their mouths and were god-like. Four more yeses.
Mat Franco wanted to turn a childhood
with a magic kit to a stint on this stage. His biggest fan: his
grandmother. He's going to use his magic and a standard deck of cards to
tell a story about his time on AGT. Mel is not a fan of card tricks, but
she loved the presentation. Four yeses.
Paul Ieti (soldier in the US Army;
Savannah, GA by way of American Samoa) grew up singing in the church,
and music means a lot to him, especially during deployments. He sings
"Stay" by Rihanna... to a standing ovation. After Mel gives him a big
hug... and Heidi gives him one... and Howard gives him one... and Howie
restrains from one.. the whole touching thing. It's a sweep!
Time to kick off the second half with
Christian Stoinev, a fifth-generation circus performer who can do with
his hands what most of us can do with our feet. If he looks familiar, he
should. He was on season 2. Since then, he's been to college.
He'll try for the headlining show in Vegas again by balancing on a mixer
and a bottle of champagne. And then one single pommel. And then two.
Howard says that he's representing his entire generations before him. He
sweeps the panel.
Joining them, Evgeny (slack wire), Bad
Boys of Ballet, and Kieran & Finian Makepeace (band).
We have a lot of singers next, but the
one that will take the stage first is Grace Ann Gregorio (all of 11
years old!), who gets a sweep on her operatic tone of "Think of Me".
What about Maggie Lane? From Columbus, she too is an operatic singer who
is also a personal trainer. And she shows her dedication to her art...
by taking her dress off. And there's one guy in the audience who's
recording it on his phone. All things aside, she's got a real pure tone
to her. Howie says she's got perfect pitch.... Mel says she's got a
beautiful body. Howard says she's a good singer, but missed the
connection to the song when she took her dress off. She almost blew the
yes from Howard, but got three more besides.
We're heading back to Madison Square
Garden with Dr. Benji McAllister, a surgeon, barber & cosmetologist by
day, a keyboardist by night. He says he's a $10 million act. He performs
"Dancing in the Streets". And he gets... four Xes.
Elena Zoubareva is another type of
doctor, a magical voice doctor. With the help of a few doctors from
Harvard, she developed her own method, and her talent... is going to be
teaching Howard how to sing. This... (Mel buzz) doesn't end well.
A lot of younguns have been getting
through to the next round. Will Josh Orlian (12-year-old from White
Plains, NY) join them? He's a stand-up comedian who's never performed in
front of an audience before. He's a bit of a raunch for a 12-year-old,
not the sweet innocent Jewish ginger he looks like. But everyone loves
him, and he's through... and he has material for his bar mitzvah in
September.
And we're closing up shop tonight with
Laura Dasi, a 43-year-old aerialist from San Diego. She's been doing
this for three years. Six years ago, she was diagnosed with alopecia.
She started taking classes in the aerial arts and is starting to feel a
little beautiful, even with wigs on. She has phenomenal physical
strength on her. All of the judges give her a pass, not wanting this to
end.
But alas, it must. But we'll be back on
Sunday with a special edition so full of talent... Tuesday couldn't hold
it.
To see tonight's episode in its entirety,
or to apply to be a contestant on the next season, go to
www.nbc.com/gottalent.
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