Questions Regarding 'America's Got Talent'

The Raw Talent of "America's Got Talent"
I've never been on "America's Got Talent," nor do I personally know anyone that has; I am simply a viewer with questions. When the talents are first seen on "America's Got Talent" we, the viewers, see their raw talent. They choose what to wear to their audition. They choose what to sing or what music they want to dance to. There are no props or choreographers provided - what you see is what you get. So what happens to a person or group who passes the muster of the "America's Got Talent" judges and is lucky enough to make it to the quarter-finals?

Arcadian Broad Lets the Cat Out of the Bag on "America's Got Talent," Season Four
In the finals of season four of "America's Got Talent" young dancer Arcadian Broad, sporting a basketball uniform, performed a dance routine with props and extra dancers that were reminiscent of Disney's "High School Musical." I thought this was out of character for Arcadian as he had previously wore clothing that was stylish and classy; the badly fitting basketball uniform made him look much younger and a bit babyish. When the judges questioned him on his choice of routine, Arcadian responded that the producers didn't give him a choice; this dance routine scenario was from a list he was given to choose from. (This comment by Arcadian was edited from the online clips the next day. Read "America's Got Talent: - Do They Have a Hidden Agenda" for more on this subject.)

Costumes, Stage Sets, Song Choices - Are these all chosen by the performers on "America's Got Talent?"
As a talent makes it one step closer to the finals on "America's Got Talent," all along the way they are told by the judges to "Step it up a notch," and "Wow me next time." What exactly does that mean? Do the talents have free rein in the finals or are they given a list to choose from as Arcadian suggested? Do the dancers get to choose the music and props used in their performance? What about the costumes and sets used for the talents? Is all this chosen by the performers or are they given a list of suggestions to build their act around? It's obvious that the performers have access to professional hair and makeup people when they take the stage in the finals of "America's Got Talent." But sometimes the intricate costumes the re-imaged acts are wearing can take away from an act as much as they can help the act; it depends on the act itself and if the costumes are too much over the top. For example, sometimes it's hard to see past the flashy costume to really take in the preciseness of the choreography in a dance routine. The judges say the song choice can make or break a singer's audition and I agree. But does the singer get to choose the song they want to perform or do they have to choose from a provided list?

America Votes for the Winner of "America's Got Talent"
In the end, I do not have any answers to the questions posed, only more questions. But in the end you, America, get to vote for the winner of "America's Got Talent" whether the acts make all the decisions discussed for themselves or if they are led down a path to bring the network higher ratings.

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DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION

Sources:

NBC/America's Got Talent

Arcadian Broad's 'High School Musical' Performance