"America's Got Talent" - August 10, 2011 - Did America and the judges get it right?

• Not even close! (50%, 2 Votes)
• Yes, absolutely! (25%, 1 Votes)
• Quit nagging me about this show! (25%, 1 Votes)
• Almost, but not quite. (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 4

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America’s Got Talent showed off 12 YouTube acts last night. Surprisingly, there were few outright bad acts last night (Powerhouse, anyone?). Instead, most of the acts work better as either a 90-second viral video clip or as part of a larger performance by YouTubers. They simply don’t translate well onto TV. Adding back-up dancers to Kalani Basketball Freestyle simply ruined the routine. Yet without those dancers, he, and some of the other acts, would have been swallowed up by the size of the stage.

Gymkana, Kevin Collis, and Matt Welhelm are my picks to go through tonight. They had the three best acts last night, acts which I have watched a couple of extra times today. I will be happy with either Gabe Rocks or Aeon taking the last spot. Both of those acts had problems but are deserving enough to move on.

Things went my way last week with the acts, so hopefully my luck continues tonight.

Read my thoughts about tonight’s results show live after the jump.

Going through to the Top 24: Gymkana, Matt Welhelm, Kevin Collis, Beth Ann Robinson

Time for the results from the YouTube performances. Rebecca Black is on the show tonight as well. Not sure what her haters will do since there is no dislike button on live TV.

Piers Morgan points out that Nick Cannon is wearing sparkly shoes. Why anyone, much less a guy, would ever wear such shoes is beyond my pay grade. It’s beyond my comprehension as well.

First out on stage is Gymkana and Powerhouse. Talk about anti-climatic. There isn’t even a question about which act is going through. At least, there better not be a question. Gymkana did an amazing job. Powerhouse showed us a distinct lack of power and also made me want to escort them out of the house.

The first act tonight going to the semi-finals is Gymkana. America is off to a great start tonight. Maybe my forehead vein will get another week off.

Commercial time, during which I have to put up with yet another advertisement for the new series Free Agents. Even if they paid me, I wouldn’t watch that show.

YouTube star Tay Zonday takes the stage to perform a small “Chocolate Rain” sketch. Not sure why it was such a short sketch. Wasn’t even 90-seconds long.

American Idol has Coca-Cola, The X Factor has Pepsi, and America’s Got Talent has Orville Reddenbacher. It pays the bills.

YouTube star lip-syncing star Keenan Cahill takes to the stage to do one of his lip-sync performances. Much like some of the acts last night, his act doesn’t work on the big stage. The second song sees Nick Cannon come out to sing it while Keenan lip-syncs to it. Pretty funny, actually.

Another round of commercials, another new series advertised. This time, it’s Up All Night. I like Christina Applegate and would love to watch her, but no one, and I mean no one, is begging to see Will Arnett on their TV screens again. And even fewer want to see Maya Rudolph. TV is certainly going down the crapper.

The rock band OK Go debuts “All Is Not Lost” on stage with some kind of dance group performing. Most of the dance is done on top of glass with a camera underneath looking up. I’ve never heard of this group before, don’t even remember what Nick said their name was. But what they are doing is amazing. Some really good dance tricks happening.

Why can’t American Idol find guest performers this good?

The next group of people to take the stage include Matt Welhelm, TNC Elite, and Aeon. America already voted Matt through once, so this shouldn’t be a shocking result. The only downside is that Aeon definitely won’t be going through tonight. Hopefully they will be one of the 12 Wild Card acts for next week.

The second act to move on to the semi-finals is Matt Welhelm. Two for two tonight. I love you, America.

This commercial time includes an ad for the new series The Playboy Club. Like I said, “going to the crapper.”

YouTube punching bag Rebecca Black takes the stage to sing a mashup of “My Moment” and “Friday.” She really needs her autotune back. It’s so bad, my TV feed is cutting out. Doesn’t want to hear it.

Time for the third group. Kalania Basketball Freestyle, Brett Danies, Kevin Collis, Breena Bell. Again, this should be anti-climatic. Kevin Collis was heads and shoulders above every other act out there on stage with him. Don’t let me down now, America.

The third act moving on to the semi-finals is Kevin Collis. You like me, America. You really, really like me.

Three acts left backstage: Gabe Rocks, Beth Ann Robinson, and 29) West Springfield Dance Team. One of them will be sent home before the judges choose who will go through.

But before that, we see a performance from YouTube stars, Up and Over it. They are the male and female hands and feet dance stars, and they are amazing to watch. With an act like that, you can delay the results another hour.

Alas, the routine ends and its time for Gabe Rocks, Beth Ann Robinson, and West Springfield Dance Team to take the stage. My hope is that Gabe makes it through, only because there are no other animal acts left in the competition. I won’t be upset if Beth Ann goes through instead, though with all the amazing group acts still in the competition, I just don’t see her making it that far. As for West Springfield, well……….. this isn’t Vampire Diaries.

Gabe Rocks is sent home immediately. I was afraid that would happen.

The judges go off to talk about who to send through. I’m sending my thoughts to them. Oops. The song “mmmbop” just popped into my head instead. Oh well.

Another round of commercials, and another ad for a show I’m not going to watch. I give up.

West Springfield Dance Team or Beth Ann Robinson. Time for the judges to vote.

Piers disses Gabe Rocks.

Dumb Piers.

He then votes for Beth Ann Robinson.

Okay. So maybe Piers isn’t so dumb after all.

Sharon votes for West Sprinfield Dance Team.

Ugh.

It comes down to Howie. He chooses Beth Ann Robinson.

Good ol’ Howie. I knew I could count on him.

Now it’s time for the show to reveal who will return next week for the Wild Card week.

Sharon brings West Springfield Dance Team back next week.

The show quickly runs through the other 11 acts coming back next week. I manage to catch Those Funny Little People, Avery and the Calico Hearts, Landon Swank, and Charles Peachock.

So what do you think about tonight’s results show? Vote in the poll at the top of the post and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

And join Rickey, from Rickey.org and me tonight for the Idol Radio Show at 11 PM ET / 10 PM CT.