It’s finally time for the Semifinals! In Semifinal #1 for America’s Got Talent, 12 Acts are performing live for America’s vote. On Wednesday’s results show, 5 acts will advance to the rarified air of the Finals where they will be able to actually smell the one million dollars. In case you missed it, here are the acts who advanced to the Semifinals over the past six weeks: Nathaniel Kenyon, Christina & Ali, Future Funk, and Fighting Gravity -QF#1; Alice Tan Ridley, Michael Grimm, AscenDance, and Antonio Restivo-QF#2; Debra Romer, Haspop, Studio One Young Beast Society, and Jeremy Vanschoonhoven-QF#3; Taylor Matthews, Murray, Prince Poppycock, and ArcAttack-QF#4; Jackie Evancho, Kristina Young, Dan Sperry, & Maestro Alexander Bui-QF#5; Anna & Patryk, Michael Grasso, Connor Doran, and Michael Lipari & Ashleigh Dejon-QF#6. For a rundown of the original top 48 acts and a summary of their journey so far, see our previous Las Vegas week posts (Part 1 & Part 2). Who will keep raising their game and take the next step to the Finals? Will we even remember the acts from Quarterfinal #1 six weeks ago? Let’s find out! And please leave your thoughts in the comment section.
Anna & Patryk – Ballroom Dancers (QF#6)
Anna & Patryk perform to Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” after a quick intro part in old style black and white. As they perform there are images of their journey to this point in tabloid style and there are flashbulbs going off to complete the paparazzi theme. It’s really good and their sychronization is pretty good. At this point for most of the acts it comes down to whether their particular talent is appealing to individual voters. For example, Anna & Patryk are probably popular with viewers who also like Dancing With the Stars but then there are people like Howie who don’t think it can go to a big enough place for a Vegas show. I like Anna & Patryk but I like most of the Semfinal acts. We’ll have to see how the rest of the night goes. Anna & Patryk do have the advantage of having performed more than any other act in the Semifinals. On the other hand, they didn’t get through once before so maybe they don’t have the necessary voter support.
Christina & Ali – Singers (QF#1)
Christina & Ali perform “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston. It’s pleasant but Christina & Ali are no Mariah & Whitney. I think we knew coming in that while they have a very heartwarming story they just don’t stack up to the talent of the other singers and acts in the competition. This has been a nice story for Christina & Ali but I believe it will end tomorrow night.
Antonio Restivo – Fire Illusionist (QF#2)
Antonio has a lot of fire props and lovely assistants on stage. He starts by having a few of his lovely assistants wrap a chain around him and lock him in a standing box. A few of the other assistants light parts of the contraption on fire and then they swing into the box as it opens and reveals that Antonio is no longer in the box. Antonio is on the spiral staircase with a flamethrower. It’s showy and cool looking but it seems like he just snuck out the back of the box before they lit it on fire. The other magicians are using equipment that seems much more transparent and make the trick look more impressive. This just struck me as ominous music, fire and dramatic gestures. I’m don’t think this was good enough to advance. Sorry Antonio.
Future Funk – Hip-Hop Dancers (QF#1)
Future Funk perform to Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two” after a little rap intro. It’s cute enough but the coordination is off. I’m really wishing Howie had put RNG through in Quarterfinal #1 instead of Future Funk. Piers gves us our first buzz of the night about halfway through. They close with a dark scene using handheld flashlights which just seems like a rip-off of act Fighting Gravity. I would be surprised if they make it to the finals.
Taylor Matthews – Singer (QF#4)
Taylor performs Carolina Liar’s “Show Me What I’m Looking For” while playing the piano which is a switch as he’s played guitar before. He gets immediate points from me as I absolutely love this song, let’s see how he sounds. He sounds great at the start but then he gets a little drowned out by a choir during the chorus. I complain about this all of the time on American Idol. I want to hear the contestant, not a bunch of background singers. He picks it back up at the end and closes the performance strong. That was easily better than the previous 3 acts and right up there with Anna & Patryk. I would give him a decent shot to advance depending on how the rest of the acts do. I’m a little surprised by the negative comments from Howie and Piers as I thought the performance was better than they made it out to be.
