America's Got Talent 7/10/07 - "Las Vegas Callbacks"

[atrac]

Ok, Kevin James' magic act (cutting the guy in half) was just as jawdropping/awe inspiring/holy WTF as last year's "Quick Change Artists." W-O-W.

His apprentice was pretty good too, but in my opinion James won this "round."

So the judges had virtual orgasms over the baton twirler, and then proceeded to send him home. Second biggest WTF moment of the evening for me.

The guy who hit the chairs...OUCH. I'm surprised he was ok. He looked like he could have knocked his block pretty fatally.

Finally, the balancing boy whose dog had stitches and then not put through -- heartbreaking. :( I couldn't tell if that was his mother or Sharon Osborne consoling him when he was crying???

It looks like we are going to be seeing more of Leonid the Magnificent. Interesting how they didn't show any of his act tonight.

[JLucPicard]

I hope the urban human action figure guy came out unscathed, but I must commend him for keeping Leonid off tonight's show (OK, I'm just giving him the credit).

I agree with atrac that I could not believe that the baton guy did NOT make it through. And I'm especially miffed at that when you think that they did send through Leonid, Boy Shakira and the deli-shop dancing dude - talk about WTF???? Maybe they have a gay quotient they need to meet to stay on the air or something.

And if now they move into the "America Votes" stage of things - good Lord, hide the children - are they 'grooming' Leonid to be the SanJayJay of AGT?

I don't know how much editing was done with the water tank act, but it looked like a very quick move from dropping the curtain to the switch in the tank. I was impressed. Then steps up Kevin James. W-O-W is right! That was just mind boggling and I am glad we'll be seeing more of him. To quote the Hoff, "Now THAT's what this show is all about!" :)

[Werd2406]

Boy Shakira and the deli shop dancer going thru is total b.s.

[bareyb]

Look at the guys fall in "frame by frame" mode and the fall looks totally faked. He hit the chairs, rolled out of them sideways, landed on his BACK and then extended up and out and rolled up and over the top of his head. The back of his head never appears to hit the ground.

Call me skeptical but I think it was a way to get more TV time and how much you wanna bet they don't let him come back and do it all again? Still, you gotta give the guy props for being able to lay there with a straight face for two minutes... It there was no bump on the back of his head then I'm calling shenanigans! :p

[Donbadabon]

I never thought I would say this line in my lifetime, but Kevin James was amazing!

How the heck did he do that? I tried watching in slo-mo, and have no idea.

How about the other freaky magician, the one with the long blond hair and bald on top? His act fell apart when we saw the fake backing in the box. He seemed pissed at his assistant.

I too don't understand how they didn't put the baton twirler through. He was very entertaining.

[Jebberwocky!]

Did they send Kevin James through? I was kind of sleepy when I watch last night :)

[Sadara]

Couple of things.....

They sent the baton twirler home.... makes no sense.

They put through boy shakira.... *boggle*

They put through indian dance boy.... who can't really dance.... but didn't put through the group of guys that wear the white face masks.....

Makes no sense to me.

[zuko3984]

Boy Shakira and the deli shop dancer going thru is total b.s.

I can't belive they put them through. They send home people with real talent like the baton guy or a few of the singers or even the signing ventriloquist lady and they put through boy Shakira, the deli shop guy, and Leonid the Magnificent. What happened to Hasselhoff leaving the show if they put Leonid the Magnificent though to the callbacks. Now they put him though to the next stage. I almost feel like they put some of the people through because they have no talent in order to get some laughs or what they think will be better TV. i am almost giving up on this show and if some of these people with absolutely no talent go through to the live shows over people with real talent i wont be watching anymore.

[The Spud]

I too don't understand how they didn't put the baton twirler through. He was very entertaining.

My daughter and I were watching this and I commented that there was no way I would give a million dollars to a baton twirler, so I wasn't surprised that he didn't go through. However, in light of them putting Boy Shakira, deli-dancer and Leonid through, that was just wrong.

I think it is safe to say that none of those 3 will make it to the final 20.

[Cainebj]

America's Got Talent?

Apparently not.

