Episode 24.6 - It Happened in Cleveland
July 12

Gordon: Does Zero Kazama come out with a whistle and black and white striped shirt?
Chico: YES. I approved of that.
Gordon: (Whistle) Silence!
Chico: Welcome back to WLTI, smart people talking about smart game shows... smartly.
Gordon: Now who's up for a really big board?
Chico: I am! I put it together this morning... How do you like it?
Gordon: It's nice. I like the paper-mache and flower embroidery.
Chico: Yeah, well it needed color. Okay, you know how this works. We've grouped the talents into three subjects. The singers... the dancers... and the forbidden others. You know why they're forbidden? NO MUSIC. =p That's a clear violation of Gordon Law #1.
Gordon: You have no singer? You have no chance.
Chico: Even Terry Fator was a singer... sometimes.
Gordon: So we're pretty much eliminating 75% of the acts almost immediately. So let's go over those first.

Gordon: There's only 1 group here that's a finals lock. Start us off, Chico.
Chico: Will do. First up...

Harmonica Pierre (harmonica player)

Gordon: That's NOT the finals lock. out in the first round.
Chico: Yep. For the record, it's out in the first, out in the semis, top 12, top 6, top 3, winner.

Sally Cohn - Portland, Oregon (Hand Whistler)

Chico: Are you freaking kidding me? Get her outta here.
Gordon: She's whistling in the wind. Out in the first round

Chipps Cooney - Edgewater, New Jersey (Magician)

Chico: How do magicians historically do?
Gordon: I liked him when he auditioned in NYC. I don't think America will get him. Out in the first round.
Chico: They get past the first round... and no further. Expect history to repeat here.
Gordon: He's more a comedian than a magician. I don't think America will get him and I think Piers X's him.

Nick Pike (juggler)

Gordon: Doesn't do it for me. Out in the first round.
Chico: Speaking of Piers Xing him.

Murray - Las Vegas, Nevada (Magician)

Chico: Umm.... at laest Chipps was funny. Out in the first.
Gordon: There's your magician that could have a nice run. I'll say second round.
Chico: So we're playing dueling magicians. This ought to be fun. Next...

Doogie Horner - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Comedian)

Gordon: They let Neil Patrick Harris advance?
Chico: They let Neil Patrick Harris host Jeopardy!, why not? Heh. Seriously. He's going to have Howie's backing. That'll get him into the round of 24.
Gordon: I think this Neil Patrick Harris gets dusted. I don't think he's funny. Out in the first round.

Ronith - Los Angeles, California (Comedic Impressions)

Chico: He's no Pete Peterkin. Out in the first.
Gordon: Ummm...How did he make the Top 48? Out in the first.

Airpocalypse - Seattle, Washington (Air Guitar Band)

Chico: Hmm... You know what, I'm going to go top 12 here. I mean, it's just crazy enough.
Gordon: ...WHAT? NO, no, a thousand times no. Out in the 1st round.
Chico: It's musical... but at the same time, I needed a throwaway pick.
Gordon: I agree. You can throw them away.
Chico: Right. Next...

Antonio Restivo - Las Vegas, Nevada (Fire Performer)

Chico: Will. Get. Old. Fast. Out in the first.
Gordon: America likes dangerous acts. If he can mix it up, he can get to Round 2, and I think he will.
Chico: I got danger here...

ArcAttack (performing artists)

Chico: Guitars... and lightning. Fire is six of one, but lightning... That's round 2 material.
Gordon: They are pretty amazing and as long as they keep it fresh, a serious threat to win the whole thing. Top 3.
Chico: It's going to be hard, but if they keep the repertoire fresh, they may surprise. Next...

Jeremy Vanschoonhoven (stunt biker)

Gordon: I think he can at least drive through the second round.
Chico: So can I.
Gordon: I thinkk it ends there though.
Chico: But he has an uphill ramp to shoot. He's going to have to nail a lot of trick.
Gordon: Which could include stunts that they wouldn't be able to pull in the studio.

