America’s Got Talent Fantasy League Recap: Final Performances. The Top 10 compete for the WIN
America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League two-week finale begins tonight. The final 10 acts perform for the audience vote. Next week, the America’s Got Talent Fantasy League WINNER will be revealed.
The new format has a couple of twists. Viewers at home picked the show’s 40 acts via online vote. Additionally, the judges–Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B.–each assembled a 10 person “dream team” of acts. The judges mentored their teams, hoping to bring an act to the finale and ultimately the win. The winner of AGT: Fantasy League nabs a $250K prize.
Eight contestants were chosen or stolen by the judges via Golden Buzzer. Two acts were put through by audience vote.
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Pack Drumline – Drumline – Team Simon Cowell
The audience voted Pack Drumline through to the finale. The group considers themselves underdogs. Simon insists that’s not a bad thing. “I just want people to know you,” he says. Simon believes the performance can be a life changing moment for the group.
This week, there are no props. But the group tumbles and holds up fellow players on their shoulders and sometimes even upside down. They play each other’s instruments. The guy at the drum kit sets his cymbals on fire, which is something new. It’s very energetic and professional, but not necessarily a step up.
Simon is so excited. “This act really really wants to win.” He thinks the underdog might take the title home. He calls the act “outstanding.” Howie calls it “amazing.” He thinks they stepped it up. Howie loves the energy and choreography. Heidi reminds everybody that Pack Drumline are one of two acts voted through by the audience. Mel B yells, “You’re on fire! You’re brilliant.” The group leader is emotional as he speaks of sacrifices and losses that the group has had to endure in the past.
Sofie Dossi – Contortionist/Acrobat – Team Heidi Klum
NBC previewed this act earlier today. Watch it here. Sofie’s father builds all her props, which probably gives him a sense of control over his daughter’s safety. He built a brand new crazy prop for her. Heidi saved Sofie in the semi-finals with her Golden Buzzer.
The new prop is a huge wheel on which Sofie balances. As it begins spinning, she has to constantly hop with her hands from post to post. Falling would be devastating, as the device sits high on a platform. It’s a spectacular new trick. However, as Mel B points out, the act features a minute of the new thing, and then abruptly ends. It leaves the audience feeling like there should be more.
Heidi calls the contraption “The Wheel of Death” and notes Sophie only learned the routine two weeks ago. Simon is impressed with her growth. “Stepping it up big time.” Mel B. wanted the act to go longer. “But it was brilliant.” Howie says, “Some say practice makes perfect, but you were perfect without the practice.”
Kodi Lee – Singer – Team Howie Mandel
NBC previewed this performance last week. Watch it here. Howie stole Kodi from Simon, and his mother was none too pleased about that. She calls Simon the genius of music. She’s correct to be disappointed. “Music is really not my thing,” Howie admits. Kodi will sing “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen which is a tall order, to say the least. I wonder if Simon would have signed off on that.
And as it turns out, Kodi cuts out the lyrics about death and killing, and edits out the most dramatic parts of the song. It’s more than he can handle. The singer has a pleasant enough voice, but he’s not a powerhouse singer. Another original or a sentimental favorite more in his wheelhouse would have been a better choice.
Howie says he “Kodified” it. He’s proud to be his mentor. Mel would have prefered an original song. “I just want you to be you.” Heidi loved his originals as well. Simon notes that two original songs got him this far. But he appreciates that Kodi always does his own take on covers. “You’ve never given up. The final wouldn’t be the same without you in it.” Nobody wants to be mean to Kodi, but Howie basically failed him. Kodi calls being on Howie’s team “so amazing.”
V. Unbeatable – Dance/Acrobatic crew – Team Heidi Klum
Oops. Heidi stole V. Unbeatable from Howie. The group members, from India, are all from poor families. They dreamed growing up of becoming dancers. They were happy to be on Team Howie, but they call Heidi’s advice “next level.” She asks them not to do “super crazy things” because somebody already got hurt.
The group dances from atop platforms, tossing the little ones and performing their typically thrilling acrobatic dance moves. This time they bring out sheets, which they use as slides. The act’s performances tonight seem so short. Perhaps there was no lead time to learn long routines.
Heidi calls them “unbeatable.” Howie still calls them his favorite act of all time. “Perfection,” he says. He hopes they win, even though they are no longer on his team. His own team members hearing that backstage must be thrilled! Mel points out the only female in the group for special praise. Simon calls their timing “impeccable.” He says, “That was an incredible performance.”
Ramadhani Brothers – Head Balancers/Acrobats – Team Howie Mandel
Howie stole the African head balancing duo from Heidi. The two judges steals from each other kind of balanced it all out. Howie notes that the brothers are always willing to push the limit. He gives the act some dangerous ideas!
