America's Got Talent Las Vegas Eliminations Day 1

Tonight's America's Got Talent was a bit of a shock to the system, though certainly the mass eliminations were harder on the contestants than on the audience. After weeks and weeks of auditions, 160 acts were given the green light for Vegas that lit a fire under their lifelong dreams. Many of those dreams were dashed in an instant, as America's Got Talent judges David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne, and Piers Morgan took a big red pen and started eliminating acts left and right.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- The First Cut is the Deepest

In what seemed an extraordinarily cruel act, the 160 America's Got Talent performers were crowded into a hangar at the airport after they landed. Instructed to split into four groups, they were quickly told that Group B was heading back home. So, these America's Got Talent acts got on a plane to Vegas, only to be told the moment that they landed that it was over for them. I really hope these people didn't have to pay their own way for a trip that ended before it began.

I was stunned to see Talan Noble Latz amongst the group of eliminated performers. This 9 year old played a guitar better than most adult musicians, but I suppose the America's Got Talent judges decided he's got time to mature and make his own way in the entertainment biz. Same for little Hawaiian singer Ciana, and the young dancers of the Houston Performing Arts Center. For the latter, would the parents of all those girls really have moved to Vegas so the troupe could perform a show there?

Young magician Jay Mattioli, who levitated a microphone stand and disappeared into his own homemade magic box, also got left behind at the Vegas airport. This kid's got drive, though. He's got time to further hone his skills and go on to bigger and better things, with or without America's Got Talent.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Sing for Your Supper

The next America's Got Talent segment was also a bit surprising. Judges Piers, David, and Sharon called in two performers to discuss with them whether they'd be moving on or not. Unfortunately, they didn't ask them to perform again. The point of the meeting pretty much seemed to be for the two men to beg for a spot on the Hollywood roster.

In one of the elimination discussions the America's Got Talent judges had, Piers mentioned something about whether one of the performers really had the drive to succeed. I suppose these meetings were set up to see how hard these performers were willing to fight for an entertainment career. Keith Johnson, a handsome country singer, was determined by the judges to have good stage presence, but not enough singing talent. He was absolutely devastated when they told him he wasn't moving on.

Celebrity impersonator Pete Peterkin said he's been working on this act for 40 years, and it was obvious that this was what he wanted to do. Peterkin had tears in his eyes as the America's Got Talent judges let him know he was going on to Hollywood.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- A Parade of Dancers

America's Got Talent sped through a lengthy list of those moving on to Hollywood, and we'll have an array of dancers in LA. The lovely teenage Baryshnikov, Arcadian Broad, was elated as David let him know he was moving on to Hollywood. Acrodunk and the Platt Brothers are hitting LA as well, along with the 8 year old dancing partners from Day 2 of America's Got Talent auditions. Add to that the joyously leaping, clogging sister group The Fab Five, and Hollywood will be hopping with talented dance acts.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Recycled Percussion

I got called out by a couple of readers on a recent America's Got Talent auditions post, for referring to Recycled Percussion as emo. We only saw this talented group of guys for about 3 seconds; I saw cute boys and anime hair and I jumped to emo. Tonight Recycled Percussion got sent through to Hollywood, and yet again we barely got a glimpse of them. After looking them up and finding the official Recycled Percussion website, I have an idea why.

These self-described "junk rock" performers have to be seen to really be appreciated. They've created their own unique blend of entertainment, which focuses on drumming on recycled objects like buckets, metals sinks and ladders. But it's more than that, because there's beat boxing, acrobatics, strobe lights and pyrotechnics--and just wall to wall sound and entertainment. A punk hybrid of Blue Man Group and Stomp, if you will. However you define it, punk, junk rock, or funk, Recycled Percussion is pretty amazing.

Recycled Percussion is the sort of act that could blow the doors off the America's Got Talent theater, so I expect they may have wanted to save this act for one of the semi-final shows, rather than playing such a good card too early. I do hope we get to see more of Recycled Percussion on future America's Got Talent episodes, and don't get short-changed again.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Hurray for Hollywood

The blur of performers moving on continued on America's Got Talent. Heading to Hollywood are two talented harmonizing groups, Mosaic and the Texas Tenors. The yodeling dominatrix is also bringing her unique self to LA--thrilled with moving on, she announced "free spanking!" to the America's Got Talent judges.

