talent?

Here's a little rant. All of it IMHO.

One of the weirdest shows on TV these days is America's Got Talent. And I don't necessarily mean the singers, dancers, jugglers, yodelers, puppeteers, whistlers, magicians and fire-eaters who are trying to win the prize. By the way, what is the prize?

Sometimes what happens on the stage is just odd. Other times it is inspiring. Then at other times it's hard to know what it is. Since this is the first time I've really paid close attention to the show I may have missed the concept. But I can't imagine I'm the only person who just tuned in.

I understand the want-to-be-discovered-talent who show up and perform. The people on the stage are auditioning for a chance to go to Vegas and win something. I think the Gong Show did something similar years ago with a lot less prize and even less talent. But on that show the idea was to make the contestants look foolish. On AGT, the "judges" and the audience play that part.

Look at this cast. First off, kudos to David Hasselhoff's agent. Now THERE'S the talent. Imagine the used cars he could sell. Who thinks the Hoff is the best man for the job? Did anyone read his application?

The show's original female judge, was Brandy. She could sing and dance and act and model and write and produce. She was loaded with talent. If anyone was qualified to spot real artistic ability, she was. Now we have Sharon Osbourne.

I think Sharon is a neat lady. She certainly doesn't look like the kind of woman who'd be interested in sleeping with Ozzy. But she's a successful woman who should know talent. I think she's a very inconsistent judge though. Case in point; last night she gave the thumbs down to a group of college guys who had a really good drum act. They were tight and energetic and obviously talented. She said their act was "limited" and wouldn't work in Vegas. Rewind: This past Sunday night a man steps to the middle of the stage and does hand shadows of former presidents. Sharon thinks Vegas will "love it!" Moments later another really impish looking guy does some terribly awkward song and dance routine, and she thinks it's "adorable." Proof that Sharon Osbourne either just hates college kids, or she's a poor judge of talent.

Piers Morgan? He got a judges chair here in the US because he has one in Great Britain. He's famous over there for writing and talking about famous people. He and my mailman are equally qualified to pick America's next big star.

And Jerry Springer!!!! Did the producers of this show do any kind of background check? Do they know what their host's other TV job is? No wonder the audience acts so juvenile.

The other night a guy with tremendous talent walks out and sings a powerful and emotional song. Because he has teeth, combs his hair and sings serious songs with a nice vibrato the mob in the seats, who aren't' sure which Jerry Springer show they're on, starts screaming for the judges to throw him off the stage. They're not even listening. But the singer man just stood there and gave one of the most intelligent and moving performances of the season. He was just too good for this audience, and this show. In the end the crowd started cheering for him. He faced them down and won. He had a couple of things they didn't. Integrity and class.

Why spend so much time on something so insignificant? 'Cause I watched the show last night and it bugged me. The judges were inconsistent. The audience was childish. The host was just out there, and whoever was directing the shots should consider letting us see what's happening on the stage. Either that or change the name of the show to "Audience Got Talent." Truth in advertising might not allow it though.