AGT 2010: 4th Week of Live Quarter Final Competition

Tonight was the 4th week of live acts on America's Got Talent 2010. The night seemed like a much closer contest, especially in the danger and magic categories. We were also treated to another performance of Prince Poppycock, the opera singer/metal worker that has the personality and stage presence of an aged star. There were a couple of low lights and even one train wreck, but for the most part it was the most entertaining night of the season so far.

Ruddi Macaggi, trained circus acrobat, did the most daring act of the AGT season. He did a handstand on top of stacked bricks, facing a huge saw blade. While in the handstand he flipped out the bricks to land on the bars below, bringing his face inches from the spinning saw blade. The entire crowd gasped. It was one of those moments you think something could really go wrong, and Ruddi Macaggi did a perfect job of building the tension. He got a standing ovation and great comments from the judges.

Not all of the judges could even take in Ruddi Macaggi's act. He warned the "faint of heart" to look away, and Howie Mandel took his advice. Howie apologized for his actions unbecoming a judge. He would have more to apologize for later in the show.

Arcattack has an act so big and literally electrifying they had to build an outdoor stage for them. These guys dress up in metal suits and play electrified band equipment while transmitting lightning from giant generator things they stand between. Don't try this at home. No kidding? While I think its a great act for Vegas, it doesn't really sound good musically. Also, I always take off points for shamelessly pandering to Sharon Osbourne by playing an Ozzy song. This time it was "Ironman".

Murray, the magician (I refuse to call him Murray the Magician), proved how exciting and big magic can be in only 90 seconds. Turning a woman into a tiger is not a new trick. Magic is all about presentation, and that's where Murray is great. He talked the entire time to the judges and incorporated them into his act. It had us looking in every direction. At the end of the act all three judges gave Murray a standing ovation.

Prince Poppycock was one of my favorites moving into the quarterfinals on AGT 2010. He is an opera singer, in full makeup. In actuality, he is a metal worker and the transformation into Prince Poppycock is fun to watch. Tonight may have been a little boring if you are not into opera, he chose a slow song from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. I hope it's enough to put him through to the semifinals.

Singer Taylor Matthews is on the fence I think. I thought he had a strong performance tonight, but the AGT judges thought differently. I really like Taylor's voice and think he could really give Michael Grimm a run for the win.

Now for the train wrecks of this week's AGT quarter finals. One we expected, one was just a case of nerves.

Mary Ellen, another of Howie Mandel's choices (according to Piers Morgan), has no talent. Yet she took a valuable 90 seconds of live TV to shriek and bang on a keyboard. Mary Ellen tried to take more than that, but Nick Cannon unplugged her keyboard. Not mercifully soon enough.

Nu Covenant had a shot in the singing category, but after tonight it may not happen as soon for the group. As often happens with harmony groups new to TV production, they apparently could not hear. I hope that's what it was. There were no harmonies, just several out of tune voices. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne both buzzed the vocal group.

I hope Ruddi Macaggi, Murray and Prince Poppycock all advance. I think Arcattack will sneak in there though. My guess would be that the fourth place will come down to Prince Poppycock and Taylor Matthews.

The live AGT 2010 results show airs tomorrow night and we will have 16 of the 20 semifinalists. Already in the semifinals are: Fighting Gravity, Christina & Ali, Nate Kenyon, Future Funk, Michael Grimm, Alice Tan Ridley, Ascendance, Antonio Restivo, Haspop, Studio One Young Beast Society, Debra Romer and Jeremy Vanschoonhoven.

Catch up on all the judges comments on my blog: TV Review