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RSS'America's Got Talent': does Tallan Noble Latz play parties?
Tonight on "America's Got Talent," I love a 9 year-old guitar player named Tallan Noble Latz and a group of singing gentlemen called Spiritual Harmonizers.
We kick it off tonight in New York. Our first act of the evening is 38 year-old Jeffrey Windham, who is presented as a singer but instead comes out and tries to rap/sing "Mr. Boombastic" by Shaggy. The guy is just a half-step up from tone deaf and doesn't know how to take a hint. PSST! When the audience is fervently booing you, get OFF THE STAGE!
Bad Montage. Alex Feldman, who takes off his bra and plays a flute with a wine glass on it? I don't even know, guys. Dorothy Bishop "sings" the disco version of "Carmen." Moonwalker's only talent is, apparently, dislocating his arm. He and Phillip Chbeeb should have an act. David Glass also tries to sing.
What is with people who want to sing badly on national television? It's like the people who are too old to embarrass themselves on "American Idol" just trot on over to "America's Got Talent." Dear god.
There is finally a good act with cute-as-a-button 9 year-old Tallan Noble Latz, which is just the best name in the whole wide world. If he wins the money, he wants to have his mom quit working so he can spend more time with her. Now see... these are the kinds of little kids I just love. This kid is so sincere and adorable, I just want to kidnap him and take him home and read him Harry Potter and play catch with him.
It also just so happens that this kid can really play the guitar. It's quite entertaining and I can't wait to see what he does in Las Vegas. The judges just love this kid and he is through unanimously. Excellent. Video of Tallan sitting in with Jonathon Long & The Baton Rouge Soul Explosion at BB King's Blues Club in Memphis back in February is below. Apparently the band saw him performing on Beale Street and asked him to sit in with them. That is the best thing I've ever heard, what a cutie patootie.
There's a quick throwaway clip of a ballroom dancing couple but we are not told their names, just that they made it to Vegas. Huh.
The next act they actually show us is 74 year-old Tony Ferrante, a man with a head full of black hair and a shiny gold shirt on. He comes out an dances and while it's nothing special, if they put through that 62 year-old moonwalking granny Carol Lugo, I don't know why they wouldn't put through this guy. David says yes, Piers says no but Sharon puts him through with her yes.
Good Montage. Arthur the Harem Dancer is... good... and weird. Nathan Burton the Magician vanishes a girl, it looked neat for the 5 seconds we saw it. The African High Flyers put on a very impressive acrobatic routine. I prefer them to Acrodunk because it's very organic and doesn't use trampolines.
Kelli Glover is our singer/sob story of the night. Kelli is a refugee from season 1 of "American Idol." She made it to the semi-finals, singing "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston (bold choice) in her first semi-final group and not advancing, being beaten out by Tamyra Gray, Ryan Starr and Jim Verraros. She then sang "How am I Supposed to Live Without You" by AC Slater and Jessie Spano Laura Branigan in the Wild Card round, but RJ Helton was the one who advanced.
Did you guys catch the brief clip of Ryan Seacrest and The Other Guy? I bet the Other Guy just hates everything right now. Video of "How am I Supposed to Live Without You" is below. Man "American Idol"... you've come a long way baby. Also, I dig Kelli sans 'fro.
Kelli is back tonight singing "Listen" by Beyonce. Girlfriend likes to pick diva songs, no? She's very good, so maybe this is her shot. The judges are proud of her for not giving up and put her through unanimously, though Piers does caution her that they see a lot of good singers and not to assume she is going to win it all.
The Bad Girls is up next. They are a Powerpuff Girls-like group, so if they advance the blonde shall be known as Bubbles, the red head shall be known as Blossom and the raven-haired girl shall be known as Buttercup. They sing... I don't even know what they sing because they mangle it so badly. When the judges tell them they aren't any good, they strut their giant asses off-stage.
The next act is the Platt Brothers (Cy, Cheetah and Boone? Did that guy say "Cheetah?") They are these totally adorable country boys who do an acrobatic/slapstick dance number. It doesn't start off terribly strong but it gets better as they go along. I'd put the through. They may not be able to sustain an Vegas show at this point, but they're better than a lot of the acts that have gotten through. The judges put them through unanimously.