[ScottE22]

We only watched the "music" half last night so we'll finish tonight, but the way they did it with groups made it VERY hard to tell who went through.

For the musical acts, my biggest WTF moment was when they sent the black guy (the one that sang with the lousy rapper) home and then it appeared that they kept that senile old bat who should be singing show tunes at a retirement home in Palm Beach. She has got to be the "Rapping Granny" of the 2007 season.

[BrandonRe]

I agree with most of the above sentiments, but have a theory about why they did this. Remember, they still have to whittle down each group from 35 to 20 members. I think they put through the obviously untalented people over some they knew were talented but wouldn't make the top 20. I think they already chose the top 20 in each group, and tonights show isn't about seeing who goes on based on their performance, but about making us watch to see what they could have been thinking (and to milk one more episode out of the competition). I would be surprised if the Boy Shakira crew makes it past tonight. And, I would obviously be wrong with my theory.

[Jayjoans]

Look at the guys fall in "frame by frame" mode and the fall looks totally faked. He hit the chairs, rolled out of them sideways, landed on his BACK and then extended up and out and rolled up and over the top of his head. The back of his head never appears to hit the ground.

Call me skeptical but I think it was a way to get more TV time and how much you wanna bet they don't let him come back and do it all again? Still, you gotta give the guy props for being able to lay there with a straight face for two minutes... It there was no bump on the back of his head then I'm calling shenanigans! :p


totally agree.

[laststarfighter]

Look at the guys fall in "frame by frame" mode and the fall looks totally faked. He hit the chairs, rolled out of them sideways, landed on his BACK and then extended up and out and rolled up and over the top of his head. The back of his head never appears to hit the ground.

Call me skeptical but I think it was a way to get more TV time and how much you wanna bet they don't let him come back and do it all again? Still, you gotta give the guy props for being able to lay there with a straight face for two minutes... It there was no bump on the back of his head then I'm calling shenanigans! :p
His head seemed to hit the last chair. It would be very hard to fake something like that since it would be very hard to practice something like that. So his plan was to do a legitimate breakdance routine to get to the next round then suddenly pull a "Jackass" stunt in Vegas and eliminate himself with the injury? How does this make sense in your shenanigans scenario?

[bareyb]

He may have fallen by accident initially, only to follow it up with some extra "drama" by laying there like he was unconscious for two minutes. Either way, the stunt "seemed" to be faked. There's no way he got knocked out for over two minutes from that fall.

[atrac]

He may have fallen by accident initially, only to follow it up with some extra "drama" by laying there like he was unconscious for two minutes. Either way, the stunt "seemed" to be faked. There's no way he got knocked out for over two minutes from that fall.

I think you are right. He screwed up and knew it, so he was embarrassed and feigned unconsciousness.

Admittedly though, he did a good job. He seemed to be "out" as he hit the floor...

So I've been watching the Kevin James magic bit over and over. Do you think the guy is a upper body amputee???

[Fish Man]

They sent the baton twirler home.... makes no sense.

They put through boy shakira.... *boggle*


+1

These were the two biggest WTF's for me.

The judges oooooohhh'd and ahhhhh'd and just generally went nuts praising the baton twirler (as did I) then sent him home!?

And frankly, I think about any short, chubby guy, with any semblance of rhythm whatsoever could dress in drag, flop his pot-belly around to music, and appear every bit as "talented" as Boy Shakira. Definitely no extraordinary talent there!

I wonder if the judges are simply trying to be "controversial"? :confused:

[bareyb]

So I've been watching the Kevin James magic bit over and over. Do you think the guy is a upper body amputee???

It's gotta be. But even if that's true, how did they get legs on him that worked?!? Maybe the legs were from the "little person" that was there at the beginning of the trick? However they did it, that was the most original and mind blowing trick I've ever seen. I can't wait to see what else he comes up with. :up:

[bareyb]

+1

These were the two biggest WTF's for me.

The judges oooooohhh'd and ahhhhh'd and just generally went nuts praising the baton twirler (as did I) then sent him home!?

And frankly, I think about any short, chubby guy, with any semblance of rhythm whatsoever could dress in drag, flop his pot-belly around to music, and appear every bit as "talented" as Boy Shakira. Definitely no extraordinary talent there!

