America's Got Talent - The Top Ten Perform (Episode 317)

Elton John would approve (NBC)With the judges no longer making picks, it's all up to you, America, as to who is going to win $1 million and a gig in Vegas. According to Piers, America has to make a responsible choice as to who they want to make it to the final five as "the games are now over" as well as the "sympathy votes." Sharon said the artist who wins will represent America all over the world (because people the world over know the name Bianca Ryan - sorry, kid. I'm sure they have no idea who Terry Fator is either.) Hoff, who Jer-ry says is an experienced star in Vegas (I'd love to know where that is, unless he made that infamous drunken cheeseburger eating video in some casino there) is looking for the  "money players". Jer-ry throws out every cliche in the book as he introduces a retrospective of all of the acts and their challenge-packed journey to the top ten.
 
Up first on this "big, big night" is my sentimental favorite, Frank Sinatra impersonator Paul Salos. All of the acts are dedicated to heroes this week, as each act is dedicating their performance to someone who has inspired them. Former pilot Paul says Ol' Blue Eyes has been an inspiration to him for over 30 years. As Paul says, "Falure is not an option" tonight. He's gonna "knock 'em out." Papa (Paul) said knock you out. Sorry...I've gotta find the fun here where I can. He tackles Frankie's signature song "New York, New York" - complete with unnecessary showgirls. The phrasing is perfect. If you don't look at the screen, you'd think you were listening to a record. Can you tell how much I love this guy? Piers, the grouch, buzzed him. (How dare you?) Please give this man a gig in Vegas. Piers asks Paul how he feels to be on stage as one of the top ten and he says he has no words and is "flabbergasted." Piers said he's done Frank with "style and charm" but said he's a "million dollar guy, but not a million dollar act." I strongly disagree. Sharon says "thank God it's not up to Piers to decide" Paul's fate, because she thought he was just "fabulous." Hoff said he "nailed it."

Who inspires little Kaitlyn Maher? According to this lispy four-year-old, the song she's singing tonight always brings a smile to her Dad's face. That's pretty much all I got from her pre-song interview. She's cute as a button as she sings "I'll Be There." And, gasp (or lisp) she isn't absolutely perfect tonight. She actually looks a bit nervous - maybe she's starting to figure out that she's on a national TV show. The song was well out of her (limited) vocal range (and the technical difficulties didn't help.) My husband wasn't even in the room and was screaming "That is horrible!" from down the hall. Obviously, it's the end of the woad road for little Kaitlyn. Piers called her ability to remember the lyrics to all of her songs "amazing" and said he wouldn't criticize her because she wouldn't undersand it anyway. He implies that America would do her a disservice by pitting her on a Vegas stage. Sharon said she loved her song choice and summed up her review with two words: "Well done." Hoff says she can come back for the next 70 years. Well, Jer-ry says each time she performs is his "happiest moment" of the show. It's not like she's going to remember this next month, let alone next year, so let's cut the ass kissing, hmmm?

Our next act is my hunky male cougar (what do you call an older male hottie anyway?)/Bruce Campbell look-a-like Donald Braswell. He dedicates his song to his wife, who is his strength and his pilar. He reclooects the accident in 1995 that almost cost him his voice. Wifey told him he needed to follow his dreams. Hoff says Donald hasn't yet forged a relationship with the audience. Donald says he's a fighter and now that he's got his voice back, he wants to take it "all the way." Tonight he again reaches into the Josh Groban songbook and sings "To Where You Are." It's another big song, and although he is still kind of old-fashioned/musical theater-y, he's good. And damn, he's good looking. Piers says although his popularity is "extraordinary," he thinks he's not as good as some of the other singers still in the competition. He's not sure he'd pay to watch his show or buy his album. Sharon says he looks "very sexy in those trousers" and then adds "My, what a big boy you are!" I'm not sure if this meant she liked his song or not, but she did say that she thought he was "fabulous" at singing those "big romantic songs." Hoff loves his story and says he'd defineitly buy his album.   
Our next performer's hero kept her dream of singing alive - former factory worker Jessica Price. She sings "Angel" by sarah MacLachlan dedicated to her mom. She felt after her dad left she put her guitar down to help raise her family. She's always been there for her and she wouldn't be there without her. At least we don't have to hear how the performers are challenging themselves this week. She's a litle too breathy (and close to the microphone?) this week. And why would you tackle a Sarah MacLachlan song? Her voice is so rich and complex that any singer would draw the inevitable comparisons - and Jessica is just not that good. The smoke on the stage and her maxi dress gave the illusion that she's floating on air (I lost interest in her singing, so my mind wandered.) Piers said there's always been something missing in her performances and tonight it all came together. Sharon said Sarah MacLachlan would have loved her "perfect" rendition of her song and suited what she's all about. She finally has found a style that fits. Hoff said she "did it"...but did she nail it?

Next is a performer who becomes his hero when he takes the stage, hunky Elvis Joseph Hall. Obviously, The King is his hero. Joe admires his stage presence and charsima. He's singing "A Little Less Conversation (The Remix)" and he's concerned because Elvis never performed the remix, so he has no point of reference. It's now or never (another Elvis reference!) He must have read my last recap because he did some karate moves when he took the stage. Despite tightening up his moves, Joseph didn't sound anything like Elvis tonight. To his credit, it was hard to hear his voice - maybe his microphone is having issues? Also, I don't remember Elvis dancing so much with one hand on his hip. And I can't deal with the distracting backup dancers. They're not helping (especially with "Elvis" emblazoned on their butts.) Piers says that his singing was terrible - like a drunken Piers at karaoke (now that I'd love to hear) but admitted there was something about him that was "incredibly entertaining." He's got the moves, the looks and the sex appeal but wished he had the voice. (Did he say 'Thank you, love" at the end of his critique?) Sharon said she couldn't hear his voice from all of the screaming and said he was getting more confident and it was fun to watch him. Hoff he didn't know what Piers was smoking because he said he sounded terrific and said he "nailed it" (an expression which is rapidly becoming the equivalent of Randy Jackson's "Dawg".) Apparently Hoff's gal pal has "Hunky Elvis Fever" too.

