‘America’s Got Talent’: Orlando dance group ends show ‘on a brilliant high’
”America’s Got Talent” saved the best for last tonight. An Orlando hip-hop dance group, Studio One Young Beast Society, wowed the studio audience with an energetic performance. The judges responded with raves.
“You did bring it,” judge Howie Mandel said. “You really stepped it up.”
Piers Morgan agreed, describing the act as creative and saying the group ended the show “on a brilliant high.”
Sharon Osbourne said each of the eight dancers had a great personality.
Twelve acts performed tonight. The results will be announced at 9 p.m. Wednesday on NBC (WESH-Ch. 2 locally). Four acts will move to the next round.
Earlier in the show, host Nick Cannon described the Orlando group as “an electrifying dance group taking hip-hop to a whole new level.”
Here’s how the show unfolded:
The South Philly Vikings opened the show with an elaborate and frenetic dance number. Morgan buzzed to show his frustration and said they couldn’t dance.
CJ Dippa, who will be 12 next month, rapped and danced his way to judges’ raves. “Brilliant,” Osbourne ruled. Morgan praised the boy’s stage presence.
Harmonica Pierre charmed the judges, but Mandel wondered if playing the harmonica was big enough to carry him through. “It’s not up to us. It’s up to America,” Osbourne said.
Dancer Polina Volchek was a bore, Morgan ruled in buzzing her. Osbourne liked the fluid movements, and Mandel said she was ready for Las Vegas.
The Strange Familiar, a rock band that performed “Time After Time,” didn’t impress Mandel (“it wasn’t wow”) or Morgan (“20 seconds were great — the rest was mediocre”). Morgan even suggested that the lead singer, a beautiful woman, drop the band, even though she is married to one of the players. Morgan argued that she’s a solo act.
Robotic dancer Haspop wowed Mandel with his moves and production values. “Spectacular,” Osbourne said. She and Morgan agreed it was the best act on the show up to that point — six had performed.
Singer Luigi was very shaky, and old comedian Chipps Cooney bombed by stripping and wandering around the stage in his underpants.
The bellydancers Kaya and Sadie, however, left Mandel mesmerized and Osbourne raving (“fantastic”). The recently married Morgan found their bellies “extremely charming.”
Stunt bicyclist Jeremy VanSchoonhoven put on a blindfold and pulled off a difficult feat. “A natural showman,” Morgan said. But does he have enough pizazz for Las Vegas?
Singer Debra Romer is beautiful but she has a thin, breathy voice. Where was the tone? Even so, the judges praised her beauty and her growing confidence. Morgan proclaimed her a star. I think he was generous.
Who moves to the next round? I’ll predict VanSchoonhoven, Haspop, CJ Dippa and the Orlando group. What do you think?