‘America’s Got Talent’ Recap: The Elusive
It was another overstuffed night of fluff as the third live results show rolled around on America’s Got Talent. Once again, four acts advanced to the semifinals, leaving eight more on the cutting room floor. As in previous weeks, the voting public didn’t really lob us any unexpected curveballs like, say, slipping drag queen All Beef Patty through the door at the last second. (Although we’re not sure her giant hot pink bouffant and St. Louis Arch eyebrows would have fit anyway.)
In between dashing people’s dreams and doling out good news, there were performances by DJ/singer Havana Brown and this year’s Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh and her dancing dog Pudsey; behind-the-scenes footage of what it takes to put on a live show (i.e., a whole lot of people yelling, “This is a live show, people!”); and judge Howie Mandel constantly trying to come up with sound bites for NBC to use in Olympics promos. Thrilling, right? Actually, we have to admit the dancing dog was pretty cute.
When it came time to break the news about who was staying and who was going, the acts were paraded out in groups of three to sweat it out under the spotlight as they awaited their fates.
The first group included “rock star juggler” Mike Price, who literally dropped the ball Monday night when he fumbled a fiery torch during his live performance; Jacob Williams, an “awkward” comedian who got some serious laughs; and Cristin Sandu, a balancing acrobat who bombed badly when his makeshift platform collapsed under him. Considering how the other two completely cracked under pressure, it was no surprise that only Jacob got voted through. “America got it right!” exclaimed Howie after the news was announced, adding that Jacob came across as “poised, professional and like you were enjoying yourself.”
The next three to face the music were Lightwire Theater, the (so far) amazing light-up puppet group; Inspire the Fire, a mish-mash show choir that embarrassingly slaughtered Katy Perry’s “Firework”; and All Beef Patty, a singing drag queen who equally (but more amusingly) ruined Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Of these three very different acts it was, again, no surprise when it was announced that Lightwire Theater would be the only one moving forward. “You stood out so far from everyone else. You ruled the night,” said judge Sharon Osbourne.
Then it was time for breakdancer Elusive, who failed to impress with his dance moves despite a lot of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink tricks; the kids’ dance troupe the Untouchables, whose jaw-dropping routine left everyone floored; and 15-year-old Buddy Holly lookalike Jake Wesley Rogers, whose lounge-y performance of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” fell flat. It wasn’t too tough a call, as the kid-orable Untouchables were the only ones sent to the next level – although for a minute we thought Jakey-poo might pull through based on looks alone. Howie praised the young group by saying, “You’re far more polished than many pros.”
When it was time for the judges’ choice, it came down to All Wheel Sports, the acrobatic stunt group that judge Howard Stern referred to as “a three-ring circus”; the band Wordspit and The Illest!, who made a “disastrous choice” and performed an original number that left the judges divided; and escape artist Spencer Horsman, whose secretive steel-straightjacket-over-spikes routine was deemed a failure because it was “boring” to viewers. Spencer got the least viewer votes, so he was immediately let go, leaving the other two to plead their cases to the judges.
With Howard picking Wordspit and The Illest! and Howie siding with All Wheel Sports, the deciding vote was left to Sharon. After much hemming and hawing, she chose to give All Wheel Sports another chance.
NEXT WEEK: The quarterfinals continue, and eight more acts will be eliminated.
LAST EPISODE: Untouchables?