Inspirational finals on America's Got Talent warms even Piers Morgan's heart as the final ten battle it out

By ANDREA MAGRATH

Crooner: Landau Eugene Murphy Jr brought the house down again on the America's Got Talent finals with his rendition of Ain't That a Kick in the Head

It was a heart-warming night on America's Got Talent tonight, a fitting final for the top ten acts.

From Silhouettes' inspirational performance to Landau Eugene Murphy bringing the house down with a Rat Pack classic, the judges all agreed it was one of the best evening's the show has ever seen.

It didn't start out so positively though, with Miami All Stars receiving harsh feedback from the panel, who called their sports star, cheerleading-themed act 'silly.'

Soprano Lys Agnes also didn't fare too well.


Inspirational: Silhouettes told a story of progress and achievement of America


Her rendition of Aerosmith's Deam On 'bombed' according to Sharon Osbourne. 'When you sing in a lower register it's not very pleasant to the ear,' Sharon said. 'And your last note bombed.'

Howie added: 'You took a big risk and I don't think it paid off.'

But Piers disagreed, changing things up to be the only judge judge to give a positive review. Saying he felt moved by the performance when Lys hit the big notes.


Heart-warming: Piers praised the group for raising spirits during a low time for the country


There were several stand-out performance throughout the evening, the first being Silhouettes.

The dance troupe depicted Obama and the White House, An astronaut and space shuttle taking off, Olympians on the winner's podium and students graduating school.

The group almost had Sharon in tears. She said: 'That was simplistic, and beautiful and exquisite - beautifully executed.'


Up in lights: iLuminate had the judges and audience screaming with an extraordinary performance


Star in the making: Anna Graceman belted out Cyndi Lauper's True Colours


Piers added: 'What a story you told. America is going through a pretty tough time and feeling pretty down in the dumps. You come along and tell a story that lifts the heart and makes people proud of being American.'

Silhouettes were jumping up and down when Howie told them,'As far as I'm concerned, this is the first of the finals act that I have seen tonight. America should vote, you should definitely be in the finals.'

Crowd favourite Landeau Eugene Murphy Jr had the audience on their feet with his rendition of the Dean Martin classic Ain't That a Kick in the Head.


Limiting: Sharon told the 11-year-old that standing on the grassy knoll limited her working of the stage
Piers told him: 'You got your mojo back! You were relaxed, you were strutting the stage, you had your swagger.'


Anna Graceman, who has performed consistently throughout the competition surprised many by receiving mixed reviews for her performance of Cyndi Lauper's True Colours.

For the first time the 11-year-old went without her piano, and sand standing on a grass hill.


Top contenders: Poplyfe got a standing ovation form the judges for their Jackson 5 mash-up


Daring: Smage Bros Riding Show had the audience on the edge of their seats


'You have an extraordinary voice because when you're in that lower register it's not great, but every time you go big, its just incredible. You have the most amazing set of lungs on you.

He added: I'm torn. You're nearly a perfect singer.'

Sharon said: 'Loved the song choice. I felt it was a bit difficult for you to perform well on the grassy knoll, it would have been more beneficial for you to be able to work the stage.'

Like the others, Howie gave both positive and negative thoughts: 'You're 11, you're brilliant, you're already a star,' he said. 'Was this performance as good as your last? I don't think so. But you're still brilliant.'


Will she make it? Lys Agnes received mixed reviews from the judges for her version of Dream On


America's Got Talent 2011 - Anna Graceman - True Colors (Top 10)


America's Got Talent - Steven Retchless - Pole Dance - Semifinals 2011


America's Got Talent - Landon Swank - Semifinals 2011



source: dailymail

Near disaster in the America's Got Talent semi-finals as Gymkana performer is set on fire

By ANDREA MAGRATH



Dangerous: Gymkana started out well with a stunning and perfectly timed routine, but failed to impress Piers, who was booed for buzzing out the group early on in the act



It was an eventful night on round two of America's Got Talent semi-finals, between Piers Morgan getting a little too eager on the buzzer and a near-disaster during gymnastics group Gymkana's act.



The talented troupe from Maryland had the judges on their feet, gasping in horror after a ring of fire came crashing down on top of one of the performers.