I wonder if the judges are simply trying to be "controversial"? :confused:

I think they picked those acts based strictly on what the producers thought would be "good TV" and not necessarily talent. Ratings stuff. They probably figured those acts would "widen the appeal" of the show. :p

[That Don Guy]

Look at the guys fall in "frame by frame" mode and the fall looks totally faked. He hit the chairs, rolled out of them sideways, landed on his BACK and then extended up and out and rolled up and over the top of his head. The back of his head never appears to hit the ground.
If you watch carefully, the front of the mini-tramp collapsed when he jumped on it; I don't think that was planned.

Meanwhile, what was with the "I'm sorry to have to tell you...you're going through to the next round!" and "You did excellent work, and we've decided...you're going home" with pretty much every group?

-- Don

[ahartman]

If you watch carefully, the front of the mini-tramp collapsed when he jumped on it; I don't think that was planned.


While I don't think it was planned, I've just never seen anyone go board-stiff, do a back-flip and land like that. It seemed fishy to me from the get-go. I prefer to think that we haven't taken reality TV to the next level and are now punking the audience somehow.

The quick-change thing last year, I know how it was done - takes a lot of timing, but easily explanable. I'm still boggling over the Kevin James' act and the locked-in-a-box-of-water act.

I had to take a double-take to see if that was really Kevin James...

[nataylor]

Kevin James' act is easily explainable, too. We know he works with people with physical deformities, and there is a type of deformity where the person is basically just a torso and arms.

[Tivo_60]

Did anybody actually catch the small print when the credits were rolling ?

To paraphrase , "million dollar prize paid via a 40 year annuity" WTF ! Cheap show
if I ever saw one, paid over 40 years, what are they kidding me !?

Completely lost interest now.

[nataylor]

Yeah, I noticed that, too. Is 25k (pre tax) a year really that life changing for an entertainer? I guess the real cash would come from any work winning might bring you.

[Tivo_60]

I guess the real cash would come from any work winning might bring you.
Possibly, however have you seen or heard anything about last year's winner ?
You know, what's her name...?

[JLucPicard]

Given the talent this show attracts, I would say their prize package is pretty reasonable. And if exposure from the show furthers their career, then that's where the payoff would be. If there isn't much more to their career after the show (nobody thinks enough of them to sign them on), then I think they still did OK to get some steady income for a few years rather than blow everything all at once.

Besides, I'm sure there's some late-night- or mid-day-advertising firm that will be glad to pay them something up front in exchange for their 'annuity' payments. :)

[Tivo_60]

No argument, I guess I was just more than a little surprised that with all the income this show generates that the winner's payout is over 40yrs (pity the 65yr old winner !)

[Sadara]

I'm a little annoyed.... after them narrowing it down to the final 20, I'm shocked about two of them that made it through.... and there were a few people I liked well enough I thought for sure they deserved to be in the final 20. I think the two brits on the judges panel really don't get what American's will find entertaining!

[stargazer21]

Not that anyone cares...but I turned it off and cancelled the SP when they sent the Three Redneck Tenors packing....I've seen their show here about a dozen times and they always blow everyone away.

Bah.

[That Don Guy]

Not that anyone cares...but I turned it off and cancelled the SP when they sent the Three Redneck Tenors packing....I've seen their show here about a dozen times and they always blow everyone away.
I think pretty much the only major mistake of the round was sending the Redneck Tenors home while keeping Boy Shakira.

(Something else I noticed: when this year's "family act" (the string players) was shown in Vegas, the youngest kids were nowhere in sight...)

-- Don

[atrac]

There's something about the Bollywood Dancing Guy that's so likable, even though his dancing doesn't blow me away, I feel like he deserves his chance in the next round.

No more Leonid...and it sounds like he's through with coming back. Now if we didn't have Boy Shakira going through (I totally agree with The Hoff on that one), this competition might be 100% believable.

