"America's Got Talent" - Season 3 Top 10 Chosen

America's Got Talent - but has America picked the best Top 10 Finalists?

I never watched "America's Got Talent" before this season, but since last season's winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator, ended up with a whopping $100 million contract for a five-year engagement at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, I got interested.

America's Got Talent may have some whacky, stupid acts in its initial rounds, but it doesn't dwell on them like American Idol does. You actually get to see a majority of good hopefuls on the television show. AGT is good, clean family fun. No swearing, no unnecessary sex scenes, no making fun of the big fat dad who's an idiot compared to his gorgeous wife on most sitcoms.

Plus, similar to programs like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You can Dance", we get to learn something about types of music and entertainment we may not otherwise hear or watch, like the opera singers.

Fator performed last Thursday night as the finalists were announced, and proved himself capable of holding the audience with a variety of ideas.

But what about this year's Top 10? The object of the show is that the winner must be of "headliner" caliber - able to sustain the major part of an hour and a half to two hour Las Vegas stage show as the main attraction.

Surely, many would agree that a couple of worthy contestants were ousted because of a sympathy vote for some cute kids whose acts and talents are questionable for the Las Vegas crowd; and one might ask, what are their parents thinking, anyway?

Here is the Top 10 list, starting with those most likely to bring in the Vegas ticket money. They will perform on Wednesday, September 17, 8:00 EST, and be narrowed down to five.

Neal E. Boyd, opera singer. I don't know why Boyd hasn't busied himself auditioning for real opera companies. He has a great voice with opera vibrato, passion and expression and you can tell he loves it. Maybe he has auditioned and not made it yet. But he's gotten plenty of exposure now. He's proved he can add versatility to his opera voice. Plus, he and the other contestants who have great "pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps" stories will tug on the heartstrings of people to spend the money!

Nuttin But Stringz, two appealing and outstanding violin players (Damien and Tourie) who mix their classical sound with hip-hop and contemporary "street" for a unique and very entertaining experience. They play, they stop and rap, they get everybody going. This was one act where, when the dancers were added, it was appropriate and brought yet another flavorful angle to their act. If enough people find out about them, they could not only bring the Vegas house down (great for places like House of Blues), but could tour all over the country like rock stars.

Queen Emily, soulful pop singer. This lady's got pluck and heart. I can imagine it took tremendous desire and courage for all the older people who have come out for this opportunity. She proved with two very different songs and looks over the last two weeks that she is capable, with some extra guidance from a good singing and stage instructor, of having the personality and endurance for a whole Las Vegas show. Plus, that name would look good in lights.

Donald Braswell, the Broadway-style crooner, has done great renditions of songs from Phantom of the Opera and Man of La Mancha. He has a great voice and is very good looking (for us middle-agers!) but has yet to show a "Vegas-style" side. Judge Sharon Osbourne stated that the days of Robert Goulet-type headliners may be gone, but there are many Vegas visitors who long for their return. The "Rat Pack" shows which star imitators of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop do very well there. If Braswell doesn't win, he should do as David Hasselhoff said - try out for Phantom which is in Vegas right now. Hasselhoff has played the role himself on Broadway.

Paul Salos, while we're speaking of Sinatra, is a 70 year old Sinatra tribute artist. At times, Salos looks like he could also do Jimmy Durante (if anyone remembers the big-nosed, singing comedian). But his Sinatra is pretty consistent. Sometimes the way he stands and gestures is eerie-creepy right on. Could he do an hour and a half? He looks like he enjoys it so much that God would carry him right through a heart attack and bring him out fine on the other side!!

Eli Mattson, the adorable hat-topped singer/pianist. Could this guy's face be any cuter? Mattson has an appealing sound - ala Billy Joel/Elton John - if not a great voice. He's too classy and subdued for American Idol, and it's unsure if he has the "killer instinct" to wow the Las Vegas crowds who come expecting professionals. The America's Got Talent audience is different. They come expecting outstanding amateurs, although Mattson is better than that.

Joseph Hall, the Elvis impersonator. Joseph has Hollywood looks, the Elvis lip and the girls go wild. However, with Elvis impersonators and tribute acts already numerous in Vegas, I don't know if any of the shows' producers will flip over him. He's good, but pales in comparison to Trent Carlini, who won last year's "Next Best Thing" impersonator competition and was already a Vegas regular.

Jessica Price, the last young blond female singer standing. She's reminiscent of American Idol's Brooke White, pretty but not quite gutsy enough on stage (although it sure took guts to go for it). She needs more of a fully developed, well-rounded professional voice, plus more time and stage experience.

The Wright Kids, a 12, 9, and 6 year old brother and sister act. I don't exactly know how they made the Top 10. The Dancing Dads should have maybe stayed in their place. Young Baruch, the 9 year old, is the main singing and personality talent. His brother Levi is the comic relief like Tommy Smothers, great with the bass and never cracks a smile. Their sister, unfortunately, might be unnecessary to the act. They would have been good on Star Search for Kids; I have no idea what they would do in Las Vegas.

Kaitlyn Maher, little 4 year old singer. The outrageously wonderful baton-twirling Jonathan Burkin should have been retained instead. Burkin had plenty of variety in his act for a Las Vegas show, and hopefully will at least go on to be used as an opening act. Poor Kaitlyn looks like she is really getting worn down. Like the Wright Kids, she is more suitable for Kids' Star Search. Yes, she can hold a tune. Yes, she can hit high notes. Yes, she's adorable. But again, what will she do in Las Vegas? And will she even relish this experience later? I don't remember a thing from when I was 4 years old except one pre-school incident. My mother tells me I was a model and shows me pictures I don't remember.

Keep in mind, this show is about finding headliners. It's understandable that parents are proud of their kids' talents. But one must wonder about their goal for such a place as Las Vegas. Perhaps they need the money. Perhaps they did the whole thing for other exposure into TV and movies or modeling. But this kind of competition is brutal! What about their little egos when they finally get told "No"?

Like with American Idol, our youth are nowadays thinking their value is all to be found in allowing their talents to be exploited. Thinking way back to when figure-skater Michelle Kwan "only" won Olympic silver instead of gold, and she looked at the camera on TV one day and said, "Mom, do you still love me?" This was the first time I realized that competition for young people was being taken too seriously.

Look at all the past child stars that fell into drugs, alcohol and even death. Do we want more of them to be has-beens at thirteen?