The dance team started out well with a stunning and perfectly timed routine, but failed to impress Piers, who was booed for buzzing out the group early on in the act.





Accident: Then near-disaster struck, when one of the gymnasts caught the edge of the ring of fire, bringing the flames down on top of him as he crash-landed on the floor





Then near-disaster struck, when one of the gymnasts caught the edge of the ring of fire, bringing the flames down on top of him as he crash-landed on the floor.



The judges were on their feet as the young man lay on the floor on fire, while the performer who had been holding on to the ring nursed a burnt arm.



Piers was forced to defend himself for buzzing the group just seconds before the incident. 'You're every good at what you do, it was every repetitive though,' he said.



'I think as it goes as badly wrong as it just did... I feel for you you have my sympathy but obviously when you have someone lying on the floor with fire all over him, it's not a good day at the office.



Nick interrupted Piers' review, saying, 'Well personally I think you buzzing them made them nervous and maybe caused the accident.'





Concern: The judges were out of their chairs asking if the gymnast was all right





Sharon commented: 'You were at lemmings tonight. The thing is, I was looking for the performance value from you and tonight I didn't see that. But I thought you were tremendous.'



Howie retorted: 'I disagree with both of them. As a headline act, you have so much to give.'



After being checked out by a medic side of stage, both of the injured gymnasts were declared fine.



As always, Anna Graceman dazzled everyone in the auditorium with her stunning vocals.







Talent: Anna Graceman wowed with her own take on Mötley Crüe's 'Home Sweet Home, earning herself a standing ovation from the audience and judges





The spunky 11-year-old, in a pink and black tutu dress wowed with her own take on Mötley Crüe's 'Home Sweet Home, earning herself a standing ovation from the audience and judges.



Sharon informed her that her friends from the band were watching her performance, as she had called to let them know after she heard Anna would be singing their song.



Both Piers and Sharon called the youngster's act the performance of the night.



Piers Morgan drew criticism for buzzing out three separate acts throughout the course of the evening.





Risqué: Piers was early on the buzzer for pole dancer Steven Retchless, saying that the only men who should be sliding down poles should be firemen





He was early on the buzzer for pole dancer Steven Retchless, saying that the only men who should be sliding down poles should be firemen.



After his third buzz, Morgan insisted: 'I believe the buzzer is here for a reason and we're judges and I'm looking for perfection or as near to it as possible.



The comment was directed at jump-rope act Summerwind Skippers, who performed a routine to Britney Spears' song Till the World Ends.



Morgan added: 'The last time, we forgave you for for making a mistake. But tonight you made one, then you made another big mistake towards the end of the routine so I buzzed you to be fair to the other contestants.'





On the buzzer: Morgan was also harsh on Summerwind Skippers, saying 'The last time, we forgave you for for making a mistake. But tonight you made another one so I buzzed you to be fair to the other contestants'





The other two judges were furious with Morgan for buzzing again. Howie Mandel said: 'You brought edge to skipping.



'I want to take this moment to apologise because I don't think you should be buzzed at this level and it affects the act.



'It's so great to see the progression you've made you have turned into such great performers,' Sharon said. 'You know how to work an audience and have grown so quickly over the past few weeks and I know you're going to be here for the final.'



Piers was far more enthusiastic about another dance troupe, Fatally Unique.



Emerging in Hannibal Lector- style costumes, the troupe performed a high-energy routine which dazzled Sharon and Piers, but underwhelmed Howie.





Scary: Howie questioned if dance troupe Fatally Unique were fatally unique enough to get through to the finals up against the other dance acts



Sharon told them: 'You guys move with such speed and precision its really breathtaking to watch, the speed you perform at is unbelievable.



'It seems this year is definitely about mean dance. Happy dance is dead, gone, out of vogue. I loved what you did tonight, really well done.



Piers added: 'This was a totally fresh routine. I loved the determination in your faces. After that performance I think you are one step nearer (to winning this).'



But Howie wasn't convinced. 'You are phenomenal at dancing but the bad part is there are so many great dance acts,' he said. 'I wonder if you are 'fatally unique' enough, which America has to decide.'





Push the button: He asked for the trio to assist with his trick, which involved each of them selecting a button which was connected to a detonator, exploding one of four boxes suspended above the stage





Illusionist Landon Swank from Alaska once again thrilled the judges, this time involving them in his daring stunt.



