America’s Got Talent Commentary 6-28-06
America’s Got Talent opened it’s doors last Wednesday to 12.4 million viewers. NBC even did a rebroadcast on Friday. today 6-28-06 is the 2nd installment of the $1 million talent contest. We get another recap show at 8PM EST and the newest episode at 9PM EST.
There has been a lot of controversy and commentary over the America’s Got Talent show. Here are out takes of an interesting article:
If you need more reasons why “American Idol” works, take a look at NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” tonight or ABC’s “Master of Champions” on Thursday.
Or, I can save you the trouble. The answer this time is: judges. They need to be witty — or at least entertaining. They need to be brief. And they need to actually say something. And the judges on those summer talent contests aren’t. Well, maybe they’re brief.
It’s not entirely their fault. “America’s Got Talent” is supposed to be an “American Idol“-style show that’s open to any kind of act. And it, theoretically, will make a star out of the winner.
The first problem is, no matter what the show promises, no one really thinks the jugglers, dancers and novelty acts are going to be pop culture’s Next Big Thing. Not unless one of the contestants steals Angelina Jolie’s child and holds her hostage in the studios of “Entertainment Tonight.”
Still, the acts have been mostly fun enough for summer TV, and the show opened with a strong 12.4 million viewers last week.
But it also was totally forgettable.
One of its producers is “Idol’s” star judge, Simon Cowell, and “America’s Got Talent” badly needs him on camera, which is prohibited by his contract with Fox and “Idol.”
So instead, “America’s Got Talent” uses British journalist Piers Morgan, singer Brandy, and semi-actor David Hasselhoff for the judging and, supposedly, the sniping. Last week, they were all over the map about what kinds of acts should win, like it mattered. That was supposed to mimic the bickering from the “Idol” judges, but it just felt repetitive and dull.
Morgan was a bit demanding, and he has a British accent, but that’s as close as he got to being like Cowell. Cowell has a force to him, and a real ability to cut to the heart of things. Morgan, well, does not. Brandy was nice — like Paula Abdul — but lacked the, um, let’s call it volatility. And Hasselhoff showed the personality of a crescent roll.
So, here’s the point: The contrast with “American Idol” was stark. Randy, Paula and Simon — for all their considerable oddness — have a genuine, unpredictable chemistry about them. They add to the fun. They make it feel like it matters what they say, or, at least what Randy and Simon say.
Turns out, sitting there and adding something to the show, as simple as it looks, is not so easy. There’s a lot of that in TV. Making the tough look effortless is a big part of being good on camera.
For instance, Ryan Seacrest, for all the ego involved, is the perfect host for “Idol.” He moves things along, adds a little excitement and gets out of the way. It looks so unforced and fluid, but that’s because he does it well. And he does it well because he works hard at it.
There’s also a lesson here for all those wannabes on reality shows. There’s a reason why they fizzle out like cheap spark- lers. Show business really does take some talent and skill, beyond winning a game show, a silly race or even shooting an arrow with your feet. Though the arrow thing is pretty cool. - Source: www.sacbee.com
Be sure to catch the show tonigh and comment in the America’s Got Talent Fan Forum