So last night was the finale of America’s Got Talent which I’ve been following since June.  Nuttin’ But Stringz was one of the acts which caught my eye early on and I picked them to win it all right from the start.  I’ve previously seen them promoting Major League Baseball and the NCAA and was a fan even before I knew they would try out for the show.  I wasn’t surprised when they made it all the way up to the Top 5, but after the episode last night I’m convinced that either the show itself is rigged or America’s voters must be some of the dumbest people on the face of the earth.

First thing first, out of the top 10 acts, there were two contestants that were snubbed from the top 5 altogether.  I’m talking about the spectacular Paul “Sinatra” Salos and Joseph “Elvis” Hall.  How is it that two of the most dynamic, amazingly emulated, Vegas-style acts not make it to the top 5.  There’s a certain flair that they have that most of the generic singers do not have at all and it was certainly not picked up by the American voting audience.  What is it about Queen Emily and Neal E. Boyd that make them special and/or a good fit for Vegas?  Absolutely nothing.

Now let’s talk about the contestants that actually did make it into the top 5.  Forty minutes into the program, everything was going just smoothly.  Queen Emily was ousted immediately and although I’m not entirely happy with his 4th place finish, Donald Braswell was eliminated as well.  However the next elimination was a megaton shocker.  To the surprise of everyone in the live audience and to the entire judging panel, Nuttin’ But Stringz was dropped like a bag of dirt and failed to make it to the top 2.  You might as well have turned the TV off right there because Eli Mattson, my second favorite pick of the top 5, got the ultimate insult when Neal E. Boyd was announced as the winner.  I don’t know what people are listening to, but Neal E. Boyd is not the answer.  Who or what is going to watch this guy on Vegas?  Nobody.  Nobody at all.  I don’t believe anyone would actually vote for this guy.  Nobody listens to opera and nobody will continue to listen to opera, especially in Las Vegas.

In terms of overall talent and enjoyability, this is my personal list of the top 5:

1. Nuttin’ But Stringz
2. Paul Salos
3. Eli Mattson
4. Donald Braswell
5. Joseph Hall

Now here’s the rest of my top 10, which only includes the acts voted into the top 10, but not those above:

6. Jessica Price
7. The Wright Kids
8. Queen Emily
9. Neal E. Boyd
10. Kaitlyn Maher

I’ve been watching this show for three seasons now and except for last year’s winner, I came out disappointed with the choices for not only the winner, but largely the entire choice of top 10 acts.  Terry Fator was the only viable choice in season two so I’m not really disappointed with the winner there, but in terms of season one, I’m left with the same sour taste today as I had back then.  Season one had the greatest presenter in the history of television in Regis Philbin, but it still couldn’t balance out how Bobby Badfingers, Nathan Burton, Elliot Zimet, At Last, David & Dania – Quick Change, and Jon & Owen – The Passing Zone all got passed up to make it in into the top 5.  The entire first season was incredibly enjoyable until the top 10 was chosen and inevitably the worst possible top 10 contestant, Bianca Ryan, was named champion.

As our favorite commentator Bela Karolyi would say, “This is a unique situation.  I believe that it is a total ripoff and my heart is breaking for these brothers, I’m talking about Nuttin’ But Stringz.  It was a ripoff.  A total ripoff.  No question about it.  And I will end, there is no excuse for this.”  At least they made playing the violin cool.