He asked for the trio to assist with his trick, which involved each of them selecting a button which was connected to a detonator, exploding one of four boxes suspended above the stage.



On a video link from inside one of the boxes, he said: 'I've tried to predict which number you will pick and I'm locked into my decision.'



On Landon's command the judges each triggered the detonators, exploding boxes 1,3 and 4.

Landon emerged in one piece from box two. He then asked Piers to push the detonator for that box, which then exploded.



A stunned Howie exclaimed: 'Wow, absolute wow! Last time I was concerned because you came very close to killing yourself. This time I was concerned because we came close to killing you. My heart is pounding. That was amazing.'





Great heights: Despite his spectacular stunt, Captian Splash failed to bowl over the judges with his drop





Piers commented: 'You have been a real dark horse, coming in as a wild card. Tonight what we've seen is someone who took a chance with this incredible extravaganza. Very dangerous, very exciting.'



'My hands are shaking,' Sharon said. 'I'm so nervous but I have to tell you the whole presentation was A+, it was fantastic. The whole nine yards - it was sensationally executed.



She added:'In the past most of our magicians have shown us the big tricks early, but you've been saving yourself and pacing yourself.'



Audience favourite Landau Eugene Murphy divided the judges when he sang I've Got the World On a String.



America's Got Talent: Steven Retchless - Semi Finals





America's Got Talent: Gymkhana - Semi Finals







source: dailymail

Piers Morgan Admits To Phone Hacking In The News Corp Scandal (Audio Confession)

Diarrhea Mouth Gets Morgan Into Trouble Proving He Would Have Made A Terrible Lawyer

CNN talk show host, "America's Got Talent" judge and former News of the World editor, Piers Morgan, has found himself between a rock and a hard place, thanks to boasting of criminal activity on tape. This month, Morgan denied any involvement in the News International/News Corp phone hacking scandal, but he spoke to soon.

Piers Morgan

However, evidence has surfaced implicating him in criminal conduct at Rupert Murdoch's News International/News Corp, via an audio tape of him bragging of illegal wiretapping. His 2005 autobiography also revealed, the News of the World engaged in devious and unlawful conduct to get scoops to print in the newspaper.

Former News International/News Corp employees Piers Morgan, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson (the latter two were arrested this summer for phone hacking)

After watching Morgan interview the Vinklevoss twins on CNN and knowing of his working relationship with Simon Cowell, who owns "Britain's Got Talent" and is another News Corp employee that resorts to illegal wiretapping and hacking for undue financial profit in business, the Judiciary Report referred to the former editor as a crook (Piers Morgan Facebook Interview A Prime Example Of What's Wrong With The Economy). The latest revelations about him only serves as more proof. At News Corp, it is clearly "birds of a feather"...

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British Blogger Claims to Have Piers Morgan Phone-Hacking Evidence

Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:12pm EDT - It seems every time Piers Morgan denies any connection to the phone hacking scandal, a certain British blogger implicates him further. Paul Staines, who writes under the pseudonym Guido Fawkes, told Forbes' Jeff Bercovici he possesses a recording in which Morgan openly discusses his role in hacking. Staines has made Morgan his target many times in the past few weeks, focusing on his stint as editor of British tabloid The Daily Mirror, which came after he worked for Murdoch's News of the World.

Morgan has yet to speak out on the latest allegations -- his representative did not immediately respond to TheWrap's inquiry about the matter -- but if his track record is any indication he will vehemently deny any wrongdoing...

http://www.reuters.com

CNN's Piers Morgan 'told interviewer stories were published based on phone tapping'

12:40AM BST 27 Jul 2011 - Piers Morgan, the CNN broadcaster, has said that newspaper articles based on the findings of people paid to tap phones and rake through bins were published during his time as a tabloid newspaper editor, it can be disclosed.

Phone hacking: CNN's Piers Morgan admits he published articles based on phone tapping. Mr Morgan, a former News of the World and Daily Mirror editor who is now a high-profile television presenter in the US, has spent the past week categorically denying ever printing material derived from phone hacking.

He spoke out after being accused by a Conservative MP and political bloggers of being involved in the phone hacking scandal that has engulfed Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, for which he used to work...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk