Today's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea

I'm with judge Piers Morgan on this one.

After watching last night's final performances on NBC's "America's Got Talent," my enthusiasm for flamboyant opera singer Prince Poppycock has peaked and waned.

But, although all three judges lavished compliments on pint-sized opera phenom Jackie Evancho, I find myself strangely ambivalent.

I remain, though, as much in love with Fighting Gravity and Michael Grimm as ever.

The finals air tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Below find the rundown from last night and my pick (all the performances from last night are at this link) ...

Prince Poppycock: He's a whiz with the costumes, staging and makeup, no doubt, and he's got a very good voice, but I agree with Morgan on the questionable wisdom of his choice of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma."

In sparkly armor with a towering headdress made from about a thousand unfortunate birds, he was supposed to be rescuing a fairytale princess -- hung by her arms high above the stage, which looked uncomfortable and a bit creepy -- but he appeared to have forgotten her long before he reached the final big note of the aria.

And, though it was hard to hear underneath the clapping. he flubbed that note and cut it off early.

It was brave to pick "Nessun Dorma," since it's one of the ultimate showcase tunes for male singers. But if you do it, it'd better bring down the house, and frankly I think the audience was clapping more for the costume than the singing.

Compare to plain Paul Potts -- click here -- singing the same piece in his audition for "Britain's Got Talent." It's hard to argue that Poppycock's rendition was as powerful or emotional.

Poppycock's a lot of fun (though less so last night than usual, as Morgan pointed out) and would make an entertaining lounge act -- although I'm not sure how he'd achieve the costume and makeup changes with any alacrity during a show -- but he shot for the moon and didn't quite get out of Earth orbit.

Michael Grimm: He's simple, he's sweet, he's charming, and he's got a killer blues growl. "When a Man Loves a Woman" was a great choice, and he nailed it with emotion, phrasing and understated but powerful vocals.

He's much like last year's winner Kevin Skinner -- a simple country boy with a great story, a load of heart and a talent that would suit everything from a smoky club to a sports arena.

I do have a weakness for bluesmen, and whatever happens in this competition, Grimm's greatest contribution may be bringing this great American art form back to the forefront.

Jackie Evancho: Although she sang a lovely rendition of "Ave Maria," and I got chills up and down my spine, and I think she may become a great stage singer like Sarah Brightman (who performs tonight on the finale) ... oh, I don't know. The cherubic 10-year-old has a beautiful voice, a great look and a sweet but eerily self-possessed manner, but I wouldn't vote for her (disclaimer: I haven't voted for anyone).

It's lucky that she's not a boy, since puberty may not ravage her voice, but it may have an effect. I can't say what she might be at 14, let alone 24. She might be fabulous,  but ...

If I sound inarticulate, it's because I can't articulate what bugs me about Evancho, but she bugs me -- and I fully acknowledge that it might be only my issue, if only I could figure out exactly what that issue is.

It might have something to do with the fear I always feel when I see child prodigies -- that so much so soon might mean bad times ahead when the cuteness wears off. Evancho, though, seems to have a solid family that will keep her on the straight and narrow.

Also, if she encourages a few kids to broaden their musical horizons, then brava to her. It's not all Justin Bieber out there.

Fighting Gravity: I love these college dudes and their black-light theatrics, and it seems perfectly suited to a Las Vegas show. Yes, they did have a flub in the final performance -- as Morgan pointed out -- but this is not gymnastics, where a foot out can cost you a gold medal.

It's also not as if one of my early faves, ArcAttack, had a terrible electrical mishap and fried the crowd.

The talent is there, the inventiveness is there, but they just had a little whoops in execution. It would have been better if it didn't happen, but I don't consider it a dealbreaker. I just hope their inevitable fame and fortune doesn't prevent them from finishing their educations.

My pick?

Who the heck knows who America will vote in, but I'm going with Grimm. All the acts are deserving -- and it won't be an injustice, no matter which one wins or loses -- but he's got it, he's earned it, and when the pressure was on, he delivered.

Once upon a time, summer TV was all reruns, busted pilots and short-run replacement shows (I liked that Ben Vereen one, though ...), but now, it's just as stuffed with scripted and reality shows as the rest of the year -- and a bunch of them are just awesome.

So, in no particular order, here's my list of Summer Shows I Can't Live Without (feel free to play along at home; your results may vary):

"Wipeout": Anytime I need a boost to my spirits, ABC's reality-competition show, which sends contestants through wild and wacky obstacle courses, is just the ticket. In some ways, it's a living "Road Runner & Coyote" cartoon, only with no Road Runner (unless you count that $50,000 ultimate payoff that everyone's chasing). All the colorful contestants are Wile E. Coyote, forced to suffer repeated splats, falls, flips and indignities in search of an elusive prize. Yes, it's silly and mindless fun, but I love it because ... it's silly and mindless fun.

"America's Got Talent": You can keep your "American Idol," I prefer NBC's often emotional, sometimes downright loopy talent-competition series, which pits dog acts against magicians against singers against a harmonica player against a guy who flossed his neck. What all of the acts have in common is that they have nothing in common except a willingness to endure possible public humiliation to realize a long-held dream. Sometimes it makes me cry, and sometimes it makes me want to take a shower.

"Ice Road Truckers": In the midst of a sultry summertime, there's nothing like tuning in to History Channel and watching truckers on the frozen Dalton Highway in Alaska battle snow, ice and below-zero temperatures to get their rigs and their loads from one tiny tundra hamlet to another. If I still lived in the Northeast and was facing similar conditions in a few months, I might not be so sanguine, but as I don't, it's a visually stunning reminder of what I'm missing.

"Burn Notice": USA Network now has a second spy drama, called "Covert Affairs," but the original remains the gold standard for espionage thrills, chills and fun. The summer finale airs tonight (Aug. 26), so you better get hopping if you haven't yet fallen in love with burned spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) and his motley crew in Miami. Oh, and any chance to watch Sharon Gless puff a cigarette and have her say as Westen's savvy mom is worth the price of admission.

"The Choir": I fell in love with the first season of this BBC America reality show, in which elfin choirmaster Gareth Malone built a choir out of the rough-hewn raw materials at a British high school that didn't even have a music program, eventually taking it all the way to a worldwide competition in China. In the most recent season, he took on adolescent masculinity to create a choir at a sports-focused all-boys school. In the next season, he heads to a blue-collar area to not only revitalize the school but the whole town. Gareth is tough but loving and has an unshakable faith in the transformative power of singing -- and he's made a believer out of me.

"Warehouse 13" and "Eureka": Syfy has just found the right mix of science-fiction, fantasy, character humor, drama and good old entertainment in this pair of hit shows, which had crossover episodes early in the month. Both shows manage to be true to their genres without resorting to silliness or self-parody (excellent casts and writers go a long way to making that happen). They're light in tone, but not lightweight -- and that's harder than it sounds.

"Psych": A perfect froth of slapstick, one-liners, homages galore and even a dead body or two, this USA Network comedy-drama about a pretend police psychic (James Roday) and his long-suffering best buddy and partner (Dule Hill) is an absolute delight. The whole cast is strong, the writing is clever but never twee, the theme song rocks, and there's just enough heart to anchor it to Earth and keep the whole thing from floating away.

These are only the tip of the iceberg, and I could easily give Honorable Mentions to: Discovery's "The Colony"; Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva": USA's "Royal Pains" and "White Collar"; BBC America's "James May's Toy Stories": and Syfy's new "Haven" (like the chemistry between the leads a lot). And of course, there's Discovery's "Pitchmen," which just returned for a new season. And while it's as old-fashioned as it could be, I'm liking ABC Family's sitcom "Melissa & Joey" (as I only watch one other sitcom, NBC's "Community," that's something).

I'm sure there are more I just can't think of right now. Ain't summer grand?

Today's cuppa: cappuccino during breakfast with "Dirty Jobs" producer Dave Barsky (who came all the way down from the Valley for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards presentation tonight) at a hotel in Hollywood, where I also ran into Josh Harris of "Deadliest Catch," who's presenting awards. Good luck, Josh!

