America’s Got Talent
on NBC
By Ally Matteodo
The first round of the
semi-finals for Best TV Show of the Week winner America’s Got
Talent appeared on NBC at 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 1st.
This reality program is a talent competition that tours the United States in
search of impressive individuals and groups. Winners receive not only a $100,000
grand prize, but also star in their own Las Vegas show. There are no
limitations for those who try out, meaning anyone, young or old, male or female,
can take their act all the way, providing they have a first-class talent. Once
the contestants hit the semi-finals, America is the judge, and those who make it
to the next round are the ones who have received the most votes. Nick Cannon
enthusiastically hosts this program, and the judging panel consists of Piers
Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and David Hasselhoff. These judges offer up their
opinions following contestant’s performances, and also are the deciding factors
on who stays and who goes during the initial rounds of competition. They are
also free to “buzz” performances at any point during an act, and if all three
judges use their buzzers, the performance immediately stops, although viewers
are still free to vote for them. Ten acts performed on the September 1st
show: Acrodunk, The Texas Tenors, Paradiso Dance, Drew Thomas Magic, Tony Hoard
and Rory, Voices of Glory, Fab Five, Grandma Lee, Arcadian Broad, and Kevin
Skinner.
These ten acts are wonderful in
so many ways. Acrodunk is a group of young men who combine slam-dunking with
amazing aerial gymnastics, and they perfected their moves in their own
backyards, not a gym! Kevin Skinner practiced playing his guitar and singing on
his front porch, and it’s truly amazing that now everyone in America can enjoy
his moving, melodious voice. This clearly demonstrates how passion can be
realized, even without money, coaches, and resources. If you love doing
something, you’ll find a way. The Fab Five, a group of tap-dancing sisters,
used their computers to communicate with each other in order to perfect their
routine when separated by geography. For their latest routine they dressed as
band members, complete with feather plumes in their caps, drums and drumsticks,
and set the audience on fire with their dancing. Three sweet siblings make up
“Voices of Glory,” and got their start by singing for their mother, Felicia, who
was in a head-on car collision with a drunk driver. With their mom severely
injured and in a coma, Michael, Avery, and Nadia sang by her bedside for
months. Miraculously, their mother revived, and the three now travel to nursing
homes and hospitals in order to try to help other patients. All of these acts
bring joy to anyone lucky enough to watch them, and their humility in the face
of their enormous talent is a lesson to us all.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
