America's Got Talent - Las Vegas Callbacks, Part 1

It's time for the Las Vegas callbacks for our talented performers - and Boy Shakira. 70 acts have made it to Sin City - only 20 will be sent to the finals - who's going to be the other 19 joining my boy Leonid the Magnificent (I hope, I hope)? This time around, there's no audience. Sharon tells the hopefuls, "Don't waste this opportunity...show us what entertainment is all about." Each act gets 3 minutes. The group is split into 2 categories - music and variety. After the callbacks, 35 acts stay and 35 go. The remaining 35 are whittled down to the 20 acts that will compete in the finals. They then send the gang out into the wilds of Vegas to see "Stomp". Leonid "loved it, loved it loved it!" (resplendent in a fabulous floral hat.) Other Vegas diversions included a performance by the Blue Man Group, the obligatory gambling, meeting the cast of "Phantom of the Opera". My hubby's on his way to Vegas right now - makes me wish I had smuggled myself along in his bag.

The music group is up first. This time around, the judges have been stripped of their X'es and they don't get to give feedback until everyone's done. First up are the plus-sized Pussycats, the Glamazons. They sing "Hey, Big Spender". Sharon thought their harmonies were a bit off tonight. We'll have to wait and see. Johnny Come Lately, the L.A. rockabilly kids are next. They rip through "Rock Around the Clock". They're still good, but seemed a bit flat tonight. The band seemed to know it too - lamenting that they had just performed their worst-ever show. Fallon's next - but she's having technical problems (I think her pick fell into her guitar.) She takes the stage and it sounds like the digging for her pick knocked her guitar out of tune (something's just not right.) Sharon thinks she's "oomph-less". I did too, girlfriend.    

Cinda (our "One Night Only" singer) is back. She is thankful for this chance and I actually like her (but I don't think a singer should win this whole thing, leave that to "American Idol".) She does a serviceable a capella version of "I Just Called to Say I Love You." The judges really liked her. We see some returing faves such as cute male country singer Jason Pritchett, the 14-year-old Julienne Irwin, who looked (and sounded) beyond her years, and the a capella group Fault Line who sing "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", Hanson, v 3.0 (sorry, can't remember their name) and the fiddling family The Suttons (who this time kept the kids out.) Cas Haley is back. He (with some help from his wife) took Sharon's advice and dressed for success (but I don't think new Chucks and pants - and an ugly hat- was what she had in mind.) He sings Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City." I still think he's a great bar singer.

Beat-boxer Butterscotch is next. Surprisingly, she plays the piano and sings - quite well. Then she has to bust out her (damn) beatbox skills, accompanying herself on the piano. She was great, but Hoff thought she was "too shy". The now rapper-less Byrain is next. He's singing "Superstar" by the Carpenters (a surprising selection.) He's good, but I still haven't been wowed by any of the vocalists so far. Uh-oh, Michael the music teacher has the flu. Is he or is he not going to sing? He's no quitter and he takes the stage. His song selection, "You Raise Me Up" ties into his aspiration to show his students what perserverance can do. The judges seemed impressed. 

It's time for the judges to pick the singers who are moving on. The group is divided into "yes" and "no" lines. A bunch of the young acts are in one of the yes lists, including Johnny Come Lately, Li'L C, and Hanson 3.0. Butterscotch, the Glamazons and Julienne make the cut as well. Cinda is going home. Guess the new Chucks helped  - Cas is moving on, as are the Suttons. Byrain goes home too. And, no surprise, the Redneck Tenors and and music teacher Michael also move on.

It's time for the variety acts to strut their stuff. Grannie Pearl is up first. I really hope this Tyler Perry wannabe will be sent home. I think the judges heard my wishes. Magician Eli Kerr was having technical difficulties. Knife thrower "The Great Throwdini" had some problems too (during this montage we heard the repeated complaint "the same schtick" from our esteemed judges.) We also saw a really bad ventriliquist (how did he get through in the first place? ) Piers lamented this disappointing start for the variety acts. Hoff comes out to give the competitors a pep talk. He told them to "Wow us with your personality." Our first wow-er is John Mitchell, a 37-year-old baton twirler. It's slightly disconcerting to see a grown man twirl batons but he pulls off a flawless and kinda entertaining display. He actually deeply impressed Piers.

Anthony Reed and Kevin James are magicians in competiton. Kevin was Anthony's mentor. Oooh, drama! Anthony performs a water escape (a la Houdini). He did it flawlessly (and his assistant's boobs impressed the Hoff.) Kevin is next and he does a bit with a chainsaw  - chopping his assistant in half. It was a really cool illusion. 15-year-old balancing boy Christian is back -  unfortunately, his partner Scooby the chihuahua got bitten by a big dog so he's got to perforn solo. I don't really think he needed the pooch - kinda like Dumbo's magic feather.

Well, at last - it's the return of Boy Shakira. More of the same - gyrating and incredible wig hold on-age. If you're going to put one act through that Hoff hates, let it be Leonid - my boy L. has more talent in his pinkie than Boy Shakira (sorry Luigi, if Leonid wasn't in it, I'd be alll about you!) Megan Miller, the young ventriliquist is back - she needed to make her act more tailored to grown-ups. Did she do it? She decides to bust out the show tunes - "And I Am Telling You" - Oh, dear God. There should be an official moratorium on this song - effective now! Bruce Bloch (he of the talented bunny) had a crisis - he was going to lie on a bed of nails while a lady tap danced on top of him - unfortunately the tap dance kid cancelled on him moments before and now he's got to scramble for an act. He decided on being the "Politically Incorrect Magician"  - engaging Sharon in a rousing game of "Pull the Rabbi Out of the Hat." Cute. The scary dancing boys are back as is Lazy Legz and our other dance acts (including Orlando's own Second Story Crew). Sharon loves her some cowboy (Johnny Lonestar). Kashif is back too, he loves Vegas and want to make us love him. He learned the choreography for a new Bollywood movie since we last saw him. Talent? Naah....Ivan the Urban Action Figure is back. He pulls off the night's biggest technical difficulty. He attempts to jump over a line of chairs, misses the jump and passes out cold (it looked to me like he lost his footing and tried to make the fall look cool.) Jerry feigns worry as the bambalance is called in. What will happen?

Don't worry about Ivan - he's going to be fine. A bit bruised, but fine. Unfortunately, Ivan took up a big block of time so we didn't get to see a bunch of the acts and now it's time to see who the judges picked.B ruce and Granny are gone. Lazy Legs n' Illmatic Styles, Kevin James, Leonid (of course) and comic Cocoa Brown are coming back. Magic Anthony, the cute martial art dancing boys and Kashif (why?) stay. Poor Christian will have plenty of time to care for Scooby, as he's heading home - as is baton boy and magician Eli Kerr. Boy Shakira and the dog act are moving on  (I spotted the really good ventriliquist in this group too)  Megan and the scary mask dance boys are heading home too. Some wacky decisions, huh? Tomorrow, the 35 are cut down to 20. See you then!