Joining her are, I believe, young singer Thia Megia, a singing comedian, and the three blond Barbie-esque girls' rock band seen early on in the America's Got Talent auditions. The America's Got Talent show-runners didn't see fit to actually name the winners--they assumed we must have photographic memories to recall all 160 performers by sight.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- I Might Not Be Here Next Year

Seventy-four year old disco soft-shoe entertainer Tony Ferrante got the bad news from The Hoff, one of the two America's Got Talent judges that sent him on to Vegas in the first place. Piers had originally felt that Tony was fun, but not million-dollar material. Tony didn't appreciate the criticism then, and he was pretty sour about the dismissal this time. When America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon told him there's always next year, he scoffed "I might be dead next year."

Tony is talented, and it's great that he's dancing his way onto a talent show at age 74. Who knows, now that he's been on national TV twice, he might get some gigs out of it, maybe even a cute cameo in a movie or TV show. It's just the nature of the business, however, that when you've got young kids doing acrobatic dancing that defies gravity, a modest two-step can't compete.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Vegas Dance-Off

Halfway through the night, America's Got Talent did what I thought the whole elimination round was going to be about. They asked three dance troupes to compete against each other with another performance, so that the judges could compare them. It seems so odd that they shipped all these America's Got Talent acts to Vegas, only to eliminate them without giving them a chance to prove their worth with their actual skill--rather than just having to stand there while some decision is made off-screen.

Dance troupes Euphoria, Breaksk8, and Destined 2 Be get that chance. They've all been given the same song and 12 hours to choreograph a dance to it. Tomorrow night we'll see their performances on America's Got Talent and discover who's moving on to Hollywood.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Dragging Out the Drama

America's Got Talent then did an extended segment about two magicians, Drew Thomas and Joseph Constantine, and let them know that only one of them will move on--or neither of them. The judges drag out the suspense, going back and forth between the two, and then finally let us know that Drew Thomas is going to Hollywood, and the Constantine family is going home. This was a tough elimination, because the Constantines are in dire financial straits, and had been counting on a win here to help their situation.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Too Many Acts

The America's Got Talent judges have two things to consider for the semi-finals--the most talented acts, but also the biggest variety of acts. So while the very best acts might all be dance troupes, it's not what the show is about. Three more dance troupes were sent home tonight, along with a belly dancer and a cabaret act. When 160 has to be whittled down to 40, a lot of talented people get left behind.

Those that looked the most shocked were the Spiritual Harmonizers, the group of postal workers with the dynamite lead singer. Piers had said in their earlier America's Got Talent auditions segment that a capella groups can be boring, and while they all sang well, it was really the lead who had stood out for him. Once you get put up against stronger groups, having only one key element just isn't enough. I do hope the Harmonizers keep singing, however, because they sound great and have a good time doing what they do.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- Sharon's Favorite

America's Got Talent judge Sharon Osbourne laid it on thick for young dancer Hairo Torres, who combined break dancing with contortionism in an energetic, sexy way. Sharon loved him in the auditions, but now she spoke softly and consolingly to him, as if setting him up for the big disappointment. Hairo was so good-natured, and seemed to expect the bad news, and took it like a gentleman.

Then of course Sharon let him know he was heading off to America's Got Talent in Hollywood. It took a minute for it even to register, and then Hairo nearly lost his mind with joy at being chosen. As he hopped his way out of the auditorium, Sharon got a laugh from him as she called out, "Be a good boy!" Hairo also got a congratulatory hug from Pam, the America's Got talent contestant who performed with her pup Diva. I'm hoping we get to see more of Hairo in the America's Got Talent semi-finals, and find out what he comes up with next.

America's Got Talent Las Vegas -- There Can Only Be One...or Two

America's Got Talent next tried to stir up the drama with singers Lawrence Beaman and Kevin Skinner. They overlapped the footage as they complimented both men, then the judges acted solemn as they wondered aloud whether these two were good enough to move on to Hollywood. Both Beaman and Skinner were trembling with anticipation, and the judges let them and us sweat it out. It seemed that only one would pass through, and the verdict went to Beaman. Then they let Skinner know he was moving on to Hollywood as well. We'll see what happens when the America's Got Talent semi-finals start in LA.

While there were some shining moments on tonight's America's Got Talent, I would have preferred it if the eliminations weren't so harsh. Clearly some of these acts should never have been passed on to Vegas in the first place. And even if they didn't show it all to us, I'd prefer it if they let the contestants perform again when they get to the second round, instead of just showing up for a psychological strain. Though I suppose dealing with events like these, and with the constant fear of rejection, is part of an entertainment career.

Check out: America's Got Talent Vegas Eliminations Day 2
America's Got Talent Final Auditions in Los Angeles

Tune in Wednesday night at 9/8c for the second half of Las Vegas eliminations on America's Got Talent. Visit the official America's Got Talent website for photos and videos of the contestants.

Check out the official Recycled Percussion website for more info and video.