This time, the brothers balance on a rising platform (Howie’s idea) as they climb dual ladders. All this while balancing head to head. They are high in the air, above the judge Xs. They climb back down as the platform slowly drops. But that’s not all! One brother wears a blindfold as he balances the other on his head AND climbs a ladder. The bottom brother goes hands free. Thrilling!
“We did it!” shouts Howie. “That was a winning performance.” Heidi hated Howie’s SMUG FACE. She’s still upset he stole them. Mel B. says, “It was incredible.” Simon says, “This for me, was by far your best performance. This is what a final should be about.”
Musa Motha – Dancer – Team Simon Cowell
Musa lost his leg to cancer at 11 years old. Now he dances with a crutch. Simon gave the performer his Golden Buzzer in the semi-finals. Musa does not see himself as a “disabled dancer.” He’d eventually like to have his own dance studio and crutch line.
He dances using his crutches as props. He pirouettes on one crutch. Musa always uses his body to tell an emotional story.
Simon feels proud. He calls Musa a “humble, sweet person,” adding “you made this show really really special. Howie predicts everyone will know who Musa is. Heidi believes it’s the dancer’s time right now. Mel declares that he’s broken down barriers. Masa, born in Africa, is tearful, sharing that he appreciates the support from America.
Aidan Bryant – Aerialist/silks – Team Mel B
Mel B wouldn’t have a chance in the finals if she hadn’t stolen Aerialist Aidan Bryant from Heidi. He misses Heidi, but is thrilled to receive his FIRST Golden Buzzer. He’s eyeing Sofie who performs the same kind of act.
Aidan is back to performing on the aerial hoop. It raises high in the air as he executes his twisty tricks. He uses the hoop as well as the attached silk. The hoop flies around the stage as he works it. Sofie’s trick was unique and more dangerous. But Aidan’s act is longer and better choreographed. He ends by spinning on the hoop as it descends back to the stage. So elegant!
Mel was wowed in rehearsals. “It was so good,” she says. Simon is annoyed. Heidi compares Aidan to a poet. Simon loved the performance because it was beautifully put together and captivating. Howie didn’t like that….Mel begins buzzing to shut him up. But PSYCH. He doesn’t like that Aidan isn’t on his team.
Shadow Ace – Shadow Puppets – Team Howie Mandel
Shadow was the other act to advance via audience vote. This time, Heidi will help out on stage. Last time, she chastised Simon for not participating more during the act. As a surprise, Howie had Shadow Ace’s parents send encouraging words from the Philippines where they live.
Heidi waggles her tongue as Shadow Ace feeds her a milkshake. She’s not a hypocrite. Unlike Simon, she’s participating. At one point, they used her song. Still the act is so dumb. There were worthier acts that belonged in the final. Howie, of course, loves them.
“That was amazing,” Howie gushes. Heidi calls them clever and thanks them for including her. Mel B loves his comedy, as well as the music he uses. Simon looks forward to his “silly” but “great” act. “Amazing.”
Billy & Emily England – Roller Skating/Acrobats – Team Mel B.
Mel B. stole this brother sister roller blading act from Simon. The duo confessed they grew up as Mel B and Spice Girls fans and were not disappointed with the outcome. Billy and Emily plan to bring a brand new DANGEROUS act to the floor that incorporates “hair hanging” into the act. They confess that rehearsals were rough.
Emily wears platform shoes mounted on rollers. Wow. She flies into the air by a rope connected to a hook in her hair. After, she unhooks herself and the two do their usual swingy-swingy thing, as Emily’s head flies precariously close to the floor. She pulls out another hook for the BIG trick and attaches herself to her brother. Emily swings around while he rollerblades in circles. I expected that to be more dangerous, nevertheless, it’s still crazy.
Mel says, “You did a killer performance right there.” Emily explains that she lost a lot of hair during rehearsals and came to a point where she was close to needing to quit. Heidi calls them “crazy, but crazy good.” Simon calls the act “a 10” and “one of the best we’ve seen tonight.”
Sainted – Trap Choir – Team Simon Cowell
Simon gave Sainted his Golden Buzzer last time rather than steal another act. He really wanted them in the final. He managed to clear Prince’s “Purple Rain” for them to perform in the semi-finals. This time, Simon chooses Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” for their final performance.
It’s a good song pick for them. Because of Madonna’s racy video, the song was considered profane back in the 80s. But the lyrics on their face are spiritual. Once again, the song arrangement is choppy and unsatisfying, but the vocals, the solos in particular, soar.
When Terry shouts “Sainted” it almost sounds like “Satan.” Don’t poke the conspiracy theorists! Simon notes that they want to win. “That was incredible, so powerful, so emotional.” Mel “felt the song” in her “belly.” Heidi calls every performance from them “unforgettable.” Howie says, “You take us to church. This was heavenly.”
The audience will VOTE and the WINNER will be revealed next Monday!