A chance encounter in a school corridor introduces singer Neal E. Boyd to his hero. Neal says that this week, he's taking a popular song and putting his opera twist on it. The song is Eric Carmen's "All By Myself." He's dedicating the performance to his choir director, who discovered him in the hallway of his high school imiating Luciano Pavoratti and asked him to join the choir. Once he started singing, people stopped making fun of him. He wants to show America that he can win the competition. Well...he definitely doesn't have a pop voice. If the producers told him he had to take a dive so Nuttin But Stringz could win, that's exactly what this sounds like. Neal has what it takes to win, but he's just not proving it tonight. Donald actually wiped the floor with him. He finally kicked it up a notch during the last chorus, which may haved saved him. Piers said he took a big risk and called his performance a volcano. He says when he gives it his all that no one can touch him. He knows he's coming back next week, but he had better sing opera again. Sharon was worried when he started, but she ended up with goosebumps. He turned it around. She observed that his voice at its full power is the best. Hoff agreed and was glad he kicked it into high gear. He said he'd never buy insurance against him losing the competition, as he's the frontrunner.  

Three performers with one hero, The Wright Kids, are next. The kids decided to sing "ABC" by the Jackson Five. Why won't they ever play bluegrass, their speciality? They are dedicating their performance to their music teacher, Sharon. She made playing music fun. At least someone told the little girl to smile this time. I think they made an error by not going back to their bluegrass roots. It just sounded kind of ho-hum. Little Levi pepped things up with a trademark bass spin, but I don't think it's going to help. The little one had trouble getting his bass down off the block-shaped platforms they were standing on - and his struggle (and eventual rescue by big sis) was actually the best part of their act tonight. Piers said he loved them but said it would be hard for them to get to the top five with the "ferocious" competition. That was his nice way of saying "thanks, but no thanks." Sharon said they made the song their own and was "well done" (Sharon's polite kiss-off.) Hoff credits them for how far they've gotten and says they've got a long career ahead of them (Hoff's polite kiss-off.) Jer-ry even knows they're leaving, saying they're going to pack 'em in at the ice cream parlor.

Our next snger has been inspired by her hero since she was 10 years old. Queen Emily is singing the powerhouse ballad "And I Am Telling You" from "Dreamgirls" (a song which catapulted first season winner Bianca Ryan to victory.) Emily saw Jennifer Holliday sing in church when she was a kid. She was inspired by the performance and sang for her grandmother, who told young Emily that she had "something special." Nana always told Emily that she could do anything she wanted to do and to always believe in herself. She's going to sing her heart out to make it into the top five. This song always gets to me, so I'm hoping she knocks it out of the park. And she does - she doesn't overdo it (like Ms. Holliday has ben known to do since the "Dreamgirls" movie came out) and gets a standing ovation fro the judges. Piers said grandma was right and that she was something special. He told Emily that she "ripped the stage to pieces." Sharon told her that she has the perfect combination of voice and stage presence ("Mrs.!") Hoff said she was definitely a "money player" and "hit it out of the park...a hat trick...a touchdown!" But Hoff, did she nail it?

Nuttin But Stringz are taking a big risk with their performance tonight, but it's all for their inspiration, their mom - who bought them their first violins. It's an original piece they composed in their basement that made mom cry the first time they played it for her. Apparently, the boys had a full drum corps in their basement when they composed this song. Now they have distracting Cirque du Soliel-ish women suspended from the ceilings. As always, the boys turn in a fantastic performance, and they should get bonus points for being the only non-singers in the top ten. Piers said they made a brave choice with their song (ironically entitled "Winner") and said he'd pay his money to see them perform every tine. Sharon said their act was a "showstopper," and that they could play with an orchestra, DJ or rock band because they were so versatile. She added that "Mom did one hell of a job raising" them. Hoff said Sharon said it all. They're fresh every time they come out and compares them to "Led Zeppelin with violins." Hoff said he'd be at their show and the boys promised him front row tickets.  

Last up is "Elton John-lite" singer Eli Mattson. He confessed that he thought he could have done his song last week better (I loved his song last week). Shocker - his hero us Elton John! He saw a concert as a child and found his calling. He said Sir Elton is royalty and amazing (you're damn skippy he is.) He's singing his favorite Elton song tonight, which could be "hit or miss." Sharon says he has to make the song his own and not just imitate Elton. The song he chooses is "Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word." Sorry, but if he wasn't trying to sound like Elton, he's failed - miserably. But I love his voice and piano playing. Piers said he thought he was pretty great and showed off his singing and piano playing tonight. He added that if Elton gets a cold, Eli could fill in for him at his Vegas gig. Sharon said Elton was watching the show and wouldn't be diasppointed with his performance. Piers reminds America not to do the "sympathy vote thing" tonight. Hoff said Eli was another of his "money players" and, yes, he nailed it!  

Predictions for the top five? I think it's going to be Queen Emily, Donald Braswell, Neal E. Boyd, Nuttin But Stringz and, as much as I love Paul Salos, I think Eli Mattson is getting the last spot. We'll find out tomorrow night!