Some guy named Jay Black wrote an interesting piece on the addition of Howard Stern to the judge’s panel of America’s Got Talent. I suggest you click the link provided and give it a read. Jay’s got some interesting points about NBC’s December announcement and ever since it came out there’s been plenty of talk of Piers Morgan‘s replacement.
Now we get to see what all the hoopla is about. If, indeed, there is any hoopla. (Spoiler Alert: There wasn’t any.)
It’s the first night of the new season. You really can’t bring out your big guns to do the hunting yet, right? You have to display enough to get you advanced to the next stage of the game, but you need to keep some in reserve for down the road. So, as expected, there wasn’t too much to turn our cranks and open things up.
Things We Knew Were Going To Happen:
- Howard ruminates on the fact that it’s weird being on the show as opposed to watching it on television. Check.
- The surprise shocker that didn’t have a chance in hell of getting to the next round. (Aoni Jackson complete with Howie’s ring dangling from his nipple.) Check.
- An eccentric with issues. (Miss Les, the music teacher … and her 22 pointless cockatiels.) Check.
- An acrobatic aerial routine makes it through. (Come on … you knew that was coming.) As did the little kid Elizabeth and her hanging drapes. Check and check.
Things That “Wow’d” Us That Just Had To Make It Through:
- The Earth Harp dude. I’ll admit, that was pretty nifty. But … what next?
- The Lightwire Theater blacklight act.
- Crossbow Boy.
- Maurice and Shanice Hayes.
Things That Made Me Scratch My Head:
- Chris The Freestyle Rapper. *groan* (Tell me: Why did he make it?)
- Scorpion Man.
- The Boston Terrier Talking Dog act.
- The Kazoo band.
- Stormin’ Norman and his pumpkin.
- The dance act guy that got Nick stripped to his undershirt and undulating on stage. (What the … ?!??)
- Two words: Simply. Sergio. (Better: Howard getting on stage and hugging Sergio after his “God Bless America” … then giving him a thumbs up when he’d already voted against him. Huh. I guess it was just the patriotism of it all that won Stern over.)
Outside of Stern mouthing off to Mandel about the 80+ something year-old lady having lived long enough (and being expendable!) along with a few other casual tidbits, there wasn’t a whole lot to be thrilled at in this episode. I watched all with a pretty stoic demeanor. Maybe I set my sights a little high; I was expecting some McWowZah fireworks, but all I got were small little twirls from a couple sparklers.
Tuesday evening we’ll be treated to the second of the two-part season premiere. I might survive.
Notes:
- Did anyone notice the introductory music for Stern’s entrance? The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For Devil.” I don’t know about you, but I found that amusing.
- The entire first part of the show was nothing but pointless. And the incessant “9 to 5″ background music kept droning on because … ??? Because … ??? Because … ???
- Question: Why in the world did Howie Mandel want Miss Les and her few-short-of-a-couple-dozen birds to advance? I’m a little lost there.
- The Elements Dance Crew … the troop with the clogging / tap routine. (Come on, let’s call a spade a spade: It was a tap routine.) Yeah, they made it through … but … now what are they going to do … ?!? Even Howie mentioned there were members who were lacking in precision and they needed work.
Quotes:
“I know what America wants … and quiet frankly I’m the only American on the whole damned panel …” — Howard Stern
“Can I just ask why you wear the protective gear but she’s just wearing hot pants?” — Howie Mandel to Crossbow Boy
Photo Credit: dailybillboard.blogspot.com
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Hi,
This is stormin norman, the pumpkin carver. NOT the artificial pumpkin carver. I made the show with some of the things I can do with a real pumpkin, which are out of season in April & May, so they gave me an fake to work with. As you can tell, it didn’t work, but when you are invited to be on a national TV show, you give it a shot.
Next season we hope to have the real thing as some farmers are going to keep some plants under grow lights for the show.
Thanks for your tolerance of artistic growth! ha ha
SNS