AGT 2010: YouTube Performers Take the Stage in Quarterfinals

Tonight was the fifth week of America's Got Talent quarterfinal performances. The next 12 performers were all culled from videos uploaded to YouTube.com. The producers chose 11 acts and YouTube visitors voted on the 12th act. Again, the voters got it right with their choice.

We had to wait through a lot of so-so acts, 11 to be exact, before ten year old Jackie Evancho finally got her chance on AGT 2010. She was worth the wait. This little opera singer has an amazing voice and gave the show the final lift it needed to close big. When she first opened her mouth, I thought the vocal was being piped in, her voice is so mature. Jackie Evancho hit every note with the grace of a stage veteran. There are big things waiting for this little girl, hopefully starting in the semifinal rounds. See Jackie EVhancho's first AGT 2010 performance here.

The other three acts to move on to the AGT semifinals from tonight's performances will be a true coin flip.

I think 16 year old Maestro Alexander Bui, a classic pianist, had the most pure talent (aside from Jackie Evancho). His set was a little boring though if you are not into classical piano. Sharon Osbourne used her buzzer on the young musician. More than a little harsh I think. In her comments Osbourne said she wished he'd played classic pop. I could not agree less. Neither could Piers Morgan. This was one of the very few acts during which Piers Morgan kept his hands off his buzzer. The last thing we need is more classical musicians, especially those as gifted as Maestro Alexander Bui, trying to play pop music. Seriously, Sharon.

The lead act tonight was good in a comic acapella performance. It was not really comic, but the gleeks of Plutonic had fun with their version of rap music. At least I know the words to one rap song now. They were actually pretty good.

I wanted acrobatic jump roper Dylan Plummer to be great. He was pretty good, but definitely not ready for a Vegas show. Dylan has great stage presence though and no major flaws in his act. Hopefully he will mature his talent and skill level and return to the stage with a better act down the road.

Cam Hodges is another singer with a chance to move on to the AGT 2010 semifinals. His guitar was a little too loud, and he looked very nervous but he did a decent enough job to maybe move on. This one will depend on the kids' vote. Cam is a cute guy, but there are already three cute guys singing in the semifinals.

Pizza Patt may get a ticket to move on if America decides to pinch Piers Morgan a little. "This is not an act!", proclaimed Morgan. He used his buzzer often tonight, but soonest on Pizza Patt. The guy throws pizza dough. Ok, some of it was flaming, but still. It was a little better than any pizza shop window in New York, but not much.

It bothers me that Piers Morgan acts like he was just served up these people like the rest of us. No Piers, you got to see them and I'm sure approve them first. So in the immortal words of Judge Judy, "You picked 'em!"

Then there was Dan Sperry, magician-illusionist and apparently brought in to keep Howie Mandel on his toes. The trick: eat a big chalky life saver, then floss your neck skin (yes, through the skin) and out his neck skin appears the life saver on the dental floss. The best part of the trick? When Dan Sperry flung the piece of used dental floss in Howie Mandel's direction. I have never seen a man jump so fast or far. Sharon Osbourne could not speak she was laughing so hard at Howie, who kept repeating, "..it's not funny!" It was funny.

So tonight is a complete toss up as to which YouTube acts will move on to the AGT 2010 semifinals. Jackie Evancho is the only sure bet I will even make, and she obviously has a well deserved large fan base already. I really can't imagine any other act from tonight's live performances having any sort of chance in the finals.

Tomorrow night is the live results show with special guests Quick Change and the YouTube sensation "Evolution of Dance". That should be a fun night. By the end of the night we will have our AGT 2010 top 20 acts for the semifinals.

For all the judges comments from tonight's show you can visit my blog.