America's Got Talent Quarterfinal Recap: A Close Call!

It's the last of the America's Got Talent  quarterfinals… and going in, Howard said it'll be the best show yet. I really hoped so. Last week was pretty awful, especially after one of my favorites was axed.

This week was different, and one of the best yet. Howard blamed the producers for lining up so many great acts, and you could see how the producers can make or break the show. Acts from previous shows went through that are not as good as these were.

It was the first show where there wasn't a super clear cut group going through. William Close is going through for sure, but I said the same thing last week about Wordspit. But other than William Close, the rest is really up in the air.

Click though the jump for the full recap and my hopeful predictions of the top 4. (YouTube videos at the end)


#1. William Close

This is the guy who plays a massive guitar / violin type string instrument that stretches across the room. He performed Love, Reign O'er Me by The Who, which is a huge and intense song on it's own, but felt even bigger with this instrument. Plus there was a crazy dude singing and girls holding spinning drums that aren't as amazing as the big string instrument, but complimented it very well. The whole performance has this weird and gritty, artsy feel to it, and I love it. I think William Close will win, or at least be in the top 2 of this entire competition.

#2. Horse

His entire act is about getting kicked in the balls. Tonight it was more than just his usual running around and inflicting hilarious pain on himself… they added a superhero storyline to it, and took it to a new level of entertainment. Although it hurts to watch it, I love it and want to see him go through.

#3. Lindsey Norton

Wow, she just gave Unity In Motion a run for their money, all by herself. I think she's even giving Turf a run for his money (if she makes it through). It's her quirky dorkiness that gives her the character to compare with Turf, but it doesn't show in her performance, only before and after. But during the peformance, you can't look away. There was a weird robot walk in the middle that I've never seen before, and had to rematch a few times.

#4. Olate Dogs

A group of dogs that can challenge the best dancers in the competition. They can pose and jump and flip just like everyone else. I don't think it was as impressive as their previous performances though. There was a big centerpiece chase joke that lingered too long, and a lot of dogs going down a slide, which is not nearly as entertaining as the flips and tricks. I'm still sure they'll go through.

...and the rest:

David "The Bullet" Smith
A human cannonball. Pretty awesome "Gonzo The Great" style theatrics, but it's definitely limited. Where can he do it? State Fairs? I would definitely watch, but it's over 5 seconds after it starts. It was great, but I'm still wanting more. With apps and games that simulate this everyday, I want to see him catch things in the air.

All That
A dozen or so guys tap dancing / clogging away, and it's unique but not that exciting. Maybe it was the country song that played along, or just that I've seen people do the same thing while playing guitar and singing all at once… but I'm not feeling it. And as the judges said, the competition is tight.

Ulysses
He's a singer with a big grey fro, which from halfway across the room I thought it was real. He had a big performance of the bandstand song. Howard was on a mission to remove him from the show, but all 3 judges agreed and X'd him. I wish it was weirder and better.

Sebastien 
He's a very young mariachi singer with a wonderful arm. Did you see him throw that rose to Sharon? It was perfect! He should become a mariachi singing baseball player. All kidding aside, he's great. My favorite little kid singer out of the group, but I don't know how he can beat some of the others.

Joe Castillo

A light and sand artist who makes art with sand and light. Sounds absolutely boring, but it's unbelievable. He made an assortment of animals that were flawless with a positive message. It's not as edgy as the public will want, but damn it was flawless. If he goes through, he won't beat David Garibaldi's cool factor.

Eric Dittleman
I have this big lack of trust for magicians / mind readers / etc.. I know there is a trick involved and there is nothing supernatural going on. He did a Deal Or No Deal trick where he knew which box Howie would pick. The judges were blown away, and I'm sure most of America was, but watching this on YouTube with the ability to rewind, you can re-watch the parts that look a little flubbed. He flips the case over to change what is inside, and it's extremely obvious that he's not reading anyone's mind. (why didn't the box just have the numbers on both sides?) That being said, I kind of want to see him back because I love watching him perform.

Unity In Motion
7 girls that twist and turn themselves into an artistic form of dance. It's very elegant and extremely impressive. I'm not as into the flips and spins, but when they create formations on the stage, it's better than anything else we've seen like it.

Eric & Olivia
I'm so torn on these two. I think they work well in an intimate setting, but this big stage performance just highlighted how much they clash with each other. He looks like a regular guy with an acoustic guitar, and she's this stiff formal singer with a great voice. Together, it's a bit awkward. She needs to loosen up a little, or he needs to split.

EDIT: The top 3 were William Close, Olate Dogs, Joe Castillo, and Eric Dittleman. I wish Lindsay Norton had made it through, but I'm glad to see Joe Castillo in there. And although Dittleman's tricks are a little flawed, he's very enjoyable to watch. And bye, bye Horse. :(