America's Got Talent Quarterfinal Recaps: Dance + Paint = Win.

Is anyone watching Americas Got Talent? If not, I will recap it for you. It's easy to push this show off because it's a mainstream network big budget game show, but underneath all of the flashy graphics and commercials are some really talented people. There is also some crap, which we will get to.

Last night was the quarter finals. That means, we're into the final 48 competing acts, which will be cut down to 16 over the next 4 weeks. Each week we'll see 12 performances, and only 4 will make it through. I though that was pretty harsh going into last night, but by the end of the night, it was pretty clear who should be going through and who shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Click through the jump for video clips of the highlights. There is an amazing dance/paint art performance, a father/daughter duet that will hit you hard, a classic slapstick comedy/dance routine, and a guy who plays a shovel...

These were my top three of the night. By far.

#1. David Garibaldi And His CMYKs
Even going into this performance, I was saying that he should be the clear winner... or just removed from the show and given his own show right now. He combines dance with art in a way that I've never seen before. And last night, the dude KILLED IT. Everything was executed perfectly. You have to see for yourself.

Also on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7PYZ832x9U

#2. Shanice and Maurice Hayes
Just before David Garibaldi came out, my vote was absolutely with the father/daughter duo Shanice and Maurice Hayes. The emotion in their performance instantly knocked out all of the other singers in my mind. and the judges as well. Especially Nikki Jensen, who just stood there and sang with about as much emotion as the microphone stand in front of her. But after this performance I was asking myself "how can you not vote for these two?"

#3. The Scott Brothers

My third favorite is the quirky Scott Brothers. They have a classic dance routine that is a cross between slapstick and a magic act. It's very different than anything else on the show, and absolutely intriguing. It won't go all the way because it isn't as accessible or user-friendly as the other acts, and not to mention the guys are extremely weird and awkward in their interviews. Stick around until the end for some network TV awkwardness.

Finally, let's look at the worst act of the night... at least according to judge, Howard Stern.

Worst: Michael Nejad
This guy plays instruments made out of household items. Brooms. Shovels. Vacuum Cleaner. That doesn't sound exciting at all, and that's because it isn't (although he is a pretty epic string shovel player). The audience and judges hated him, especially Howard who told him to "go home, stare at the wall, invent something." Although he doesn't fit in at all, it is pretty interesting to see in action. Picking something more exciting than a vacuum cleaner as an instrument base would have probably gone a long way.

Watch the judges tear into him at the end. He was the only act to get X's from any, and all judges during his performance, and Howard hit the buzzer before he even started. 

There were other acts, but they're pretty forgettable in comparison to these. Only four will get through to the next round.

Clips of all the performances: http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/categories/season-7-highlights/1401552?view=thumbnail

UPDATE: I was right, America! My top 3 made it through (I told you they were the standouts), as well as Edon... the 14 year old boy singer that Nick Cannon said was "better than puberty". I swear.