My en masse opinions (won’t give an excuse…just never got around to it, is all):
Olate Dogs (winner) - Someone on TWOP kept emphasizing how happy these animals were, which I think speaks volumes. I’m not sure if they deserved to win, but the simple fact that it was about fun and enjoyment and entertainment spoke volumes. This show is constantly threatening to get way too full of itself, and it’s a thrill to see a group that genuinely loves doing what it does.
Joe Castillo - Someone here mentioned that one of the things this show should be doing is finding the right venues for the acts that aren’t suitable for Vegas, and never was this truer here. What he does is extraordinary, but a man standing still and moving his hands is not going to be a winning ticket (plus he reportedly has a bad attitude, killer for a venue which relies on word of mouth). I also agree that the wonky screwball camera work on this show did him no favors. He should do pay per views. This is perfect for that, a quiet studio, no endless camera googy-gogey (and am I the only one here who could not give less of a damn about Nick Cannon?), no talking, just an amazingly skilled artist and his magic. Then of course the DVD market. If he released a DVD , I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
Untouchables - Look…I loved what they did. I think they’re breathtaking. But I’m ALWAYS going to afraid of the slightest possibility of exploitation (and the fact that they’re modeled after India, not exactly a model of enlightenment, doesn’t help any). I think it’s completely unacceptable for gymnastics, figure skating, beauty pageants, and singing, and it’s just as unacceptable here. Plus I can’t in good conscience even imagine forcing them to stay in Vegas for extended periods of time (or worse, have to constantly shuttle back and forth). There’s also the obvious issue of how much of the million any of them are ever going to see. Compete good, win bad.
Tom Cotter - All things considered, he did fantastic and can hold his head high. I never expected a comedian to go this far. This show opened a lot of doors for him, and deservedly so.
William Close (Earth Harp) - I think it just sounds and feels really nice. Similar to Cotter, he’s made his mark and shouldn’t have any trouble filling a concert schedule now. This is much better suited for a lengthy show where he can do many songs rather than a quick-'n-dirty reality TV contest.
Garibaldi & CMYK’s - Mmm…I don’t doubt that what they do is fantastic. I think they might have a little trouble finding their audience. Dance entusiasts or painting enthusiasts? Novelty act? Hard to say. Wish them the best of luck in any case.
And a few others that didn’t make it…
Horse - There’s a place for him. Where it is, I’m not exactly sure. I guess certain colleges would love to book him, but that’s not exactly a lucrative market. I could see him doing some kind of quirky ESPN special, say, the limits of human pain tolerance.
Eric Dittleman - Everything about him says “variety act” or “sideshow” to me. Mind reading (much like Kinetic King’s act) is nifty enough but not the kind of thing that can carry a whole program, even with nice production values. He’d be great for children’s birthday parties.
The husband-wife acrobat duo - If they haven’t already, they should consider joining a troupe, at least part time. There’s good money and prestige to be had for a couple with their tremendous physical abilities.
Sebastian - Eh, never really bought him. In a few years he’ll know whether he really wants to pursue a singing career. Until then, everyone should appreciate what he brought and leave him the hell alone.
Scott Brothers - They have what looks like a very imaginative, entertaining act and just plain got fragged by the reality TV format. I’d love to buy a DVD of them as well.
All Wheel Sports - I’ve seen things like this. It’s a blast, but they can’t realistically do that kind of intense physical performance for more than 10 or 15 minutes at most. They’d be perfect as a stadium act or as part of a more traditional talent competition. (Y’know, like competitive cheerleading or hula, 'cept with bikes.)