Below find the full text of a syndicated story available this week featuring "America's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan.

But first, there's the question of whether Morgan will replace Larry King in the 9 p.m. ET weekday talk-show slot on CNN.

Previously, I wrote about Morgan's philosophy of talk shows, and in recent days, reports have surfaced that visa issues may delay both King's retirement and Morgan's launch.

But, whatever happens, Morgan continues his gig on NBC. Enjoy ...

He may be Irish by ethnicity and British by nationality, but Piers Morgan loves America, and over the course of several years as a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," currently airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he's gotten to see a lot of the nation and its people.

He's even written a book about his experiences, called "God Bless America: Misadventures of a Big Mouth Brit," released in 2009.

"When I used to come here as a young show-business reporter for one of the London papers, I had a warped view," Morgan says. "The only Americans I met were lawyers, entertainment agents, managers and celebrities, which is not a very good reflection of the real America. So, you end up thinking all Americans are like that, because they're the only ones you meet.

"The same way, if you're on holiday in Europe, and you see a bunch of football hooligans fighting, you could go, 'God, they're a bunch of savages.' "

As to what he's learned during his travels, Morgan says, "What a huge country this is, and so varied. As I've traveled around with 'America's Got Talent,' I've gone to the North, South, East, West - everywhere very different.

"The common ground, I think, is that American people are very courteous in a way, I think, Brits have unfortunately become less courteous. There's a great spirit and energy about America. There's a real can-do mentality, where you don't have a social class structure. Your structure is based on achievement and people who have done well for themselves. You embrace that and encourage that.

"It's intoxicating for Brits, where, a lot of the time in Britain, it's what kind of silver spoon you were born with in your family, is how you get on.

"So it's nice, the can-do mentality. America's not perfect, but it has a great spirit to it. Certainly if I was in trouble, I'd want to have a couple of Americans in my corner."

New this season to "America's Got Talent" is judge Howie Mandel, who replaced David Hasselhoff in the trio that also features Morgan and his fellow "Celebrity Apprentice" alumna Sharon Osbourne.

(Photo: from left, Morgan, host Nick Cannon, Osbourne, guest performer Bret Michaels, Mandel)

"It's been fun, hasn't it?" Morgan says. "Howie's fantastic. He's spent his entire time trying to wind me up, as we say in the U.K., and he's successful.

"So he's very, very irritating, but in a very funny way. It's all humor. He makes me laugh more offstage than he even does onstage."

Despite the focus, for example, on young talent on such shows as "American Idol," Morgan notes that favorites on "Talent" are much more diverse in every way, including age.

"A lot of the older acts have really captured the young mind," Morgan says. "I don't think age is ever a barrier on 'America's Got Talent.' It's all about the character and heart and talent.

"And likability is a big thing. They've got to like you. If people like you, you can go a long way with a reasonable talent. Where some people have got a great talent but no personality, they often just get bombed out. The public finds them rather boring."

Last season on "America's Got Talent," a chicken catcher from rural Kentucky named Kevin Skinner won the big prize. Earlier winners include ventriloquist Terry Fator, who is now a top-tier act in Las Vegas. Morgan expects more of the same this season.

"I think we're going to have an amazing semifinal and final based on what I've already seen," he says. "We've got some fantastic talent, and we're going to produce two or three big stars. Everyone's very excited on the show."

And you may ask, have I picked a favorite yet? Not quite, but I do like me some Connor Doran. Have you ever danced with a kite in the pale moonlight? No? Watch this.

This afternoon's cuppa: more coffee

This morning, Zap2it posted my interview with "America's Got Talent" winner Kevin Skinner -- click here for that -- and in reading the comments, while there are plenty of folks who love Skinner and are thrilled that he won, there are also some who don't think his vocal chops were up to the winning standard.

Among Skinner's biggest supporters on the show is judge Piers Morgan, who criticized his technical ability but complimented his performance style. It's an issue that Morgan had dealt with before as a judge on the U.K.'s "Britain's Got Talent," when Susan Boyle gave a rousing audition but had shaky moments in her later performances.

