As a salve for the vitriol of the last posting, I offer this charming image: David Hasselhoff singing This is the Moment on national television. I could not make this up if I wanted to. Brianne and I were witness to the finale of last year's edition of America's Got Talent on television a few nights back (that's the 2nd season, they're doing the 3rd season right now), and the Hoff - a regular judge of the competition - graced the stage with his rendition of this schmaltzy anthem from the Broadway show Jekyll & Hyde. I can only describe it as a lounge act on acid. He was oozing with insincere emotion, ridiculously flat in certain parts, incongruously faux-operatic in other parts, and using that clunky style of rubato (singing out of predictable rhythm) that is so much a hallmark of stereotypical musical pomposity. Honestly, he was hammier than Mark Hamill being roasted on a spit for Thanksgiving dinner. I have not dared to search for it on YouTube, I leave you to try at your own peril. After his interminable money-note ending, his fellow judges had to bite their tongues for all they were worth and praise him, however obliquely. The overall experience was horrificly entertaining.
Speaking of the Got Talent series, there have been some excellent acts over the course of the competitions in America and in Britain. Put these names into the YouTube search engine and take a look for your self:
Bianca Ryan - first American winner, 11-year-old with a soul-diva voice, incredible
Paul Potts - first British winner, Joe Schmoe-type with Pavarotti-like pipes
Terry Fator - second American winner, ventriloquist/impressionist/singer, amazing
Cas Haley - second American runner-up, singer/guitarist, great voice with fun songs
George Sampson - second British winner, 15-year-old breakdancer
**look for his routine to a funked-up version of Singing in the Rain, absolutely brilliant
Signature - second British runner-up, dancing pair blending Michael Jackson and Bollywood
Hoop La La - British semi-finalists doing hula-hoop tricks, hilariously campy
Eli Mattson - strong contender for America this season, Harry Connick Jr style singer/pianist
Enjoy.
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