Kung Fu Heroes - Costa Mesa, California (Martial Artists)

Chico: They could karate kick a few of the dancing groups. If they do it enough, they may sneak into the round of 12 (hey, if Acrodunk did it).
Gordon: They do have a following of people (Sideswipe got to the finals a few seasons ago). I think they can do the same, but I'll put them in the second round.

Maricar - Rialto, California (Artist)

Chico: Did she do the painting of herself on three different panes?
Gordon: Yes. I think she can surprise in a glut of singing and dancing. Second Round.
Chico: Ah. Cool. Hope she has something for the second act, otherwise it's hello, goodbye.

The Strong Man - Pesotum, Illinois (Strength Competitor)

Chico: Umm... see above comment. Better get something different or else it's hello, goodbye.
Gordon: I don't think he sees a second act. Out in Act 1. Next up...

Gordon: They are pretty. They fly around your screen. They have no chance, but hey, let's talk about them.
Chico: Actually, they have a better chance than the people we talked about. :-)

Anna & Patryk

Gordon: They don't have a chance. Out in the first round.

AscenDance.

Chico: I think Anna & Patryk MAY squeak out of the first... AscenDance DEFINITELY won't.
Gordon: Let me tell you about Anna and Patryck.
Chico: Tell me about the kiddies.
Gordon: You saw their Day #2 NYC Auditions.
Chico: Yes I did, sir.
Gordon: What you Did NOT see was that they auditioned on Day #1...and fell and got X'ed.
Chico: Ohhhhhhhhhssssssssssugar. In that case...
Gordon: And didn't get in. They got a redo. Which annoys me.
Chico: Ah. Redo is an automatic bottom of the pack. Tell AscenDance we said what up.
Gordon: What up? Now get out with Anna and Patryk.
Chico: Next..

Cheer SF - San Francisco, California (Cheer Squad)

Gordon: America doesn't like Cheerleaders. Out in Round 1.
Chico: Go Team! ... away. Out in the first. Cheerleaders don't have the following to sustain on this show. I'm sorry.
Gordon: They should have changed their name to Glee.
Chico: Now THERE would be a following.

Da Maniacs - Dallas, Texas (Hip Hop Dance Troupe)

Gordon: I think it depends on who they are grouped against.
Chico: Yeah. Right now they're so diverse in age brackets that they tick all the boxes and have a SHOT mind you of getting out of the 48. But yeah, it's going to depend on who they're up against.
Gordon: I'll say maybe.
Chico: Okay.

Fighting Gravity - Blacksburg, Virginia (Dance Group)

Chico: They're one of my locks for top 3.
Gordon: I won't say Top 3 locks, but I put them in my Top 6.

Future Funk - Las Vegas, Nevada (Hip Hop Dance Team)

Chico: Too many hip hoppers. Round of 24.
Gordon: Way too many. Out in the Round of 24

Haspop - Los Angeles, California (Hip Hop Dancer)

Chico: ... and this is where Haspop may come in and take the I-forgot-the-crazy-bender from last season spot. Top 12.
Gordon: Hairo Torres.
Chico: thank you
Gordon: And I agree. Top 12.

Kaya & Sadie - Denver, Colorado (Belly Dancing Duo)

Gordon: BELLY. DANCERS. (Drooools)
Chico: Top 12? Gordon?
Gordon: I wish. unfortunately, I think the audience stops them in Round 1, which means I will rant, rave and be in mourning.
Chico: Awww... Because Gordon can never be happy.
Gordon: No I can't. Not allowed.

Lindsey Stirling - Provo, Utah (Musician/Dancer)

Chico: ... Umm.. this is an odd pairing, but what the hey. Out in the first.
Gordon: She's a hip hop violinist and I think she's a dark horse to go very very far. Final 12.
Chico: But are the people that watch this show REALLY ready for that? I myself AM. The audience... maybe not. After all, Nuttin' but Stringz... They were my pick to win!
Gordon: NBS got to the Top 3. And I think she's better.
Chico: Wow.

