'America's Got Talent': I have a crush on Barbara Padilla

Tonight on "America's Got Talent," there are four clear-cut Finals acts and one toss-up.

The 10 acts performing tonight are Footworkingz, Barbara Padilla, Erik & Rickie, Drew Stevyns, Hairo Torres, Recycled Percussion, Jeffrey Ou, Lawrence Beaman, Mario & Jenny and the EriAm Sisters. Man, I will say again: balance these weeks better. I would've taken about 2 from last week and 8 from this week to make a Top 10. It's just so unfair.

That being said, my Top 5 to advance this week (before I see them perform and also assuming the judges pull the same throwing-out-the-rules-oh-aren't-we-spontaneous shenanigans as last week) are Footworkingz, Barbara Padilla, Lawrence Beaman, Drew Stevyns and Mario & Jenny. Those last two are just gut feelings I have, they aren't based on them being any better than some of the other acts.

1. Recycled Percussion
Now, I'm not saying these guys couldn't have an awesome act, but last week I really felt like all they did was sit there and drum along to a music track. That's BORING. I want to see some movement, I want to be able to hear more of the percussion. I'd like to see an acapella act, frankly. Have them do neat rhythm stuff with ONLY their tubs and brooms and pipes and whatnot.

Anyway, after a homeless-druggie-dad sob story, Recycled Percussion takes the stage on a big van this time, drumming and playing guitar and looking like little grease monkeys. I'm pretty bored until the van roof lifts off to reveals guys playing inside the van while two guys are still on the roof. Okay, that's neat. I still don't love this act, though. It's a lot of noise and rather boring. Sorry. It's a smoke & mirrors act with not a lot of substance, in my opinion.

Piers says inventive, creative and full of showmanship. Sharon forgets to critique them because she's too busy going all Cougar Town on the performers. The Hoff is mad that she's stepping on his schtick. He also says they are great.

2. Lawrence Beaman
Tonight Lawrence sings "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys. Ummmm... interesting choice. I'll give him a chance, though. You know, his voice is very good but I don't like it on this song. It's too deep and thick to pull this off, plus I don't love the key change. I really think Lawrence chose WRONG this week. He still has his sex appeal going strong, so that might carry him through.

Sharon compliments him on trying something contemporary and loves his voice, but she didn't love the vocal acrobatics. The Hoff likes that he took a risk. Piers didn't love the performance. Yeah, generally Piers and I are on the same page. He thinks the older stuff is more suited to Lawrence's voice. Totally true.

3. Erik & Rickie
Tonight they dance to "Black & White" while dressed in black and white. Ya know what? Let's just say they are cute and very talented for their age, but I think it's time for them to go. That's all I have to say about that. Just as I get done typing that, Piers buzzes them. Mean old ogre. I think he LIKES buzzing little kids.

The Hoff is drunk, rambling about Erik & Rickieland, which would be their own Disneyland. Piers says he likes them, it's not personal. Well, little kids don't understand that! He says their style of dance doesn't go with that music choice and compares it to eating fries and custard. Nick takes umbrage to "custard" and so do I. Try "ice cream," Piers. Nick reassures the kids that he's "speaking ogre talk, don't pay any attention to him." He's so great with the young kids. Sharon says she can't find fault with it and they are fantastic.

4. Jeffrey Ou
Tonight he plays a classical piece I don't recognize, but nice to see him back to classical. The stage lights are coordinated to his playing, which is very cool. He also some awesome Amadeus hair and costume going on, but I'm just really bored. I don't want to go to a piano recital, even if there are cool lights. Piers buzzes him. Yeah.

Piers says it was completely out of control and that he hardly hit a note. How would Piers know? Ou says he was playing "Hungarian Rhapsody" by Lizst, so I repeat, "How would Piers know?" Sharon says he looks fantastic and that he's like "Mozart meets Amadeus, Amadeus." I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she means the Falco video and does in fact know that Mozart and Amadeus are the same guy. The Hoff says he expected birds to come out of Jeffrey's hair and that it was crazy.

