Before you continue reading this post, it's important that you know that I enjoy America's Got Talent and have been entertained by it since the first season. However, I, and I know a lot of fans too based on comments left here on the site, am not that happy with how the current season turned out.
Dear America's Got Talent producers, here are a few suggestions from myself and TV Squad readers on how you can improve next season.
(S04E26) This is it, people. The time has come to name the winner of America's Got Talent, the world's biggest talent search. The two-hour (!) final results bash included performances from Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle, The X Factor's Leona Lewis, Thelma Houston, Cirque du Soleil, Rascal Flatts, and Shakira. Sadly, none of the previous AGT winners performed.
Based on the TV Squad poll I've included in my review of the Top 10 performance show, 35.1% of the voters, including myself, said Barbara Padilla would win. Kevin Skinner received 22.2% of your votes, while Recycled Percussion placed third in our poll with 19.4%. The other contestants all got under 7% of your votes. (Note that these results were accurate at the beginning of the results show.)
Did the TV Squad poll results match reality? Official results coming up! If you haven't watched the finale yet and do not want to be spoiled as to who won the competition, it's time to click elsewhere now!
(S04E25) The biggest talent search in the world started its competition three months ago. After a summer of questionable judges decisions, talent performances and Hoff-isms, it's time to crown the winner of the show's fourth season.
But before the America's Got Talent winner can be announced in the live season finale to air on Wednesday, featuring a guest appearance by Susan Boyle, the Top 10 acts needed to perform one last time for America's votes. My comments and predictions coming up!
Simon Cowell predicted it and he was right (and he has a hand in all this, you know). Susan Boyle is going to appear on the season finale of America's Got Talent, giving all of us a chance to see her as she is now. As this beautiful photo shows, celebrity has already transformed Susan. The shock to her system after the sudden fame has apparently waned, and she is now ready to bring her act to America. Britain's Got Talent nearly overwhelmed her, but that was then and this is now.
The appearance on America's Got Talent will be included in the NBC show's two-part finale airing September 14 and 16. And, they're calling this her "official" U.S. TV debut, but I think that's referring to singing only, because she's been on talk shows.
(S04E24) Nick asked the crowd who they'd like to see in the finals, and of course, it was impossible to tell which names they yelled out, since all of the acts have their fans at this point.
Tonight we learn who's taking the last five spots in the finals. Nick also reminded us that the next show will air Monday, Sept. 14, and that there's no judge's pick tonight. The five who go through will be the five that America voted for. As it should be, in my view.
After a brief recap of last night's show, Nick asked Piers why he X'd the acts he did. Piers said it's a simple formula -- a game of the good and the not-so-good. Sharon gave another shout out to Barbara Padilla, whom she absolutely loves. Hoff said, "I'm Hoff crazy!" He also reminded us that they've seen a hundred thousand acts and it's getting down to the wire.
(S04E23) There were mixed feelings amongst viewers last week when the America's Got Talent judges announced that they couldn't decide who, between Voices of Glory and Fab 5, should get the fourth place in what was supposed to be a final round of the top eight acts of the summer.
It wasn't much of a surprise when Nick announced at the beginning of this week's performance show that there would be no judges' pick. It wouldn't make sense to have a Top 9, eh? I'm happy that more acts -- aka the same number as last year -- will get to perform in the finals. But what I'm happier for is that America will pick the final five acts to enter the next round. No judges' pick. The results will be solely based on the number of votes.
How did the ten remaining acts perform this week? Which acts should move on? My two cents, Piers' many Xs, and your comments coming up!
This week's results show featured a special performance from The Hoff himself. Did he give a performance worthy to be Xed, or did he deliver the goods? My two cents, as well as which first four acts are moving to the final round coming up!
Don't worry. Nick Cannon won't necessarily be packing his bags any time soon, but former host Jerry Springer is coming back to America's Got Talent. He's slated to host that Planet Hollywood live show in Las Vegas Cannon has been pimping every week.
Springer originally left America's Got Talent to appear on Broadway in Chicago, but that gig has since wrapped. I'm not sure what that means for next season of the talent show. After a shaky start, I think Nick Cannon has emerged as a capable and fun host for the wackiness of AGT. He's got a natural sense of humor about everything, which is essential when talking to "The Hoff."
(S04E21) "We're getting down to the wire." - The Hoff
This week's performers needed to up their games big time because some of them did not impress viewers that much in the past four weeks when each performed for a place in the Top 20. And, as The Hoff pointed, we're getting down to the wire and will soon crown the season four winner of America's Got Talent.
The first ten acts to show their talent in the semi-finals are from performance shows one and two of the Top 48. This way of breaking the acts allows diversity as we were treated to dance, acrobatics, singing, canine tricks, comedy and magic.
Do we have a potential winner amongst tonight's performances? Did the judges Piers X anyone? Comments and Top 8 -- yes, you read correctly no Top 10 -- predictions coming up!
An iPhone software developer is trying to turn the "anybody can sing" craze triggered by American Idol and America's Got Talent into an online social networking craze.