Mona Sampath Dance Company - Sunnyvale, California (Bollywood Dance Group)

Chico: Umm.... out in the first.
Gordon: You know, Chico... America is the land of diversity. We are here to appreciate all of the different dance styles.
Chico: They're different, but they still remind me of Ishaara, which didn't make ANY waves last year.
Gordon: Don't you believe in diversity?
Chico: I do! I love it!
Gordon: Awesome! Out in the first.
Chico: Variety is the spice of life! Get out.

Polina Volchek - Las Vegas, Nevada (Gymnast/Acrobat)

Chico: How many of these gymnast acrobats are there? Okay, not that many. Still, not a diverse enough act. Out in the first.
Gordon: It depends on who she's grouped with, but I agree. Out in the first.

Rudi Macaggi - New York, New York (Circus Acrobat)

Chico: He was actually on the show season 1... Won a public contest there... So... dark horse on top 12?
Gordon: I'd put him there.
Chico: Yay. Next....

Strikers All Stars

Gordon: Does that name seem familiar, Chico?
Chico: Sorta. Weren't they on ABDC?
Gordon: Why yes, Chico. They were on Season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew.
Chico: Didn't they lose catastrophically?
Gordon: Mid-Pack. The pattern here: Make the first round, then do something ridiculously stupid like Go Go Power Roaches and get booted in the second round. I'll say 2nd round and that's it.
Chico: Make it a double.

Studio One Young Beast Society - Orlando, Florida (Dance Crew)

Gordon: Awww, it's little kiddies! Thanks for getting on the show! Now go do your one performance and meet your parents on the first elimination results show.
Chico: You have to have a kid act in the top 12.
Gordon: No you don't.
Chico: Yeah, you do. Old people like kids.
Gordon: Not these kids.
Chico: No, not these kids, but somebody's kids.
Gordon: You're sounding pervy. Next one...

The Hot Shot Tap Dancers - Portland, Oregon (Tap Dancers)

Chico: Limited shelf life. That's the problem with dancers on this show. Round of 24.
Gordon: You know, if you're going to have a Tap Dancing group that's going to get booted early, I'd rather see the Dancing Sarah Palins. At least I was entertained by them.
Chico: Yeah. That was cool.

The South Philly Vikings - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Dance Crew)

Chico: Hmm... big city following. MAYBE past the first round? They need to do something SPECTACULAR, right?
Gordon: They are Mummers. No chance. Out in the 1st Round.
Chico: You can do something spectacular with ribbons and poles?....I got nothin'. Out in the first. Next?

Wreckless (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Gordon: Wrecked. out in the First Round.
Chico: they win the award for "most apt name in the competition". And finally, the category you've been waiting for. I know I've been waiting for it. So let's just dive right into it.

Chico: Singing singers who sing.
Gordon: And here's where your winner is coming from.

Alice Tan Ridley - New York, New York (Singer)

Chico: Top 3. She's got the voice AND the backstory.
Gordon: There's your winner.
Chico: She's in it with a chance. A BIG chance. It'll be her vs. Defying Gravity for the title.

Christina & Ali - Idaho Falls, Idaho (singers)

Gordon: Barely gets into the Top 48. That's all they're getting.
Chico: No audience for that. Sowwwy.

CJ Dippa - Denton, Texas (Rapper/Dancer)

Chico: Top 3.
Gordon: WHAT??!!?!?
Chico: He killed at auditions.
Gordon: If this is Idol, I would say so, but this is America's Got Talent, where the audience skews old. He gets to Round 2. The journey ends there.
Chico: Can't I have hope?
Gordon: I'll throw in Faith and Charity, too. It still won't do him or you any good.

Debra Romer - Kalamazoo, Michigan (Musician/Singer)

Chico: Umm... sorry, too many of those. out in the first.
Gordon: I think it depends on the pairing. She can make the second round. Not good enough for the finals.
Chico: Not by a longshot.