5. Hairo Torres
Tonight Hairo is battling an injury, but he pushes through and dances to that damn Black Eyed Peas song that is EVERYWHERE! It's a prom theme and he's up to his regular physical acrobatics. I enjoy this, but I just wouldn't pay to see him do a whole show. He should be on "So You Think You Can Dance." However, he's the best so far tonight in my opinion, so I guess he should advance.

Sharon loves that he added a lot of new stuff, which is true. The Hoff says it's enjoyable, entertaining and awe-inspiring. Piers says he's funny, which makes him stand-out from the average street dancer. Yes.

6. EriAm Sisters
Tonight they slow it down with "There Can Be Miracles" from Prince of Egypt. It's a good, wholesome schmaltzy Disney number and they do have some good harmonies after a bit of a shaky start. You know why these three are GOOD and the Texas Tenors are BAD? Because these three sisters BLEND.  I would give them $100 each to sing "Weak" by SWV next week. I think they could just KILL that song.

Piers says it was a shaky start (it's like we share a brain) but once they got their confidence it became a really good performance. Sharon says they were being three leads at the beginning and not working together, but they started working together as a unit later on. Why don't they say that to the freaking Tenors?!?! That's their problem TOO. The Hoff says terrific at the end.

7. Mario & Jenny
The song tonight is "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson, which is a GREAT song for them. Tonight there is a lot of dancing at the beginning, which is boring. I mean, it's neat that Mario can tap-dance, but... meh. Where's the big trick? Eventually Jenny pole-dances and Mario drums. Um, where's the fire? Where's the juggling? FINALLY Mario lights a drum on fire and balances it on his chin (like we've seen him do a million times). Hmmm. M&J really dropped the ball tonight, they dropped all the good stuff about their act.

Piers says it didn't work at all, they blew it. YES. Sharon says it showed they are not one-dimensional. Hmmm. The Hoff says it was a "German-techno-weird-acid-Halloween-party." And David Hasselhoff would know from a German-techno-weird-acid-Halloween-party.

8. Drew Stevyns
Tonight the resident heartthrob performs "Careless Whisper," but it's more Seether than George Michael, thank god. The red lighting on his face is making him look like he's having a stroke onstage, but musically I like it. At least he knows his wheelhouse (coughLawrenceBeamancough).

Sharon says he was aggressive with the song and that he made it his own, but she didn't like it. However, just because it wasn't her cup of tea doesn't mean she doesn't like him and what he did. The Hoff says it didn't quite work at first, but it grew on him. He also compares him to Daughtry. He actually says it "turned him on," but maybe he's still at his German Halloween party place. Piers says it was a massive gamble that paid off.

9. Footworkingz
Tonight there is fire and shiny outfits and lasers and very quick footwork that is very much in-sync, but I don't know. There's some weird going on. It's not working for me, it's like a Saturday Morning Cartoon or something. Oh wait... the song is from Power Rangers. Well, that explains that. It's just not that good this week. They get buzzed by Piers and Sharon.

The Hoff says he doesn't need the lasers and all the trappings, he just wants to see them dance. Piers says it was career suicide to go with that theme. It totally stripped away their cool factor. YES. Sharon says they need light & shade in the performances instead of just full-on 100% each time with a different costume on. Very true.

You know, these judges (by and large) have good critiques for the contestants. I really think they actually give them something substantive.

10. Barbara Padilla
Barbara looks like a Greek goddess tonight in a gold dress with her hair down. I'm sorry I can't tell you what she's singing, but I enjoy it. She has such good emotion when she sings. The climax of the song gives me goosebumps. I just love Barbara Padilla.

Piers says "wow, wow, wow" and that she is a superstar. Sharon says it doesn't matter what your musical taste is because music goes beyond those boundaries and that you don't have to love opera to appreciate Barbara. I totally agree. I hate people who say something like that is no good simply because they dont' care for opera. You can still hear her talent. The Hoff says God has blessed her.

Oh, also: each judge brings up the cancer thing, which... spare me. Stop making this about sob stories.

Well, out of the performances tonight... I think Barbara Padilla, Drew Stevyns, the EriAm Sisters, Hairo Torres and... man. Based on tonight? Recycled Percussion. Based on the whole season? Lawrence Beaman. So that's a toss-up for me.  What do you guys think?