AGT 2010: Jackie Evancho Tops the Top 10

Though tonight was touted as the finals on AGT 2010, it was really another semifinal round. Next week the top four vote getter's from tonight's show will compete for the $1 million prize and a headline show in Vegas. Though every act seemed to step it up, tonight belonged to young Jackie Evancho again.

Studio One Young Beast Society started things off well enough. I actually liked their tricks better last week, but they were still far and away the best of the AGT dancers this season. The only other true dance couple in the finals are Anna & Patryk, who had a rough night.

The young ballroom team started off with Anna missing a step on the stairs at the very beginning of their routine. She slid right down the steps on her behind. It would have gone fairly unnoticed, except Anna got a horrified look on her face and froze. Only for a second, but it was sadly enough to throw her off her timing slightly. Patryk held it together and, in fact, went above and beyond his part to make the best of the routine. The were still good, but not nearly as good as before.

Anna & Patryk were not the only ones to have a weaker night than in the semifinals. Though no one else fell, they seemed to fall short. The judges really laid on the compliments so thick it was hard to tell if we were watching the same show.

Young sister singers Christina & Ali were not good at all tonight. There was just no magic or, as Howie Mandel would say, "no wow factor".

Taylor Matthews seemed to find himself again. Going back to his original vocal sound and acoustic guitar, he looked more comfortable than he ever has on stage. It may still not be enough to gain him a spot in the final four.

While Taylor Matthews seemed to excel tonight, Michael Grimm seemed to slide back for me. The Twitter-verse still swooned for him, but his vocals on Al Greene's "Let's Stay Together" were no better than any American Idol cover to me.

Magician Michael Grasso had a much better trick this week, not nearly as obvious as last week. Again we were reminded that he is a triple kidney transplant survivor. It was good tonight, but still not good enough for Vegas.

The groups I wanted to see most tonight were: Fighting Gravity, Jeremy Vanschoonhoven, Prince Poppycock and Jackie Evancho. I have mixed reviews for the group, and it surprises me.

Fighting Gravity and Prince Poppycock both force me to expect bigger and better every week, this week they did not deliver like they have in the past. They remain on my short list of favorites, but Prince Poppycock nearly fell off my top four list tonight. I would still likely pay to watch both acts in Vegas, but tonight's campy tribute to America from Prince Poppycock may have been too much for some. It was just sort of odd to me.

Fighting Gravity also did a sort of homage to the US, in a moon landing scenario. It was a cool start, but then kind of went off track with weird music for a bit. They brought it home well in the end, but it was the first time I was little bored with them.

Jeremy Vanschoonhoven and Jackie Evancho did not disappoint me in the least. Maybe it's that I grew up watching Evel Knievel jumping record numbers of cars as a kid (and often seeing him fall, nearly fatally, on live TV). Jeremy puts me on the edge of my seat and keeps me there hoping he makes it to the next trick. I even bounce a little with him on big jumps, I know that helps him. I think he was built for Vegas.

Jackie Evancho not only came through tonight, but outdid herself. I did not think her young voice could sound so mature, even more than before. Tonight Jackie Evancho proved herself to be the very super star that Piers Morgan has been touting her as. It was like hearing the perfect sound. I don't know if she will win this competition, though it is obvious she has the most pure talent. America can be fickle, but we usually know real talent when it's kicking us in the face.

My first three picks are easy: Fighting Gravity, Jackie Evancho, Jeremy Vanschoonhoven. The last pick for the AGT 2010 final four is still up in the air for me. I hope it's either Prince Poppycock or Studio One Young Beast Society. These could be completely wrong since Michael Grasso seems to have a huge following of fans.

The AGT final four will be announced live tomorrow night at 9/8c on NBC. Special guests to appear include the cast of "American Idiot" and Sarah McLaughlin. You can read all of the judges' comments and see the video of Jackie Evancho on my blog: TV Review.