America's Got Talent - 8/7/07

I had been meaning to write about this sooner, but I suppose it's just as well in the end. We watch very little TV on a regular basis. That's been our rule for many years. When the girls are in school, we severely limit the amount of TV (still watch our DVD's...) that anyone watches in the household. In the summer...it's a slightly different story. The last couple of years we've allowed the girls to pick a show and watch it in the summer and it's been fun to all sit down and watch and follow the going's on. Last summer, we watched Treasure Hunters and we were bummed when it didn't make a return. So we decided to make "America's Got Talent" this summer's show in the house. And while it certainly shouldn't win any awards for thought-provoking journalism, it's been enjoyable. As I stated, we've never watched American Idol, but we "get" that show. And this one appears to be about the same plot, but with an emphasis on overall entertainers rather than exclusively singers. We did watch the final show last summer and saw the little girl win. And I was bummed when she won instead of the yodeling girl. Singers have their own show...this should be for different acts, ones that can't win on Idol or any of the other shows of this ilk. Oh well.

So we're down to the final eight, and I've divided them into 3 categories: Will Win, Good but Can't Win and Shouldn't Win. So here's how I score them:

Shouldn't Win

1. The Glamazons - group of female burlesque singers
   These ladies seem nice enough, but I think Piers summed it up perfectly last night: if taken on their singing merits alone, they don't have a chance. And that's where I'm at. While this shouldn't be purely a singing competition, I think if you do sing, you should be able to do that well. Let's face it: they can't sing. They're trading on their portly cuteness and risque appearance to get a sympathy vote. And they won't get it from me. Maybe belong in the middle category...maybe.


2. Sideswipe - Martial Arts group
   These guys have been my least favorite of all the final acts, for a couple of weeks. I thought they were done for last week...I was truly surprised to see them make it to the top 8. I keep hoping for one of them to kick Ralph Maccio's butt while the others stand on the side yelling "somebody get a body bag!"...their Cobra Kai strutting and prancing, combined with their over the top combination machismo and pouting, mixed in with their constant mugging for the camera...I'll pass. They are "talented"...but not in any way that I value. But America is voting and they're cute and muscular...maybe they've got a chance.


3. Jason Pritchett - singer/guitar player
   
   Actually tied with SideSwipe as my least favorite finalist since the field was cut down to around 20 or so. Again, Piers (who I think is a jerk, but is very insightful) nailed this guy. He's just an entertainer from a cruise ship. He hasn't made any song "his own". He's added nothing to any of them. I guess he's an okay singer, last night being yet another weak effort. He's exactly the type of "act" that shouldn't be on here...take this show to American Idol and compete against those people. But again, he's handsome and mugs for the camera, so America may pick him. I sure wouldn't.

Good but Can't Win

1. Julienne Irwin - 14-year old singer
   
   Same comment here as with the previous guy...she's just a singer. Sure she's a cute little girl. Sure she's never had any formal training. She's from some little podunk town in Maryland. OK, maybe she's pretty good. I just don't think she can win because she's basically the same as last years winner. They've dolled her up significantly, so she looks beautiful and actually, she looks way older than she really is. And maybe that's the problem. She could easily pass as a 20 year old college student. And her strength (IMHO) is the fact that she's just a little girl. About all that pulls her up into this category is that for some reason she seems more genuine than the country guy. But I still don't think she can win.


2. Robert Hatcher - singer
   
   To continue a "repeat refrain" trend here, same deal. Smooth singer. Seems like a very nice guy. But just a singer. Compete on Idol. I wanted magicians and jugglers, not a bunch of singers. And this guy sadly get's lumped into the "Can't Win" category because of that. But I do believe that everyone in the top 8 have moved their career to the next level, so this guy will be fine. And he'd probably be just as happy to going back singing in Cinncy in the sewers...seems like a very down to earth dude.
   

Will Win

1. Butterscotch - beatboxer/singer
   
   After the first time we saw her perform, I think we all thought that this would be the winner. And she's done nothing to contradict that feeling. She's more than a singer, so she's got that "unique-ness" that I'm trying to articulate. She's pretty, but awkward. Seems like that ugly duckling kind of kid that we've all seem throughout our lives. If just given a chance, she'll blossom into something special. And the good news is, I think she's already blossomed and is truly something special. Just get a quality vibe from her...maybe that's just TV messing with my head, but I think she's really strong and is my first choice to win.


2. Cas Haley - singer/guitarist
   
   I've just slammed a number of acts above for being just singers. And this guy is just that: a singer. So why am I not slamming him just as hard? Because the dude has got some serious chops. He can flat out sing...and in an amazing style. Unlike a couple of the other, albeit immensely talented singers, this cat reinvents the songs. Walking On the Moon by Sting? Cas owns that song now. Easy by Lionel Richie. Same deal. Absolutely shreaded them. I'm hoping that, regardless of the results, he gets a deal and makes an album...I'd buy it. Also seems like a very likeable, humble guy. Again, maybe that's TV manipulating things, but you could see him high-fiving others and he just has a humble comfort up there. Won't be disappointed if he wins..and I know he's got it made if he wants it.
   


3. Terry Fator - ventriloquist/impressionist
   
   None of us really saw this guy coming. A couple of shows ago, he was just a blip on the screen...some puppet guy or something. But in the last three nights, he's been truly strong. Making a turtle do an impression of Kermit singing? Strong. Singing "Unforgettable" as a duet with a "female" character, sounding as good as Nat King and Natalie? Awesome. Dino & Tony Bennett? Nice. Although it was terrific, I actually thought last nights was the weakest of the three performances...and it was still wicked strong. About the only thing that could knock him out is this generation's possible lack of appreciation for ventriloquists. Same deal here...this guy will have as many gigs as he needs when this is over, regardless of the outcome.