America's Got Talent - fundamental problems.

[JeffL]

Fun show to watch - but is there any chance at all that someone who is NOT a singer will win? C'Mon, they let the kid who dances in Indian style to Indian songs through to the final 20, is there any chance at all that he's going to win over a good looking young guy sitting on a stool playing his guitar and singing with a great voice?

And what in the hell are they doing letting the car-crash awful male Shakira impersonator, who is just an awful joke, through, when they send one of the magicians with an act that is easily Vegas Headliner good home?

They just don't seem to have any kind of consistent criteria with which to judge very different types of acts and select among them. Why even have a troup of acrobats compete - at their best, they'll never win over someone belting out a show stopping song. They should just eliminate solo singers - otherwise they end up like last year, where a little girl that would have never made it to the final 50 of American Idol wins the million dollars over a magician who was one of the best and most entertaining I've ever seen.

Thoughts?

[Tom Chick]

Jeff Lackey, you're rotting your brain. Go play a computer game instead! Or at least watch something on the Discovery Channel.

-Tom

[Phil_Stein]

I haven't watched tonight's episode yet, but it's pretty sad to hear that the Indian music dancer and the overweight male Shakira dude made it through. Both were truly awful acts. It's as if Simon Cowell had voted William Hung on through to the finals.

It's a shame because the overall concept is great. There are a lot of variety acts out there that are really entertaining for 1-5 minutes, but that don't really have a place elsewhere on TV.

I don't know about tonight, but last night, when they were telling folks who was going through and who wasn't, it was about as unsuspenseful as possible.

Initial praise = not going through.

Initial warnings about how tough it is and that unfortunately we have to cut good acts, yada yada = going through.

[Alan Dunkin]

But... doesn't America have talent?

--- Alan

[Midnight Son]

I think they let some through just for the comedy. Call it the "Sanjaya Effect."

[Scrax]

I think the Bollywood dancer is great. He would be alot better with an actual outfit, which I expect the show to provide him with later.

It seems like they are going by what is entertaining. It might be terrible entertaining, but entertaining none the less.

Seriously though, Boy Shakira needs to be hit by a car. I swear the British people are letting him through to piss off Hasselhoff.

[Jupiter Jones]

Too many "chosen by producers" acts slip through, like the Indian Dancer guy and the Tall Gay Guy from last season. (no offense to Indian Dancers and Tall Gay Guys from last season)

Still, the "crazy magic doctor" act was freakin amazing. (even with the cut-aways and edits)

[JeffL]

Jeff Lackey, you're rotting your brain. Go play a computer game instead! Or at least watch something on the Discovery Channel.

-Tom

LOL! Tom, you're right. It comes from being in a frickin' little room while my family is still in Chicago. I'm watching all kinds of stuff (including Discovery stuff I'd never watched, and actually some good obscure movies at a local off the wall rental place.)

On the good side, I've been learning some kickass fingerstyle guitar arrangements of some great old songs...

(but - yeah. Watching lotsacrap.)