America's Got These Four in Talent Finale

Is wee Jackie still in it to win it? Or will she have to make way for the previous generation in next week's finale?

By Natalie Finn Sep 09, 2010 2:15 AMTags

The summer's almost over, and that means America's Got Talent is about ready to crown a winner.

Ten acts performed for America's votes last night, hoping to be one of the final four competing in next week's finale for $1 million and their own Las Vegas show.

From tiny soprano Jackie Evancho to daredevil Jeremy VanSchoonhoven to headline-ready Fighting Gravity, each took the stage Wednesday to hear his/her/their fate.

Are you favorites through to the finale, or were the results just a bunch of hogwash?

Well... Hogwash, no. Poppycock, yes.

America must have been feeling patriotic last night because his highness Prince Poppycock, who combines classic opera sounds with Lady Gaga-style theatrics, was the first finalist to hear his name called tonight.

"To every kid out there who gets picked on or feels like an outsider, I want you to believe that life is magical and I want you to look at me right now and understand that dreams can come true," the red-white-and-blue-clad singer, whose real name is John Andrew Quale, said gratefully. In the night's first pairing, he topped illusionist Michael Grasso, whom Howie Mandel had cleverly dubbed the "King of Magic."

Unsurprisingly, voters also had to split up singers Michael Grimm (more old-school soul) and Taylor Mathews (more troubador singer-songwriter), each mighty talented in his own right.

But Grimm, 30, is the one who will sing it out in next week's finale, leaving the 18-year-old Mathews to keep busking for the people's love.

So after Grimm's ascension, six acts remained with only two spots left, meaning two had to get the brush at the same time, and stunt cyclist Jeremy VanSchoonhoven and sister act Christine & Ali were emotionally ejected from the competition in one fell swoop.

Then producers craftily pitted 10-year-old opera phenom Jackie Evancho against pint-size ballroom dancers Anna & Patryck for the third spot in the finale, and Jackie at first looked more sorry than psyched when Nick Cannon called her name.

But, as Cannon pointed out, she always comes up with the "perfect little thing to say."

Rounding out the top four tonight are the Blue Man Group-reminiscent, blacklight-utilizing tricksters Fighting Gravity, an act you can really picture playing Sin City right across the street from their blue-faced competitors.

The final four perform next Tuesday.

Reminding us that Canada's got talent, too, Sarah McLachlan sang tonight, as did the cast of Broadway's American Idiot.

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Great fun awaits any legal-aged winner in Sin City, as seen in our Destination Vegas gallery.