Hannibal Means - Santa Monica, California (Opera Singer)

Chico: Top 6. If he can diversify his repertoire... he's got a better than fair shot at the whole thing.
Gordon: He fits in the demographic voting pattern. Finals, Just outside the Top 6.
Chico: This one may come down to votes.
Gordon: Sure could be.

Iron Horse - Crete, Illinois (Country Band)

Chico: Have we ever seen a country band in AGT?
Gordon: No, but they were impressive.
Chico: Maybe, but they're up against an eight ball. Top 12.
Gordon: I'll go second round.
Chico: So they're impressive, but not THAT impressive. :-)
Gordon: Finishing in the Top 24 of all of America is impressive.

Lil Chris - Sarasota, Florida (singer)

Gordon: Not impressive enough,. out in the first round.
Chico: Right.

Luigi Seno - Highland, California (Musician/Singer)

Chico: Also not impressive enough. Out in the first. The pit of ultimate AGT despair is lined with guitar strings. Sorry to say.
Gordon: He's eye candy, but again, the vote doesn't skewer young. If he gets to the second round, it's barely.

Mary Ellen - Manheim, Pennsylvania (Musician/Singer)

Chico: BARELY got in the top 48. She can stay there for all I care.
Gordon: Yodelay-he-hoo. Out-of-Round-1-for-you.

Michael Grimm - Henderson, Nevada (Musician/Singer)

Chico: Top 12.
Gordon: Top 6. He'll be in the hunt for a Top 3 spot.
Chico: May surprise into the top 6. Of all the guitarist/singers... he's the best of them.
Gordon: Agreed.

Nathaniel Kenyon - Baxley, Georgia (musician/singer)

Gordon: Top 12, pending on who he's up against.
Chico: Agreed. If he's up against Michael Grimm... good luck.
Gordon: If he avoids him, he can make the Top 12.
Chico: Right.

NU Covenant - Cleveland, Ohio (Singing Group)

Chico: Top 12. Again, the show skews old... and if the Voices of Glory could get through, these people should have no problem.
Gordon: I don't think they are as strong and I don't think they will be getting the pimp slot like Voices of Glory did. Round of 24.

Paul Safy Jr. - New York, New York (Singer)

Gordon: I think he can be a dark hourse. Top 12.
Chico: Who? Out in the first. Oh, I've been waiting for this next one...

Prince Poppycock - Los Angeles, California (Opera Singer)

Chico: He's gonna get some WTF votes out of nowhere to get into the round of 24.
Gordon: He was very very good in the NYC auditions. I was there. However, he really hurt himself in the Vegas Rounds and I don't think America will vote for him. Out in the First Round, I'm afraid.

RNG - Seattle, Washington (Girl Hip Hop Crew)

Chico: Out in the first. Seriously, how many hip hop crews ARE THERE?
Gordon: I think they make the second round and have a chance to surprise.

Taylor Matthews - Alexandria, Louisiana (Musician/singer)

Chico: Round of 24.... May get into the round of 12.
Gordon: Top 6. I think he competes with Grimm for the last Top 3 spot.
Chico: Again, if Grimm meets someone, someone's getting hurt.
Gordon: Agreed. FINALLY....

The Strange Familiar - Woodland Hills, California (Band)

Chico: Just outside the Top 12... more strange than familiar.
Gordon: I think they sneak into the Top 12, but that's as far as they go.
Chico: So your top 3, sir...
Gordon: Alice Tan Ridley, Arc Attack and Michael Grimm. Ridley to win.
Chico: I'm going Fighting Gravity, Michael Grimm, and whoever wins between Alice Tan Ridley and CJ Dippa. Grimm wins. And becomes the first AGT winner to not completely flame out within a year.
Gordon: Only if it's any of those.
Chico: It's gonna be a good match.
Gordon: Ridley is the mom of a 'Precious' actress. She'll have staying power.
Chico: Gabourey Sidibe, to be exact. That's the backstory.
Gordon: Yes sir. We'll see how right (or wrong) we are in the upcoming months.
Chico: Meanwhile, en un momento, la Copa Mundial de los Juego se continua....
Gordon: Vive Espana!
Chico: Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....