I'm rooting for Kevin James though...I've watched the clip so many times and am still blown away. Here's a clip for those who have missed it:

Kevin James Body Magic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXupr_tbkqU)

...I loved his use of music from "Cocoon" by James Horner too. :)

[Odds Bodkins]

Well, the AGT message boards are teeming with anti-Boy Shakira/Kashif posts. Everyone there, me included, want the Tenors and the Sax Man back. I also think that Johnny Come Lately suck. That lead singer is atrocious.

If you followed Britain's Got Talent, the judges had a "change of heart" and brought two more acts to the finals that were previously eliminated. I wouldn't be surprised if the Tenors and and other magician make it back somehow.

[BrandonRe]

Wait a minute. Didn't they allow the voting public to bring back an act last year during the competition? Or am I getting my talent shows confused? Maybe they sent some home (Tenors) knowing they would bring them back, or at least give America the chance to.

I am disgusted that Boy Shakira and Kashif got through, and they send home the Tenors, sho actually have as much talent, and more entertainment value than most of the acts who got through.

[mrdbdigital]

Hey, I'll take $25K a year for 40 years. Even if I don't make it another 40 years, that's money in my pocket. Now, if I just had some talent.

I, too, think the Redneck guys were screwed out of their chance. If we get a chance to vote, I'll vote to bring them back!

I also loved the comment that the magician's water act was "too fast" Huh?

[unicorngoddess]

Not that anyone cares...but I turned it off and cancelled the SP when they sent the Three Redneck Tenors packing....I've seen their show here about a dozen times and they always blow everyone away.

Bah.

But it was HILLARIOUS to see their reaction to it:

Are you serious???

But boy shakera...What were they thinking???

And, I love the Hoffman, but if I have to hear him say one more time, "You are what this show is all about." I'm going to reach through the tv and slap him sensless.

[Fl_Gulfer]

The one that made us mad was sending home the black guy they ask to sing for them without the rapper. He was one of the better singers. the people that should have went home:
Boy Shakira
Kashif
Johnny Come Lately

[That Don Guy]

If you followed Britain's Got Talent, the judges had a "change of heart" and brought two more acts to the finals that were previously eliminated. I wouldn't be surprised if the Tenors and and other magician make it back somehow.
Last year, each judge was allowed to bring one act back for the fifth semi-final (the one that had the runners-up from the first four semi-finals), and Brandy brought back somebody who didn't make it to the live performances (there were something like 60 acts that made it past the first cut, so they divided them into four shows and the judges selected 10 acts per show to perform on the air), so it's possible that one or both of the acts will return.

-- Don

[MassD]

No more Leonid...

WHAT???!?!?!

Leonid rules. I have yet to watch the LV:CBs just yet, but during the auditions when he showed up in the silver platforms with the two chicks in chains. Well... I nearly lost control of my faculties I was laughing do hard.

Mesmerizing. HA!

[bareyb]

I have a feeling Leonid will be just fine. He does have a certain style and I'd guess there's plenty of work for him out there in the "D list" world.

[zuko3984]

finished watching it and immediately canceled the season pass. Come on all the judges kept saying was how they had to narrow it down to 20 and it was really hard and then the go and give 2 of those spaces to Boy Shakira and Kashif. With so many of the people they sent away being very talented they pick those two. It's insulting to the other acts that actual had talent to have those two go through. I really can't believe they sent home the other magician and kept these two.

People can argue about some of the people like Johnny Come Lately but no matter what someone thinks of them i don't think anyone can say they have no talent. Maybe not enough to headline a show but there is some talent there but Boy Shakira and Kashif I've been more entertained watching paint dry.

[zuko3984]

I agree with most of the above sentiments, but have a theory about why they did this. Remember, they still have to whittle down each group from 35 to 20 members. I think they put through the obviously untalented people over some they knew were talented but wouldn't make the top 20. I think they already chose the top 20 in each group, and tonights show isn't about seeing who goes on based on their performance, but about making us watch to see what they could have been thinking (and to milk one more episode out of the competition). I would be surprised if the Boy Shakira crew makes it past tonight. And, I would obviously be wrong with my theory.

I was hoping you were right but as I feared you were wrong. I was enjoying the show but now can't bring myself to watch it again.