The last group of the night is a group of singers that call themselves Spiritual Harmonizers. They are a group of men from Virginia ranging in age from 21 to 76 years old. They sing "It's so Hard to Say Good-bye to Yesterday" and it's just fabulous. (Also one of my most favorite songs. Boyz II Men could blow.) The harmonies are beautiful and most importantly their voices blend really well. I actually wish the lead guy had reined it in juuuuust a touch. I like just a couple less runs. Either way, that's a quibble due to personal preference. They are just great and the judges agree. Vegas!
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Kelli's not the only reality also-ran, again. Nathan Burton was doubly robbed in the semifinals on Season 1. In his group, the judges sent forward the Rappin Granny, and the audience voted for a not-as-great-as-she-should-have-been Bianca Ryan. He came back for the wildcard, but the judges voted for All That and the audience threw their votes away by rewarding the reprehensible David & Dania.
Anyway, I agree that Tallan and Spiritual Harmonizers were the best. Tallan has been on Rachael Ray, but that was likely between the taping of his audition and this airing.
Hey I was going to post some video of Kelli Glover but you beat me to it. Here's her clip singing the Whitney song, though imo the one you posted was better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfVeBk7kYak&feature=related
She was my favorite of the night, she's much improved from Idol. Also enjoyed Tallan and Tony the dancer (though I think Carol Lugo was better). Spiritual Harmonizers were really good but I think Kelli was better and thus should have gotten the pimp spot of the evening. Check out my full recap here:http://mel31602.blogspot.com/2009/07/americas-got-talent-recap-more.html
Read more about the Platt Brothers and see a video of their work here: http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/events/platt-brothers/
I think Tallan is amazing and I just love hearing about young kids who are just so naturally talented, BUT he should not win this show. I don't think kids should win AGT because of the whole "Vegas show" aspect. I think kids should be allowed to be kids and go to school and hang out with their friends. I think he is amazing and he should continue to play and become a phenominal blues guitarist and I am glad I got to see him and can't wait to see more but I hope an adult wins this show.
kellie is unbeleavable beautiful and has so much talent. It is no doubt that she will win this competition...she is really a cut above above the rest. KELLIE IF YOU ARE READIN THIS I WOULD LOVE TO CONTACT YOU, MY EMAIL IS geraldhunter@hotmail.com
I think Nathan Burton is really good, but he already has a show in Vegas, at the Flamingo, and I thought the whole point of winning AGT is to headline a Vegas show. So I'm a little puzzled by that. Also, I have to say, Nick Cannon is doing a great job. Charming, funny and sweet.
I agree that Nick Cannon is by far the best emcee that AGT has had. Regis was too full of himself and looked like he didn't want to be there, and Jerry Springer...well, let's just say that if a TV show has to sink that far to have him host a show, perhaps the show shouldn't be made at all. Nick Cannon is just the right mix of presence and persona, willing to get into the thick of things, but not needing to hog the spotlight. Plus, he seems to genuinely enjoy standing in the wings, watching the acts perform (even the really, really bizarre ones). So, if AGT lasts another few seasons, hopefully he'll decide to stick around.
As for last night, I knew I'd seen the magician before, so I don't know why he's back, plus I didn't think the sob story du jour was that great on AI, and my opinion of her hasn't changed. She is (to use an overused American Idol term) "pitchy," and she tends to overplay notes that need not be. While I can appreciate tenacity, there comes a time when one needs to realize that a career in show business just ain't happening. So sorry, but them's the breaks.
I also recognized Nathan Burton from AGT Season 1 (and the horrid "Wayne Newton presents The Entertainer"). Between him and Acrodunk its almost like the show is trying to pretend the first season never happened. Can't say I really blame them, Regis wasn't great, the audience full of contestants shtick was painful and the judges seemed to hate each other.
All of that coupled with the fact that the show didn't really pick steam until season 2 with Terry Fator and, again, I can't say I blame them. Plus, I think Nathan is a very talented magician and am happy to see him get another shot.
This kid is no orio, he's ****ginized! Do it to it Tallan!
"Dorothy Bishop "sings" the disco version of "Carmen."
She was really bad on this video, wasn't she? But then how would one explain this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu_2K6a4lCM
or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90QRVp5ebcM
or a number of similar videos on YouTube? Bad night, fooling around or creative editing job on part of AGT producers? Why is it that we hear a bunch of random notes that don't at all sound like Carmen.
The more I watch this show the more I wonder about how fake it is.