Some Comments On America’s Got Talent…
I started watching this show back during season 8. I don’t like many reality shows. In fact this season, was the first time I ever watched American Idol and I didn’t even finish the season. I stopped watching around the time they got time cut the contestants down to like 10 or 12 guys and 10 or 12 girls. They had cut so many singers I thought were great and kept a lot that weren’t that good in my opinion. So I lost interest. America’s Got Talent though, I have managed to watch faithfully each season because it’s just pure entertainment to me. There are acts you won’t see any other show and I just love the variety of it all.
However, there are many things about the show that aggravate me to the point that I have considered not watching it anymore. I can handle it when I disagree with the judges, opinions vary. I’m cool with that. What I am not cool with is all the contestants that seem to go missing without explanation. I think it was last year that a very nice old man preformed on the show. He song was outrageous and I loved it! It was about going out on a date and finding that the girl had a penis. It was so funny. He never appeared on the show again after he getting all the judges approval to go on to the next round. What kind of heinous fuckery is that? Then there’s the prize money. The top 10 contestants really need some prize money as well.
I did some research on one of the contestants that was never asked back. I don’t know how true it is but as I understand it, the trans community complained about Ray Jessel’s performance. I fully support the LGBT. I am pro gay marriage. I have gay friends, I’ve hung out at gay bars with them. I have no hate in my heart for anyone based on their sexuality. However, if it is true that Mr. Ray Jessel was pulled from later airings of the show because some members of the LGBT community found it offensive, then I am very disappointed in them and anyone else who found it offensive enough to complain about it. Being able to laugh at yourself is a good thing. There was no hate behind the man’s song. It was just funny and if you can’t see that then I feel sorry for you.
There was another contestant that never got his second chance on the show that stands out. It was a kid comedian and he’s jokes were pretty raunchy for his age but he was funny. Never saw him again and that is a shame. There are contestants that never got a second chance after making it through the first TV round and I could name them all but it’s the point of their absence I am trying to make. It’s just wrong. It’s a contest, if they make it past the judges, they should be allowed to preform again. If people complain about it that’s fine. They will have their chance to not for them soon enough. That’s how it should work. It shouldn’t be left up to some executive who is trying to appease the tiniest part of viewing population that are offended by something. This is something that really, really needs to be fixed.
Another problem with the show I’ve noticed, is something that’s also viewer related. But, something I don’t think she show can really fix. It’s the singers on the show. I have no problem with them. It’s hard for me to vote for them in the final round but, I have no problem with them on the show. However, I have seen a sort of backlash against them the past few years. Because of this, I think it’s going to be a while before a singer ever wins the big prize.
The backlash I first noticed a couple of years when I used to post regularly on Facebook. My FB friends didn’t like the singers on the show. I don’t recall who it was on the show but I had posted that I voted her, she was of course a singer. My friends damn near attacked me over my vote for her. They felt that AGT isn’t for singers. If you’re singer, tryout for The Voice or American Idol, told me. The acts they voted for were the comedians, the magicians, the dancers, acts like Freelusion and Siro-A and so on. Acts they’d really want to go and see in Vegas. And, I have to admit in some ways, I agree with them.
It won’t stop me voting for a singer or band. I voted for Benton Blount all the way through. He wasn’t the only act I voted for in the finale, I voted for 3 acts primarily. I have 3 gmail accounts so I voted for Paul Zerdin, Stevie Starr and Drew Lynch primarily. They each got 40 votes me for. Benton Blount, as much as Loved him, only got 20 votes from in the finally. The reason being, as much as I genuinely like the guy and his music, I’m not a big concert fan. If anything is going to pull me away from a blackjack table in Vegas it’s not going to be a musician. I have seen lots of acts in Vegas, even Carrot Top once (to be honest, I had free tickets). But, to go see someone singing, I’ve been to concerts before, and they pretty much bore me. The music doesn’t sound that good live, the crowds annoy me, it’s just not my thing at all.
So I can see the argument against the singers and bands. People picture a Vegas show as being more like Blue Man Group and Penn & Teller type acts then someone who just won a talent show for singing. I can see going to a Vegas show for a legitimate icon like Billy Joel or Celine Dion. I would NEVER go see Celine Dion, I’m sure she’s a wonderful person but her music pretty much makes me gag. But, she’s an icon, I get it. I would however go to see someone like Paul Zerdin, Derek Hughes, Oz Pearlman or Drew Lynch. A singer, just not my thing. And, not while in Vegas unless they are truly an icon.
This season was the toughest for me. I honestly loved so many of the contestants this season. Voting in the finale, I swear to God I don’t believe in that I sat in front of my PC for over two hours trying to decide who wasn’t going to get my votes. I re-watched clips on YouTube even. My final decisions actually made me feel guilty. I wanted to vote for Benton Blount more. I had planned to vote for Derek Hughes and Uzeyer Novruzov but I agreed with the judges comments on Derek Hughes. He came out and did rope tricks. I love the guy but he did rope tricks and they weren’t that original. There was Uzeyer Novruzov my favorite from the beginning! But, I just couldn’t vote for him in the finale, not when his performance was so lack luster. I understand he was hurt but it wasn’t fair to the other contestants that went out there and killed it.
My last and finale concern or recommendation rather, the prize money. America’s Got Talent makes millions and millions of dollars. They need to bump up the prize money. A million, paid out over 40 years? Really NBC? Bump it up to 2 million as the top price. Then, take a another million and give the number two person 500k, 350k for 3rd place and so on down to the number 10 spot. Go big or go home. Make the show bigger! Because a million dollars sounds great but when it’s paid out over 40 years, that’s about 2k a month. Sure, an extra 2k a month would be nice but it’s not about nice. It’s supposed to be “life changing”. And, if it’s a group that wins the big prize. How sad is that is going to be if a trio wins and their cut of the money is going to be less then $700.00 a month. Cough it up NBC. AGT is one of the few shows you have that doesn’t suck, throw more money at it.
Anyways, these are just some very unorganized thoughts I’ve had about the show. And, after re-watching the finale again last night I just had the urge to rant about it a little.
