AGT is probably my most awaited TV event of the year, and nobody is more surprised about it than I. It’s not like I’m a Reality Show fan, in fact I can’t stand most of them. It’s got the same problems as the rest: judges with dubious qualifications, acts included just because they’re pitiful or shocking, nebulous systems of electing the winners, etc. But AGT has several things going for it: first, variety. Since they allow nearly every kind of act imaginable, it doesn’t get boring as quickly as single-act shows like American Idol do. Second, and most important to me, they do find some genuinely deserving people, with great talents and interesting personal backstories. In fact I started watching in 2008 because of Terry Fator, the ventriloquist/impersonator/stand-up comedian whose dream was to revive interest in ventriloquism. Like most people I was baffled by his talent and was very happy to see him realize his dream of headlining in Las Vegas. He’s the most famous case, but there have been several others as well.
This year they have already started to show some great prospects (like the singing choir composed of formerly homeless ex-veterans- man that was a surprisingly touching moment) but some EEYUGH acts as well (like the sideshow freaks who stappled and stabbed themselves!)
:eek:
Still, it’s entertaining. Though I noticed that this year the show seems to be moving along faster- even the introductory conversations of each are noticeably edited. Granted the show CAN be long, and I’m not demanding that they show every minute of the performances, but they might skip along the more gross acts (yeah, yeah I know, some people actually want to watch those. ) I hope we get less of those later on.
This year they’ve got Howie Mandell (from “Deal Or No Deal?”) as a judge, replacing David Hasslehoff (probably because of the, uh, incidents The Hoff found himself in recently.) I like the idea; Mandell is as funny and charismatic as Hoff, but without that full-of-himself attitude that made him occasionally annoying.
Anyway, I expect to enjoy the rest of the show’s season, and I recommend it here, even to those of you who don’t care much for contests. It’s fun because you never know what will happen next. You can watch the first two episodes (or just clips of the performances) in Hulu or NBC.com. And, I suppose, on YouTube. If you watch the show, let us know which acts you liked (or hated.)