Connor Doran – Indoor Kite Flyer (QF#6)
Connor performs to Owl City’s “Fireflies” which is a little bit of a departure as his three previous performances have been to slower, inspirational songs. Will a happy, faster song allow the same emotional connection of his previous performances? Connor does the same single kite then double kite routine he did last time to “You Raise Me Up” and while I love “Fireflies” it’s just not the same as the other songs he’s used. Just as I’m writing this he gets buzzed by Piers. At the end of his performance Piers gives basically the same critique I gave above. Connor was kind of an interesting case before but I don’t see him advancing this time.
Dan Sperry – Magician (QF#5)
Dan asks for a volunteer and poor Nick has to oblige. Nick looks like he’s being prepped to draw blood and then Dan puts a blindfold on him as music that sounds like Marilyn Mason plays. Dan goes through a lot of prep hooking Nick up to some kind of machine which gets him buzzed by Piers. Dan then uses a power saw to saw parts of Nick’s “arm”. Dan then autographs the loose arm part and then puts it back attached to Nick. When Nick is released from the machine his real arm has the autograph on it. Eh. That wasn’t nearly as interesting as his dental floss/lifesaver trick from two weeks ago. You need to go forward, not backward, Dan. I don’t see him advancing.
Kristina Young – Singer (QF#5)
Kristina tries to catch up with the other acts who were able to build a backstory through the audition phase by getting her Grandmother and estranged Father reunion into her intro segment. That’s efficiency. Kristina performs the acoustic/showtune version of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and looks smoking hot doing it (author’s note: Kristina fits the description of “my type” ). I’ve heard this version of the song before on “Glee” and Lady Gaga performed it this way on Saturday Night Live. Piers must not like this version as he buzzes her about halfway through. Sharon buzzes her shortly after Piers. Well, this should be nice and awkward. Howie actually finishes her off and I’m shocked. What was so bad about that that they all three buzzed her? It’s funny to hear the judge’s slam the arrangement and talk about not taking on a Lady Gaga song when Lady Gaga has performed it that way herself. Click here, or here, or here, or here, or here (medley with Bad Romance). It’s a shame as I think Kristina is a good singer, a better actual singer than Christina & Ali. Anyway, after what happened to her tonight, Kristina has no chance to advance no matter what my personal opinion is (she can come over to my house if she needs a shoulder to cry on).
ArcAttack – Performance Artists (QF#4)
ArcAttack performs a psuedo horror tribute with spooky music and the bride of Frankenstein. This act is pure Vegas and I would have to think that no matter what happens on this show they have a future in the performance business. Howie worries that it doesn’t translate well to television which is supported by the fact that the judges had to put them through in their Quarterfinal. They are certainly unique and stand out from the crowd. I think they have a good chance to advance.
Michael Grimm – Singer (QF#2)
Michael has been very sick this week. Will it affect his performance? Michael performs a bluesy number about taking your clothes off with some scantily clad background dancers. Michael has a pretty cool voice but I’m not sure this song is really showcasing it. It does kind of give you an idea of what kind of music is Michael’s preference. The judges just gush about his performance and it seems clear that he’s going to advance to the Finals.
AscenDance – Wall Climbing Dancers (QF#2)
AscenDance performs to Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right”. As with their Quarterfinal show, there are 4 dancers on the wall. As the song moves along, the two main dancers meet in the middle of the wall and do some good coordinated strength moves but there isn’t as much interaction as their previous performances. Piers buzzes them about halfway through and I think it’s because this isn’t a step up from their Quarterfinal performance. This could be similar to Connor Doran in that the act works better with a slower, more ethereal song than with a pop song. I would have thought they were a favorite coming into tonight but it’s kind of iffy now on whether they make it.
