The First Semi Final Is in the Can

LIVE SEMI-FINALS

And hopefully, the right acts will be canned.  Let's discuss them.

  Amanda Mena evoked no emotional response from me with her performance or pitiably sad sad sob story in English or Espanol.  She'll get no votes from me, though I'm sure that she shall receive many from others, probably enough to be seen and heard again in two weeks.

  At least this time, he dropped his wife on purpose and Duo Transcend did step it up....but still..

..What a WASTE of a wild card selection...for the second time.  Front Pictures, despite their sad sad sob story of poverty and no opportunity, are not starving artists.  They are well educated and well funded Russian software engineers.

 Junior New System may have the best bull squeeze and balderdash sob story of poverty and pitifulness.  It's a toss-up between them and the other troupe of foreign flailers, the cry baby communists from Dominikan Republik.  But that's all at which they're best.  Please, America, send them home to try out for Pilippinas Got Talent.  

  Makayla Phillips just didn't do it for me tonight, as she did with Warrior.  

  Michael Ketterer is an OUTSTANDING young man. He is also a gifted singer.  We are supposed to judge him for his vocals, not his nursing or fathering.   From Sir Simon's broadcast to Garth Brooks, I can assume that Michael is going to be in the Finals, whether he has the viewing public's vote or not.  Tonight, he didn't emotively move me like he did with his Golden Buzzer earning audition.  

 I promised Shin Lim's mother/manager that I would cast him all the votes allowed, if he continued to dazzle and delight.  Tonight, he didn't.  At least, not for me.

  Samuel J Comroe was one of really, only three acts to get an emotional response from me, by making me smile, chuckle, guffaw and Laugh Out Loud.

  Without Clarissa's drum, Us the Duo disappointed tonight.  It was still a fun sounding, upbeat song, but I can guarantee that these two do NOT know  what "Broke" truly is.  I called in some phone votes and may do more on-line, but if I do, it will be more for past performances and for being Americans among interlopers in a show titled  America's Got Talent.

  As children are our future, Voices of Hope Children's Choir gives this old man such hope for the future.  I love the way they uplift my spirits every time that I see and hear them.  And I adore Miss Sarah for what she has accomplished and shall continue to accomplish with this program.   They picked to perform a not easy to sing song tonight that is very appropriate for what they are doing this year.  Beau Dermott performed it twice a couple of years ago to earn a Golden Buzzer and to propel herself to a top five finish in Britain's Got Talent 2016.

  

 Oh, how I wish that Zurcaroh was American and not Austrian.  Tyra's Golden Buzzer selection continues to demonstrate through dance, acrobatics and gymnastics that they are the most versatile variety act and most Vegas worthy act in this year's competition.  Peterson, I wish that you had fled Brazil for Greensboro, rather than Gotzis.