And, I admit, the more I think about that, the more terrifying it becomes. Take the first couple weeks of Idol shows with all of the bad auditions and multiply them by the endless fool factor of the Internet.
iSing (created by Island Labs and available in Apple's iTunes store), enables anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch to record a 30-second audition. Singers then publish it and watch for their recording "to climb the charts as their 'fans' vote for (or against) it in this worldwide competition for stardom" (all according to an Island Labs release). You don't win anything but "stardom," should you do well.
(S04E20) "I think the talent this year is "Hoff" the charts." - The Hoff
The Hoff must not be watching the same show we are, eh? Because the talent is definitely not off the charts. Yes, there are some very good acts but compared to previous seasons, this year's Top 48 was rather poor in talent.
The last Top 48 acts performed earlier this week and now came the time to reveal who would fill the remaining five spots in the Top 20. Except for three or four acts, this week's performance show was so-so, making it difficult to predict how America would vote.
Did your favorite acts make it to the Top 20? Results coming up!
(S04E19) A few of you told me that I was wrong by claiming that last week's performance show was electrifying. I agree with you that we have seen much better performance shows in the past. However, when you compare the third performance show of the season with the two previous, you have to admit that it was the most electrifying.
Save for a few of tonight's acts, such as Ishaara and Barbara, the third performance show is still the best performance show we've had so far this season.
My comments on the fourth performance show and my predictions coming up!
(S04E18) "The most electrifying show yet!" - Nick, about last night's performance show
Nick is right. Last night was electrifying, even if a few acts got X'd. It was one of the best show's we've had so far this season.
As I noted in my review of the performance episode, I expected Jeffrey Ou to lose some votes because viewers weren't able to hear him play the piano in the second part of his acts. But a few of our site visitors said they voted for him because he wasn't given a fair chance.
Will Jeffrey get another chance by moving on to the Top 20? Results coming up!
(S04E17) A lot of you sounded off in comments to my "Results show two" post last week, either to complain about the judges putting through Tony Hoard and Rory over Charles, or to give your two cents about what the show should change when it returns next summer for a fifth season.
One thing is certain; most fans are not happy with how season four is going, and most are pointing fingers at the judges. Sharon and David especially seem to check their judgment at the door when it's time to make certain decisions, don't you agree?
This week, we were treated with the second to last Top 48 performance show of the "greatest talent competition on Earth," America's Got Talent. Most of the acts definitely delivered the goods tonight. Do you think America and the judges will pick the right five acts to move to the Top 20 this week? My comments about this week's performances coming up!
(S04E16)Twelve more acts performed last night, and we learned in this America's Got Talent second results show who would join Arcadian Broad, Acrodunk, Drew Thomas Magic, Kevin Skinner, and Grandma Lee in the Top 20. The show also confirmed that it would be returning for another season.
From what I've read on the web, most people thought that Charles DeWayne and the Voices of Glory would move through to the next round without a doubt. As for which acts would get the other three spots, fans could not agree since a lot of the remaining acts gave so-so performances or were too close to call. Did Charles and the Voices of Glory siblings get a spot in the Top 20? Which other acts will stay in Hollywood for the next round? The results, including a shocking turn of events, coming up!
Simon Cowell predicted it and he was right (and he has a hand in all this, you know). Susan Boyle is going to appear on the season finale of America's Got Talent, giving all of us a chance to see her as she is now. As this beautiful photo shows, celebrity has already transformed Susan. The shock to her system after the sudden fame has apparently waned, and she is now ready to bring her act to America. Britain's Got Talent nearly overwhelmed her, but that was then and this is now.
(S04E24) Nick asked the crowd who they'd like to see in the finals, and of course, it was impossible to tell which names they yelled out, since all of the acts have their fans at this point. 
(S04E23) There were mixed feelings amongst viewers last week when the America's Got Talent judges announced that they couldn't decide who, between Voices of Glory and Fab 5, should get the fourth place in what was supposed to be a final round of the top eight acts of the summer. 
(S04E22) It's time to narrow down the talent field to the Top 8 acts who will perform in the final round of this season's America's Got Talent. They'll get the chance to win a million, as well as perform on the Vegas Strip in a special show hosted by ex-AGT host Jerry Springer.
Don't worry. Nick Cannon won't necessarily be packing his bags any time soon, but former host Jerry Springer is coming back to America's Got Talent. He's slated to host that Planet Hollywood live show in Las Vegas Cannon has been pimping every week.
(S04E21) "We're getting down to the wire." - The Hoff
An iPhone software developer is trying to turn the "anybody can sing" craze triggered by American Idol and America's Got Talent into an online social networking craze.
(S04E20) "I think the talent this year is "Hoff" the charts." - The Hoff
(S04E19) A few of you told me that I was wrong by claiming that last week's performance show was electrifying. I agree with you that we have seen much better performance shows in the past. However, when you compare the third performance show of the season with the two previous, you have to admit that it was the most electrifying.
(S04E18) "The most electrifying show yet!" - Nick, about last night's performance show
(S04E17) A lot of you sounded off in comments to my "Results show two" post last week, either to complain about the judges putting through Tony Hoard and Rory over Charles, or to give your two cents about what the show should change when it returns next summer for a fifth season. 
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