(Brought to you by Lebron Gets Worked. Forget the audience deciding where New York goes to work. The Cleveland Audience decides what Lebron gets to do. First activity: A UFC match with Brock Lesnar.)

Chico: ....oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool! Gooooooooooooooooool en tiempo extra! And that's basically how World Cup 2010 ended. Spain beat the Netherlands, 1-0 in overtime. And if my Dutch friends are watching, I'm so sorry! .... they make us do this!
Gordon: But it is fitting that this week's World Cup Subject Matter is Spain and Latin/South America.
Chico: As you know, we play Who's Your Daddy? Highest four move on. We start with... Battle of the Sexes (Venezuela)
Gordon: It's a classic game show.
Chico: It's the Better Sex.
Gordon: It is. Works well around the world.
Chico: Without the 70s schtick and with the 80s Double Dare stunts... :-) We love it.. Next...
Gordon: Does it work better than this: Asgaaard (Mexico)
Chico: I don't know, it sounds more like a video game. I mean, two teams competing for silver. The more silver, the more control. And it's all based in Norse mythology. In Mexico! That's too much for me to handle!
Gordon: I like silver. But I like tradition more. Under Battle of the Sexes.
Chico: Below Battle of the Sexes

BattleSexes > ASGAARD

Chico: Here's one for you... Sabado Gigante (Chile)
Gordon: The big daddy. Top Slot
Chico: Agreed.

SABADO GIGANTE > BattleSexes > Asgaard

Gordon: Next one: A Que No Puedo (Mexico). Civilians and celebrities dare other celebrities to do stunts.
Chico: I'll take "You're On!" for $200. Above Asgaard.
Gordon: Agreed.

Sabado Gigante > Battle of the Sexes > A QUE NO PUEDO > Asgaard

Chico: Next... 12 CORAZONES (Argentina)
Gordon: Hey Chico!
Chico: Yyyyes Gordon?
Gordon: We don't have a love game in our tournament yet, do we?
Chico: No we don't!
Gordon: And I know you will put this one at the bottom, so just to even you out...Top of the list! :D
Chico: Actually... this is done pretty well. Between sex and A Que No puedo... which is only logical, but...

Sabado > 12 CORAZONES > Battle > ... Que No Puedo > Asgaard

Gordon: Sometimes, Logic needs to take a back seat to Chico Annoyance :D
Chico: SOMETIMES. Next...
Gordon: Next one: Operacion Triunfo (Spain)
Chico: On one hand, it's a very strong franchise in Latin America and Europe. On the other hand, it gave us... THE ONE! Below A Que No Puedo.
Gordon: This is what would become Star Academy and...wait for it...The One. Below A Que No Puedo.

Sabado > 12 > Battle > ... Que No Puedo > OPERACION TRIUNFO > Asgaard

Chico: Next... RockGol (Brazil). This is actually G's idea. Explain it, please.
Gordon: It's a show developed by their version of MTV featuring music stars and other celebrities forming teams and playing Soccer. It''s a soccer show. And we're doing this on a soccer tournament. And it's been around for over 15 years, so I'd give a nod to it. Above Que no Puedo.
Chico: Right on.

Sabado > 12 > Battle > ROCKGOL > aQnP > Operacion Triunfo > Asgaard

Chico: And finally... Para Todos (Mexico)
Gordon: It's a news/gamey show. It's nice, but the other ones have more cultral history behind it. Behind a Que No Puedo.
Chico: Agreed. It is "for everyone", but it doesn't really have the staying power of the others. So your final lineup...

SABADO GIGANTE > 12 CORAZONES > BATTLE OF THE SEXES > ROCKGOL > A Que No Puedo > Para Todos > Operacion Triunfo > Asgaard

Chico: There's your lineup for the Latin America & Spain bracket. Next week... it's the bracket you clamored for... leading us to the Big Facebook Question. Gordon, HIT ME!

“

This Week, we go to Asia. What are the best shows from China & Japan?