[wmm_16]

I'm only going to continue to watch as long as Cas Haley is still on. He's the one to win it in my book!

I was screaming at the TV when they let Boy Shakira and Kashif through. I woke my wife and kids up.

[JLucPicard]

Going into the trimming from 35 to 20, I actually thought Haley could have been eliminated. I don't really care for his singing at all, but I may just not like that style in general, I guess. I don't think he's million dollar talent, though I like his back-story.

[RedDwarfFan]

Not that anyone cares...but I turned it off and cancelled the SP when they sent the Three Redneck Tenors packing....I've seen their show here about a dozen times and they always blow everyone away.

Bah.

This could have been my post! I too have seen this act live and they are VERY good. They have a whole show and are very talented and entertaining. There is no way they shouldn't have made it.

I waited until they voted Boy Shakira through and then I deleted the rest of the show in disgust.

I realize that it's not so much a talent competition as a reality TV show, but to mess with people's careers like that is just wrong.

[Donbadabon]

Butterscotch is my choice to win it. That girl has some seriously hidden talents.

[Jebberwocky!]

Butterscotch is my choice to win it. That girl has some seriously hidden talents.

I was surprised she made it through - can't see what she does being worth that much cash.

[Donbadabon]

That said, I don't see anyone in the contest that is worth a million. lol.

So I just vote on what I think is entertaining.

And Boy Shakira is not it.

[reddice]

Last year the show was better. This year it is just plain annoying. With all of the sappy background music they keep playing when the acts make it though or not, bad editing and all of the crying makes me want to throw something at my TV. Plus I hate Jerry Springer. Regis is a better host.

I think the judges don't know what they are doing voting in Boy Shakira and that terrible Bollywood dancer and not letting in the black group. They were way better than those idiots. They better not make it though the final 5 and they better stop with the annoying sappy background music because right now I don't care who wins. The show is terrible this year.

[Tivo_60]

Keep in mind that most of the time Hasselhoff is obviously drunk !

[ahartman]

Kevin James' act is easily explainable, too. We know he works with people with physical deformities, and there is a type of deformity where the person is basically just a torso and arms.

THAT part I get, but how, then, does a guy with no legs walk off the stage at the end of the trick?

[cmgal]

THAT part I get, but how, then, does a guy with no legs walk off the stage at the end of the trick?
A little person on stilts with the guy with no legs on his shoulders?

[justapixel]

I don't see how it could be a guy with no legs....because it's a guy with a lot less than no legs. That guy was cut off above the belly button. Can somebody live with like that? All your internal organs couldn't be there.

It's got to be something else, but I can't figure it out. Excellent trick!

[drumorgan]

Apparently, this is not a new trick...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMP56oYU-nE

Chris Angel did it a little bit ago on his show. I wonder if the casting agents have a special file for 2 foot 2, eyes of blue.

[atrac]

I remember seeing that clip awhile go. I think Kevin James one up's Criss Angel by reattaching the pieces though. In the Angel clip the lady just screams and "scoots" away (which is pretty comical).

[ahartman]

THAT part I get, but how, then, does a guy with no legs walk off the stage at the end of the trick?

Okay, after MUCH digging, I think I may have found something to explain the trick... At least, I have something specific to look for during the act - the cut-aways to the judges make it very difficult to see where things may be happening. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Eck

If you decide to read it, don't complain about spoilers!

[dbranco]

I think they picked those acts based strictly on what the producers thought would be "good TV" and not necessarily talent. Ratings stuff. They probably figured those acts would "widen the appeal" of the show. :p

This was my thought as well. They need at least one "Sanjaya" act, which will amount to some really good acts going home (based on "vote for the worst") and outcry from viewers, which amount to "good publicity".

-Deb

[nataylor]

I don't see how it could be a guy with no legs....because it's a guy with a lot less than no legs. That guy was cut off above the belly button. Can somebody live with like that? All your internal organs couldn't be there.

It's got to be something else, but I can't figure it out. Excellent trick!

There really are people like that. I've seen one outside a magic setting on the Maury show. This girl even had a set of legs she could be on that were controled by the muscles in her sides and careful shifting of balance. With the right clothes on, you couldn't even tell she wasn't a normal-sized person.

