America's Got Talent & It's In Las Vegas

America's Got Talent is, for the uninitiated, an old-fashioned talent show played out from tryout to triumph in fromt of millions of people on their local NBC TV stations.

 The array of talent is vast and the existence of talent is kind of rare. But lots of people enter because the grand prize is "ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!! AND A LAS VEGAS CONTACT!!!" The winner from two years ago, Terry Fator, has his own show at the Mirage on the Las Vegas strip and he is thriving. So, now, America's Got Talent has arrived at Planet Hollywood where it will be in residence Thursday through Sunday through December 11.

With video "participation" of show judges Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff and requisite Brit Piers Morgan, Jerry Springer hosted the show. First up was Acrodunk, a group of five acrobats whose pretty spectacular act was centered around shooting hoops. Singer Lawrence Beaman did a beautiful version of Ol' Man River and thn his own composition, Thinnking of You. This guy should have a real future. Grandma Lee, the 75 year-old comedienne was up next and then came the three Texas Tenors who sang Mountain Music and, joined by second-place finisher Barbara Padilla, Somewhere. They all have beautiful voices. Dancer/contortionist Heiro Torres next wowed the crowd with his moves and Recycled Percussion made the joint jump. Nothing But Strings, the violin duo from a previous season, jumped around to their own violin music and, Padilla came onstage again to sing Puccini and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Finally, competition winner country singer Kevin Skinner — former professional chicken catcher — came on.

This is an eminently pleasant evening. I am not an AGT fan, but I had fun and mostly enjoyed the show. Springer adds a nice note, self-effacing and kind with occasional forays into scripted humor. He's a host that makes everyone feel welcome.

The set is by Asient Entertainment's Andy Walmsley and Steve Parker who, beginning with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, have created some of TVs most iconic sets here and in the UK. This set is no exception. (After several nominations, they won an Emmy® this year for their work on American Idol.) However — and it's a big "however" — the lighting at the show — not designed by Asient — is very problematical. From the time Heiro Torres comes out, lights on the side of the stage flash and serve as audience blinders. One wonders if an audience member who might have a seizure disorder is properly warned. The lighting is unnecessarily uncomfortable and should be fixed immediately.

The only other quibbles with the production are the two men and two women who serve as background dancers/singers. They are totally extraneous. Also extraneous are the tracks used, one would guess, to "enhance" the performances. Nothing But Strings was just about drowned out by those.

Finally, a real finale would have been nice. The cast taking bows to a recording of Kool and the Gang's Celebrate. A real group effort would have perfectly capped a pleasant evening. But, I must note, I met a woman from Pittsburgh who came in expressly to see the show. She was thrilled.

The show plays Wednesday through Sunday, 7 pm. Tickets are available at www.planethollywood.com.

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