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Who will win “America’s Got Talent” and “So You Think You Can Dance?” Finales air tonight.
Two big summer reality shows screech to a conclusion and a semi-conclusion tonight — simultaneously, so if you care, be sure to set the recorder.
What are the odds that NBC’s surprise reality hit “America’s Got Talent” will crown someone who has talent after tonight’s performance episode and Thursday’s announcement?
Probably the same odds as tonight’s two-hour extravaganza (7 to 9 p.m.) not being packed with commercials, inane banter and tons of useless stuff. In other words, slim and none.
It’s considerably more likely that someone who can actually dance will be crowned the winner on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” tonigh).
But in both shows, we’re also likely to see people who think they have talent but who actually are embarrassing themselves for viewers’ enjoyment.
Regis Philbin, no doubt wearing one of his trademark shiny suits, will host “America’s Got Talent,” riding herd on the trio of judges that includes Brandy, David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan. Nine acts will compete in various “talent” areas for the $1 million prize, to be revealed Thursday at 8 p.m.
“Sometimes I wish I had a buzzer,” Philbin said with candor in Los Angeles recently. “Some of the contestants want it pretty bad, but they just don’t have the goods to deliver.”
Here’s my question: If the yodeling 11-year-old singer Taylor Ware wins, what will become of her? Well, she’ll pocket a cool $1 million. But it’s not like a normal singer or dancer, who might get a contract to do something in show biz. The best a kid yodeler can hope for is a quick trip to Vegas and maybe a county fair. And a visit with Conan.
Conceived as a one-time summer quickie, “America’s Got Talent” has become such a hit that NBC is bringing it (and Reege) back in January.
“There’s nothing hard about it,” Philbin said with a sly grin. “I kinda love it.”
Says creator/producer Ken Warwick, whose credits include “American Idol”: “There’s a whole generation that doesn’t know variety. They’ve never seen ‘Ed Sullivan’ or ‘The Gong Show.’ “
If they watch “Talent,” they’ve still not seen “Ed Sullivan,” but they’ve definitely experienced “The Gong Show.”
On Fox’s hoofing contest, host Cat Deeley will announce the winner of this year’s prize — a one-year contract to work on Celine Dion’s spectacular Vegas show, “A New Day.” The crowning portion of the two-hour telecast begins at 8 p.m.; the earlier hour is a rehash of last week’s performances, so plan accordingly.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Reality TV
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By Frank
August 17, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this
Get another MC Philbin is an egotistical runt. Notice how he will never stand close to somebody taller. He spends more time gushing about himself than is necessary.