“America’s Got Talent” Recap: Semi-final 1

Last night was the first semi-final show of this season’s America’s Got Talent. What an amazing night of talent. As soon as it was announced that only three acts would advance to the finals, you realize that some great acts will have to go home. The show did not disappoint. The judges were much more critical on each performance, so all the acts brought their best to the table. Last week was a crucial elimination, and some thought America got it wrong.

Last week, we were happy to see two of our acts advance to last night’s show: Andrew De Leon and Todd Oliver. Also advancing from last week were Sebastien “El Charro de Oro” and All That! It was a very controversial results show last week. As for last night’s show, De Leon and Oliver fell a bit short with the magnitude of talent surrounding them. They were both fantastic, but the following stood out.

William Close returns with his Earth Harp and several new instruments on stage. The spinning drums last time Close performed was amazing enough. Now, he brings with him his wife in a suit of violins, spherical aerial drums and a triple neck guitar. Of course, those instruments continue to complement the amazing sounds produced by the Earth Harp. I can only imagine how it sounds in person. Close continues to build upon his act, and when he couples his performance with new instruments, choreography and captivating vocals, the entire package feels more and more like a Vegas show. Close, take my money now.

Dittelman. Yes, Eric Dittelman. This is another act that keeps us thinking and amazed. In his previous performance, he focused around Howie Mandel. Last night, it was Howard Stern’s turn to face Dittelman. On top of that, Dittelman also tries to read the minds of the audience at the NJPAC, as well as you at home. Did it work? Watch the video all the way through and play along. You can easily build a solid stage show around this because Dittelman has a wide range of tricks to perform. If he advances, I really want to see more live audience interaction with him. That would solidify his chances at winning the entire competition.

Finally, Tom Cotter. When it comes to be a successful comedian, material is crucial. Cotter’s set was determined by Mandel picking from a list of topics. It could’ve gone either way. It was a very risky move by Cotter, but it worked. Throughout the entire competition, what also works in Cotter’s favor is his timing. It’s joke after joke. It keeps the audience on their feet. The best part was when Stern challenged Cotter to tell a random joke from the list to prove it was real. It shows that Cotter has a nice arsenal of material, and he is ready to fire them.

Just like with last week’s results, there’s a chance we may be in shock tonight with the live results. Again, only three acts will move on; nine must go home. Tune in at 9:00PM ET on NBC to see if your favorites advance to the finals. I hope you all voted.