„

Chico: So next week, it's the Pacific Rim. I got your Iron Chef. I got your Ninja Warrior. I got your Brainsurge. I got your Silent Library...
Gordon: Hole in the Wall?
Chico: ... I guess I can have that too... =p
Gordon: Let us know what you guys think.
Chico: Let's go to a break while I sulk. =p
Gordon: And no, I Survived a Japanese Game Show doesn't count.
Chico: No. For one, it's Dutch. :-)
Gordon: Go sulk and then we'll have the Big Finish - next!

(Brought to you by The Rat. We've had a mole... We've had a saboteur... But we haven't had a show about someone singing like a canary all over the place.)

Gordon: That could be Annie.

(Why yes, yes it could)

Gordon: Ready for a Speed Round?
Chico: Why yes, yes I am... and it starts... NOW! Big Brother. Is there any way that Annie doesn't survive this week?
Gordon: It IS Big Brother but unless the producers want to keep her in as the saboteur, no
Chico: It's coming down to the wire on Jeopardy! Do we get another super champ before breaking for the summer?
Gordon: Nope. So you think You Can Dance - Do we say goodbye to another male dancer?
Chico: I think it's time for a female to go. Alex's ouster was a fluke. The Feud is done with the Bullseye round. Approve?
Gordon: Very much so. I hated the format last season. Top Chef: Who leaves?
Chico: Kevin. Talk about a slump.
Gordon: It's pretty ugly. but email from viewers is pretty. Do we have any?
Chico: From some dude named Steven Waldie.
Gordon: Hey Steve! Thanks for the email

VIEWER MAIL

“

TO: WLTI FROM: Steven Waldie I read this week's WLTI this morning and it mentions that "America's Got Talent" will be choosing its top 40 acts. Isn't it supposed to be the top 48 this year? And last year if you recall, I demanded that the "judges' decision" to choose the last act to advance to the next round be eliminated from the performance shows. I didn't like how Nick Cannon kept pulling a Seacrest and left the audience hanging until after the last commercial break for that part of the show. That's about as crazy as Major League Baseball having to replace players on the All-Star game roster year after year because of injuries. I would still like for NBC to give Nick his very own "Gigante Girls" to do live commercials with just so the tension of the results show can be eased. Oh, and a just found out that Clownvis and Buddy Holly Cheesehead are actually Chico and Gordon in disguise.

„

Gordon: I'm the Buddy Holly one.
Chico: Why do I have to be Elvis?
Gordon: You're bald, Easier for makeup
Chico: True.
Gordon: A few things. #1. It IS Top 48, which is good. #2. You need the judge's choice so that people will watch the end of the show. #3 it's not Nick's fault. it's the producers.
Chico: Back to the point at hand... Yeah, Nick's at his best when he's off the cuff, but when you're hosting a rigid scheduled time frame like this... well, you saw what happened. Hopefully he'll break out of that this week. Speaking of this week, what are you watching, G?
Gordon: I'm watching the First Round of 12 on AGT.
Chico: I'm also watching that. While I'm watching that, I'll be watching Deadliest Catch. It's Capt. Phil's final episode, he having died of a stroke earlier this year.
Gordon: Aw.
Chico: Amazing that we're not watching Pros vs. Joes... I mean, that used to be reliable television.
Gordon: Used to be. Hopefully they'll change the format to make it good again.
Chico: Hopefully... probably... We'll see. We'll see a lot of things next week. In the meantime, if the people have something to tell us, what do they do, G?
Gordon: They email us at wlti@gameshownewsnet.com
Chico: Or they find us on Facebook or MySpace or Youtube.
Gordon: And that's ends our show. Special thanks to no one in particular, since it's just Chico and me.
Chico: Next week, we sit through Pros vs. Joes, assess the carnage on AGT, and do ... some MORE cool stuff.
Gordon: Yay, cool stuff!
Chico: Until then, for everyone at GSNN, he's Gordon. I'm Chico. The show is WLTI. Game over and spread the love.