Unlike Skinner (right), she finished as the runner-up -- as was amazingly talented opera singer Barbara Padilla (right) in this season of "America's Got Talent" -- but it was apparent while listening to Boyle sing the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" on last night's "AGT" finale show that she's now a far more polished, confident and assured vocalist than before.

Morgan -- who, as I said in the story, put a spotlight on Skinner back at the beginning of the season -- had something to say about that last night.

"(Kevin's) a special guy," said Morgan. "I've said this before, it's not because he's a great technical singer, but that's part of his charm. He's an unpolished gem. He's somebody, right now, that, with the right producer, right voice coach and all the rest of it, he could become a seriously successful country star.

"He's got the heart, and he has the evocative way of singing, which appeals to a wide audience."

As "AGT" judge Sharon Osbourne noted in one of her critiques of a Skinner performance, there are many top music stars who do not have technically great voices -- Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed.

"Willie Nelson," adds Morgan. "None of them are great singers, but it doesn't matter. It's about interpreting a song and making people come with you and believe in you as a performer. He's got it all."

On his way to the $1 million prize, Skinner chose two Garth Brooks songs, then did a left turn to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing."

Asked about that last night, Skinner said, "Well, that was a song that I felt comfortable singing. That song was one that, when me and my wife was dating, I'd sing to her. It had a little sentimental value."

Said Morgan, "I wouldn't have gone with the Aerosmith song in the finals, because even Steven Tyler struggled with it. I told him to stick to country music. He's a country star.

"I think (Garth Brooks') 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' was a magical moment for him, and that's the sort of thing that suits his voice better. But I admire him for trying. He tries.

"But, Kevin, you watch, in a year's time, he'll sing all that stuff."

As to what it was like to sit as a judge and watch both the Susan Boyle and Kevin Skinner phenomena in a six-month period, Morgan said, "Amazing, very emotional to watch them both. More Susan Boyle, someone I know very well and am fond of, to see her performing in the 'America's Got Talent' finale, very special to watch the American public go crazy for her and watch her sing that song so beautifully.

"What you're seeing with Susan is what you're going to see with Kevin. You're seeing an evolution of singing. Once professionals get a hold of them, they make them great.

"'If you've got the chops,' as David (Hasselhoff, his fellow "AGT" judge) says, you can be helped to become a great singer. I think Kevin will follow Susan."

A moment later, Skinner comes walking by on his way to an on-camera interview.

"Hey, Kevin," Morgan calls out, "can you lend me $20?"

Skinner grins broadly and pats his pocket, "Actually, I got that on me now."

Today's cuppa: Bewley's Gold tea

Click here for a Zap2it Q&A I did with contestant Kevin Skinner from this summer's edition of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

But, because you're here sharing a hot cuppa with me, here are a couple more excerpts from my interview with Skinner, which took place on the set for the show at CBS Television City -- where I plan to be Wednesday night, watching Susan Boyle perform on finale show! Word is that she'll be singing the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Click here for a preview.

Q: Boyle had to wait until her late 40s to find success. You're 35. How do you feel about getting the attention now, instead of when you were younger?

A: "I'm a songwriter, and I write about experiences that have happened to me in my life. You have to live a while before you can do that. I was lucky enough to meet one of the biggest names in Nashville, and he signed my guitar. It was Merle Kilgore. I was younger when I met him. I was in my 20s. He said, 'Live a little while, then you'll have a whole lot more to write about.''

Q: What's been the reaction back home in Mayfield, Ken.?

A: "I can't go anywhere when I go home. People say, 'How do you handle that?' I say, 'Hey, everybody needs their quiet time, but you need to get out and let the fans know how you feel.' They did a couple conventions back home, with my permission. I said, 'On one condition, if you take the proceeds and hand them over to St. Jude's, give it to a good cause.'

"Actually that one did real well, and they're setting up another one. I said, 'I believe in helping people.' I'd like to prevail in my music and be in the position to help somebody else who needs a chance."