Prince Poppycock – Opera Singer (QF#4)
The Prince comes out dressed in blue and silver and starts into Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This is another example of wanting more of the contestant and less of the background singers. The song doesn’t really allow for that and the stage show is interesting but I would have preferred him to sing more. He does do a great job with the rock finish. I’m not sure what the breaking china theme was about but that was an attention getting performance. The judges are all over him with praise with Sharon even saying he’s the male Lady Gaga. With the pimp spot, the performance and the praise from the judges I would expect to see Prince Poppycock in the Finals.
Summary
Hmmm, I was more disappointed than wowed tonight. Many of the acts were better in the previous rounds. I’m actually having a hard time picking 5 acts that I think deserve to advance. Acts that had to perform early, like Anna & Patryk, Antonio Restivo, and Taylor Matthews, look much better in retrospect.
Favorite Performances:
Anna & Patryk, and Taylor Matthews
The 5 Acts I Would Advance to the Next Round:
Anna & Patryk, Taylor Matthews, ArcAttack, Michael Grimm, and Prince Poppycock
Honorable Mention to Kristina Young who I thought got a raw deal tonight.
The 5 Acts I Think Will Advance Tomorrow Night:
Anna & Patryk, Taylor Matthews, Michael Grimm, AscenDance, and Prince Poppycock
Come back tomorrow for the Semifinal #1 Results Show.
i Thought the performances ranged from mediocre to choke jobs. Kristina wasnt great but what wsa with the triple x’ing? she didnt deserve that.
I think for all the talk about jackie lip synching, micheal grimms ‘illness’ tonight was the real bogus event of the season. i think it was a sympathy ploy to elevate him in the viewers minds. i didnt hear any ’strep throat’ when he was singing. i think the whole thing was staged. (what doctor lets cameras film when examining a patient?) i dont think he even deserve an emmy for the acting…i cannot believe this guy is considered one of the favorites, and the judges gushing over him made me ill. seriously? this guy is up there with the top acts? why?
i thought taylor delivered……….granted, i agree that he looked nervous as hell, as piers said, but he delivered in spite of it.
antonio was nothing special but given what else i saw tonight he might sneak in.
anna and patrick actually might have benefitted from playing it safe tonight. Howie even mentioned that there was no ‘inappropriate touching’ as ive seen discussed on a bunch of internet boards. I also think they delivered as usual. im still pissed that they even had to go thru the wildcard round to get this far………they got hosed on the judges decision imo. i think they make the finals.
Obviously dan sperry is a one hit wonder. that arm trick was so obviously fake………who was buying it? ugh. maybe if he’d tossed nick at howie at the end it would have worked better….
future funk was boring but i love that rob base song……..as i was in a rap funk in 1989 as a teenager lol.
ascendensce another snooseville………..when did they become syncrhinzed swimmers posing as wall climbers?
arc attack doesnt play well on tv, at least not tonight. i was bored. in fact i was bored with most of the performances tonight.
prince poppycocked seemed to be doing a rock act tonight as that ‘pop opera’ is really queen’s famous song……and to top it he had the actual SONG playing in the background? wtf? seroiusly couldnt get any live backups to do it? maybe he saw jackie two weeks ago and figured he had to change it up a little by going into the rock genre…..but jackie can switch it up too if she wants to.
all in all? id say anna and patrick, micheal grimm, taylor, antonio and prince poppycock. maybe arc attack will sneak in there instead of taylor.
btw i do not think grimm was lip synching the song, i think he was either faking or exaggerating the illness.
princepoppycock was still good even with the problems……
[...] America’s Got Talent – Episode 25: Semifinal #1 [...]
[...] Lipari & Ashleigh Dejon-QF#6. See last week’s posts for a recap of Semifinal #1 – performance, results. For a rundown of the original top 48 acts and a summary of their journey so far, see [...]
[...] Anna & Patryk, Michael Grimm, Taylor Matthews, Prince Poppycock, and Christina & Ali -SF#1; Jackie Evancho, Fighting Gravity, Jeremy Vanschoonhoven, Michael Grasso, and Studio One Young [...]