Ten will enter, four will leave! While last night was not
AGT's best night for fashion (see: Jackie Evancho, Taylor Mathews, Jeremy VanSchoonhoven), it was its best night for talent yet. And it's only going to get better because next week is the finale we've been anticipating since before we grew these long white beards. I also eagerly anticipate this week's "What's Poppin" Orville Redenbacher green room segment.
This season, there isn't a clear frontrunner, as
Piers Morgan and Howie Mandel expressed in a conference call yesterday. Also, they cleared up the whole "Vegas act" debacle a little bit. First to the stage are the two sparkliest acts: Michael Grasso and Prince Poppycock, two acts totally worthy of the finale in my opinion. Like, wow, right away; Piers says he is "shocked." The first act moving into the finals is
Prince Poppycock. I'm so glad he's moving forward, but sad to see Michael Grasso go, he had a lot of flare. Prince Poppycock encourages us by confirming that "life is magical" and for once I actually believe it.
Next to the stage is a performance from the Broadway musical
American Idiot. To put it in Orville Redenbacher terms, I was expecting this performance to be "not poppin." But against my better judgment I was filled with musical giddyness and found it to be very "poppin" indeed. It ALMOST made me forget my results-show induced anxiety.
Back to the results, Nick Cannon summons Taylor Mathews and Michael Grimm to the stage. If one person moves on, it's got to be Michael Grimm. But what if it's nobody moving on? Is that a possibility? These nerves are fried. Putting me out of my misery, Nick Cannon announces that
Michael Grimm is moving forward into the finals. Taylor Mathews definitely has a future in music, though. Right after he burns those shoes.
Two spots remain, six acts still don't know their fate! Except one of those spots basically belongs to Jackie Evancho. If I had to guess the other spot, I'd say Fighting Gravity, except their performance didn't exactly make anyone pee their pants with excitement last night. Also, there's been quite a bit of buzz surrounding Studio One Young Beast Society (buzz generated by comment-writing, possibly Orlando-based bees).
Are your adopt-a-rescue-animal senses tingling? It's because Sarah McLachlan is performing. The only thing that would have made it better is if at the end, dozens of spayed and neutered animals burst forth from the piano and ran into the arms of their new, loving families. Oh well, a blogger can dream. Nick Cannon made some small talk with Sarah McLachlan, asking her what advice she has for acts who get nervous, to which she (basically) responded, "I don't get nervous, I'm a superstar."
Next to the stage are Jeremy VanSchoonhoven ("bike guy") and Christina & Ali. I don't think this reveal will go well for anyone (we've still got two more groups of two, if this is how the results are going). Indeed,
neither act is moving forward. Jeremy VanSchoonhoven had basically broken everything on this show
except his heart so it was only a matter of time.
The fourth group is the Battle of the Child Stars: Anna and Patryk vs Jackie Evancho. As talented as Anna and Patryk are, this choice seems obvious. I mean, in her clip package of last night when Jackie came backstage and cheered, "Yes! I did it!" my heart melted then re-formed as a new, healthy heart not clogged by french fries and cynicism. Fried foods be damned! Jackie Evancho secures a spot in the finale.
It comes down to Fighting Gravity and Studio One Young Beast Society. I'm not sure I can predict this one. In the recap clip package for Studio One Young Beast Society I saw a couple tricks that I didn't catch last night. I must have blinked, or my vision was clouded by prejudice against dance groups. Anyway, I should have given them more credit (in the rankings as well). That having been said, Fighting Gravity moves into the finale to represent non-singers everywhere.
So the Final 4 are: Prince Poppycock, Michael Grimm, Jackie Evancho, and Fighting Gravity. I know you have some strong feelings about this! Were you surprised by anything? Disappointed? Who do you think will win the whole thing?
(image courtesy of NBC)