[KellyR66]

This could have been my post! I too have seen this act live and they are VERY good. They have a whole show and are very talented and entertaining. There is no way they shouldn't have made it.

I waited until they voted Boy Shakira through and then I deleted the rest of the show in disgust.

I realize that it's not so much a talent competition as a reality TV show, but to mess with people's careers like that is just wrong.

Amen! After they let Boy Shakira though I turned to my wife and asked if she ever wanted to see this show again. We immediately stopped watching and deleted the rest of the episode and then cancelled the season pass. I gave it 3 thumbs down for good measure.

Out of all of the contestants they saw, Boy Shakira is in the top 20??? What drugs are these judges on? They need to rename the show with a subtitle "America's Got Talent (but don't expect to see it here)".

Another thing, why is the network too cheap to put this show in High Def? I can buy a High Def camcorder for $1000.

Too bad about the Urban Action Figure. I liked him. He might have faked passing out after hitting the chairs. Maybe he thought they would let him start over.

[EvilMidniteBombr]

There is no way that the baton guy should have made it through. Sure the guy was good at what he did, but honestly, what can he do with that? What talent scout is sitting around thinking "CRAP! If only I had a guy that could twirl 3 batons reeeeeeeally high!" The only place this talent comes in handy is parades and sales at used car lots. OK maybe the grand opening of a mall or something.

Boy Shakira? OH Come on! WTF?! You can find guys like this at any drag bar!

Sandwich shop guy? Give me a break. K.I.T.T.'s spare tire had more talent than this guy.

I stopped watching after they got voted through. Probably won't watch AGT again.

[cowboys2002]

Boy Shakira? OH Come on! WTF?! You can find guys like this at any drag bar!


I stopped watching after they got voted through. Probably won't watch AGT again.


I have barely watched the show. After this, I have moved on the the other crap on tc this summer.

[EvilMidniteBombr]

I have barely watched the show. After this, I have moved on the the other crap on tc this summer.
Same with me. I've seen maybe 2 hours of the show. But what I have seen was enough for me to wonder why I bothered.

[Logicatv]

WHAT???!?!?!

Leonid rules. I have yet to watch the LV:CBs just yet, but during the auditions when he showed up in the silver platforms with the two chicks in chains. Well... I nearly lost control of my faculties I was laughing do hard.

Mesmerizing. HA!


Does any one know the title of the music playing in the background when Leonid came out with the two girls in chains? I would love to get hold of that music.

thanks

[ElJay]

Wednesday's show was a yawn... What was the point, besides wasting an hour of time? The people they trashed should have been left aside on Tuesday.

Thank goodness for time compressed playback plus commercial skip. Why did that sandwich shop dancer guy and boy Shakira make it past the first round, let alone make it this far?!?!

The "I'm sorry, you're coming through" crap was really tiring.

I'm only going to continue to watch as long as Cas Haley is still on. He's the one to win it in my book!

I don't blame you...

[brott]

The "I'm sorry, you're coming through" crap was really tiring.

No kidding .. Piers is sorry that they are getting to do what they want to do? At a minimum he could have said "I'm sorry to say your going to have to see more of me." At least that would have been accurate with what they were shooting for.

Boy Shakira .. :down: :down: :down:

[ahartman]

Okay, after MUCH digging, I think I may have found something to explain the trick... At least, I have something specific to look for during the act - the cut-aways to the judges make it very difficult to see where things may be happening. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Eck

If you decide to read it, don't complain about spoilers!

I usually don't bump old threads, but I got an e-mail from my mom asking how this was done, so I did a little more searching and found an uncut version of this trick.

Don't watch it if you don't want all the coolness of what you remember from the show sucked right out - the editing for the TV show took HUGE liberties with the trick and made it seem much more amazing than it really was.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/kevin-james-at-halloween-horror-nights-07/310375048


The patient at the beginning is two people - one bent over with his torso in the table and the torso-only dude. This is obvious when the table 'runs offstage'

The 'reattached' guy at the end is clearly a 3rd person.