By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Friday, August 21, 2015
Several locals are on reality competition programs right now. Here's a quick update on some of them:
"Project Runway," Thursdays, 9 p.m. Lifetime (check)
Over the first three episodes, Atlanta's Edmond Newton has proven to be the real deal. So far, he appears to be a solid candidate for the finals.
He was in the top three with a pretty black dress with a cape week one. Week two, he won the unusual materials challenge (Hallmark store materials) with a stunning wedding dress. He was immune this week and ended up with a terribly incompatible partner Hanmiao Yang. She was, to say the least, difficult. He was far more gracious than I would have been.
And the resulting dress was such a mess, she ended up going home. Given her past stubborn nature and rather limited palette of boxy stylings, she was clearly cannon fodder. No harm, no foul for Newton.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"Last Comic Standing," Wednesdays, 10 p.m., NBC
Clayton English of Atlanta is rumored to go far on the show. He was the last comic featured in the first round and the first one on during the semifinals, which aired this past Wednesday.
He easily slid into the next round.
Mentor and executive producer Wanda Sykes gave English good advice: don't come across angry and bring everyone in.
He began with a race joke about how white and black folks need to hang out more together. White friends want him to go extreme sports like hang-gliding, ATV riding and wild boar hunting.
"They'll never want to come to me and do black people extreme sports. No. They'll never want to get in a car with me... with no license, no registration. One headlight out. An expired tag, then we drive from the hood to the nice part of town and see how far we go. They never want to do it."
"I hang glide with you. You ride dirty with me!"
"One word. Star!" Roseanne said. "It was such a great set... The ride you take us on is just fantastic."
"It was just beautiful to watch," said Keenen Ivory Wayons.
"You remind me a little bit of Tracy Morgan," said Norm MacDonald. "It's the set to beat."
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"Ink Master," Tuesdays, 10 p.m. Spike
Craig Foster of Skinwerks in Carrollton finished eighth place season three of "Ink Master" despite winning two challenges.
In his second effort to win, he has now made it into the top 10 season six, riding through the first eight challenges relatively unscathed. His past experience has clearly helped him. He had a weak Flash Challenge tattoo this week with odd lettering for his New York postcard. But he came out on top with wonderful composition in his trash polka tattoo.
He is clearly one of the stronger ink artists here. If he doesn't make a massive misstep, he could very well finish in the finals.
"America's Got Talent," Tuesdays, 8 p.m., Wednesdays, 8 p.m. NBC (check)
Soulful Atlanta duo the Craig Lewis Band has cruised through three performances so far on the 10th season of 'America's Got Talent."
They are assigned songs from the producers but try to throw in their own suggestions as well.
"We just try to find some part of whatever song they give that we can relate to. Make it our own," Craig said.
On Wednesday, they got into the top 21 after the first vote from America with a dramatic, impactful "Try a Little Tenderness."
The two men with very distinctive voices met at a talent show in Atlanta ten years ago and have performed all over town.
Here are the first two performances in case you missed them. (I will be interviewing them next week, by the way.)
First up: "This is a Man's Man's Man's World." The judges were impressed. "You were on point, bam, out of the game," Mel B said. "Contenders," Howard Stern said.
In the next round, they blew away guest judge Michael Buble with their cover of Mary J. Blige's "I'm Goin' Down." He pushed the Golden Buzzer that got them straight to the live show.
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