America's Got Talent: Season 5 - Top 10

First, here's the recap for last week's results show:

• Debra Romer, Michael Grasso, Murray & Nathaniel Kenyon are up first:
• Michael Grasso - Advancing top Top 10 [Prediction: 1/1]
• Debra Romer - Eliminated
• Murray - Eliminated
• Nathaniel Kenyon - Eliminated
• Le Reve performed
• Fighting Gravity & Jeremy VanSchoonhoven are up next:
• Fighting Gravity - Advancing to Top 10 [2/2]
• Jeremy VanSchoonhoven - Advancing to Top 10 [3/3]
• Jerry Springer promotes the AGT Tour
• Haspop, Jackie Evancho & Maestro Alexander Bui are up next:
• Jackie Evancho - Advancing to Top 10 [4/4]
• Haspop - Eliminated
• Maestro Alexander Bui - Eliminated
• Studio One Young Beast Society, Michael Lipari & Ashleigh Dejon, & Alice Tan Ridley are the final three acts:
• Michael Lipari & Ashleigh Dejon - Eliminated
• Judge's Choice:
• Piers - Studio One Young Beast Society
• Sharon - Studio One Young Beast Society
• Howie - N/A
• Studio One Young Beast Society - Advancing to Top 10 [4/5]
• Alice Tan Ridley - Eliminated
• My Predictions: I got four out of five predictions correct this week.

America's Got Talent Season 5: Top 10

Airdate: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 [9-11pm]

1. Studio One Young Beast Society [Dancers]: There always seems to be one segment of their routine where they really step it up and impress, and tonight was no different. As for the rest, it was consistent with what we have seen from them. But going first will most likely hurt their chances.
2. Christina & Ali [Singers; performed "Love You I Do"]: I knew it wasn't going to be good right from the start, with the older one's opening solo - very off-key. I don't think they should have picked an up-tempo song because it limits their already weak vocals even more. With only four advancing (and with a lot more stronger acts than them), they don't stand a chance.
3. Jeremy VanSchoonhoven [Bike Tricks]: The only reason he was voted through last week was because of his injuries. This time he has nothing to fall back on (I don't mean that literally) to get through. When the front wheel of his first bike fell off (on purpose), I didn't get the point of it; it just made it seem like his bike had problems. And when he went to the second bike, I didn't get the point of his "sidekicks" (one of which was holding the first bike over her head for the rest of the time). While there were some impressive tricks, overall he didn't do anything that was Top 4 material.
4. Taylor Matthews [Singer; performed Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World"]: I still don't get how he is still in the competition; he has a weak voice like Christina & Ali, but doesn't have a story like the girls do to warrant an excuse to stay in. And to sing my favorite song of all time, Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World," it makes it even worse, but his weak voice didn't do the song justice. The more laid-back reggae arrangement of the song was interesting, but it all comes back to his voice; he needs to go.
5. Anna and Patryk [Ballroom Dancers]: That was so unfortunate that Anna fell down the stairs at the start, but she picked right back up, which was great to see. Every single week, I have praised them. But I didn't think the performance was as good this time; there were times when it seemed sloppy. I don't know if it was because of the type of dance or the fall that threw them off. But her fall will get them sympathy votes, so they still might have a shot.
• Enrique Iglesias lip-synced to an auto-tuned "I Like It"
6. Fighting Gravity [Black Light Act]: This may be the first time that I was a little disappointed by their performance. And I think it was the moon landing story that made it so, because the moves they set with the story were a tad dull. But they are still extremely talented and need to and deserve to be in the Top 4 and win.
7. Michael Grimm [Singer; performed "Let's Stay Together"]: I don't know if it was the song or what, but his voice was just okay during the first half of the performance, which was really disappointing. But he got back on track in the second half and showed us the Michael Grimm we love to hear.
8. Michael Grasso [Magician]: Every time it seems like he appears somewhere else. And when I sensed that he was going to do that once again, I was worried that it was going to seem repetitive. But he upped the ante with this appearance by adding a new twist of switching places with one of the assistants on stage instead of the woman in the box, which he led us to believe was going to happen. Extremely impressive! I may have to do some research, but I don't know if a magician has ever had this great a chance at getting to the final performance episode.
9. Prince Poppycock [Opera Singer; performed "Star-Spangled Banner" / "Yankee Doodle Dandy" / "Stars & Stripes Forever"]: Usually when there is this huge patriotic angle to a performance, it becomes cheesy. And I think it was a little cheesy. The songs he chose limited his vocals at times. But there were still some great moments. And I loved that it seemed like he got a little dig in at gay marriage opponents - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. Of course, some are just a little more equal than others."
10. Jackie Evancho [Singer; performed "Pie Jesu"]: Last week, I didn't feel the same way I did during her initial performance. But I'm feeling that same awe again now. Based on this performance alone, she should at least be in the Top 2.

Favorite Performances: Michael Grasso / Jackie Evancho

My Votes: Fighting Gravity [10 votes by phone] / Michael Grasso [10 votes online]

Predictions to Advance: Fighting Gravity / Michael Grasso / Prince Poppycock / Jackie Evancho

My Season 5 Vote Tracker:

Fighting Gravity: 40 votes

Michael Grasso: 30 votes

Harmonica Pierre: 20 votes [Eliminated]

Jackie Evancho: 20 votes

Anna and Patryk: 20 votes

Prince Poppycock: 20 votes

Michael Grimm: 10 votes

Alice Tan Ridley: 10 votes

Murray: 10 votes

Total: 180 votes cast so far

Even though I personally did not think Fighting Gravity and Prince Poppycock were at the top of their game, I believe that those two acts plus Jackie Evancho are guaranteed to be in the Top 4. This really is a hard round to go through, because with only ten acts remaining and only four spots in the next round, many are great at this point and so we have to say goodbye to some really good acts. After those three acts, the final spot could go to one of these three acts: Anna and Patryk, Michael Grimm or Michael Grasso. But with the attachment that viewers have on all of these contestants, any of the remaining acts could advance. But with the three I just mentioned: Anna and Patryk could make it through based on Anna's fall garnering them the sympathy vote; Michael Grimm could advance because he does have the best singing voice left outside of Jackie Evancho; and Michael Grasso could stay in because he may be the best magician this show has seen and continuously tops himself. But I am ultimately going with Michael Grasso for that final spot because, as I just said, he continuously tops himself, surprises us the viewers each and every time, and could create an outstanding Vegas act right now.

Tonight, four acts from the Top 10 will advance into the Top 4, the final performance episode of the season. Plus, we will see guest performances by the cast of Broadway's American Idiot, based on Green Day's album of the same name, and singer Sarah McLachlan. See ya then...