[Sacrilegium]

At least the sandwich guy is gone now.

Boy Britney looked like he actually practiced before this show. That's a first. I gotta say, you can't fault him for stagnation this time.

Most of the musical acts were just bad.

 

[DancnDude]

The thing that really bugs me about this show is it basically turns into American Idol when they let all these musical acts through. America voted through 4 out of the 5 were musical acts. Bleh!

I'm here to see amazing talent different from other shows. The format they have here detracts from that since they tell them that they need to change the act each time. Singing is easiest since you can just change the song.

 

[JLucPicard]

My take on that is that they are awarding a million dollars to the winner of this thing (though in an annuity, which dilutes that a bit). For me, if I'm thinking in those terms, I am much more likely to take into account the career potential of an act. A lot of those acts (the rope/cowboy guy, Second Story guys, etc.) all seem like fine acts for half-time at an NBA game, or like in the case of that pet performer guy, one of many acts in a circus. A lot of these acts could certainly put together shows longer than 10 minutes or so, but I would probably get bored with them (remember "Quick Change" anybody?).

Singers have concert appearances, CD sales, etc. and a seemingly much broader canvas on which to work. I don't see four guys on stilts putting together a diverse enough show to be booked on their own, generate DVDs and all. That's just my take on it, though.

 

[That Don Guy]

The thing that really bugs me about this show is it basically turns into American Idol when they let all these musical acts through. America voted through 4 out of the 5 were musical acts. Bleh!

It's not as much "musical acts" that I don't like about the show as it is solo singers. If Julienne Lewis ends up winning, this show is going to be branded as American Juniors 2.0 - "American Idol for kids who aren't 16". (All we need now are the two sisters who were among the winners in the original American Juniors to show up and they'd probably hand them the money on the spot, although I think at least one of them has a recording contract so they wouldn't be eligible.)

There's nothing wrong with musical groups being on the show - where else are they going to get their chance? (And speaking of not getting a chance, how did Johnny Come Lately not make it?)

The money probably is secondary to the prestige, at least for the better acts; after all, how much money does the American Idol winner win? (True, the winner gets a recording contract, but name the last AI runner-up that didn't get one as well...and finishing sixth didn't hurt Jennifer Hudson any.) The question is, where do these acts go? I see three possibilities; Vegas, Branson, and Circus Sideshow USA. Maybe the stilt performers are a one-trick pony, but that didn't seem to hurt Blue Man Group from headlining in Vegas...

(And I remember "Quick Change" - the problem there was, the quick change routine was only a small part of their act, but it's the part they did over and over again. At least they have the $25,000 they won on Fox's 30 Seconds to Fame...where they did pretty much the same routine.)

-- Don

 

[Aniketos]

While last year I really hated the musical acts that got through, this year I think my two favorites are Butterscotch and Cas.

Both of which you would not see on American Idol.

That said I could do without the other musical acts.

 

[DancnDude]

Agreed. I don't mind the groups that were performing, like the Glamazons (which I think are a fun act) but I think the solo performers shouldn't have a place on this show. Or separate it into musical act and variety act and give each winner $500,000.

 

[ElJay]

Cas Haley is the only music act I like. The others get the fast forward button. In fact, I think I watched this last show in about 20 minutes...

 

[Sadara]

Glad the sandwich guy is gone!!!

 

[ScottE22]

I think what bugs me most is that Boy Shakira/Britney and Indian dancing guy make it through at the expense of other acts that actually have a talent. The black guy that dumped his rapping partner and the Jewel girl, for instance.

I hope Cas goes all the way!