TVSquad

(S03E05) "You keep singing like that, you are going to be all by yourself." - The Hoff to Michelle

Another week of America's Got Talent, another series of bad and good acts. I can't wait for the Vegas Callback episodes because the audition process is getting a tad long for me. We still have at least two episodes of auditions, one featuring the MySpace acts, before we start getting down to serious business and let our voice be heard. Until then, we have to listen to Michelle's voice...

So how do you like your Jerry Springer Show: less freaks or extra freaky?

Well, those of you who like the latter might be disappointed in the upcoming 44th season of Jerry's show. The producers promise that they're going to make the show less crazy and actually focus on one person/family for the entire show, something they did when the show first started.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the show is suddenly going to turn into Charlie Rose. I'm sure the topics will still be cheating, sex changes, family problems, and everything else that has made the show a hit. And if someone were to pick up a chair and throw it for some reason, I'm sure the producers wouldn't mind.

The article above says that there will no longer be guys that can walk on their hands, mimes, plate-spinners, and puppets. Wait a second, did Springer turn into The Ed Sullivan Show the past few years? I should pay attention more.

(S03E04) "You are what this show is about." - The Hoff

We've heard all three judges say that sentence many times over the past three years of America's Got Talent. Sometimes, they said it too fast and the performer tanked rather quickly in the next rounds. This week, 36-year-old Kyle, who auditioned in New York City , heard the saying directed toward him. Quite frankly, I think that The Hoff made the proper judgment call here and I'm pretty sure we'll see Kyle up until the very last rounds. But before we get to Kyle's performance, let's review this week's acts.

If you didn't see it the other night, a woman with gigantic breasts/jugs/hooters appeared on NBC's America's Got Talent. I'm not sure what they showed and didn't show on the broadcast, but the Peacock Network's site has the complete uncensored version of her, um, "act."

A woman named Busty Heart (I'm sure that's her birth name) came on the show and crushed things with her giant breasts. The three judges seem shocked and amazed, as does most of the audience. Wow, America does have talent! Now I know why Jerry Springer hosts this season.

The video of Busty's bust busting is after the jump. Needless to say, it's probably NSFW (though she thankfully remains covered with her shiny top). Next week: a man with a giant penis lassos Sharon Osbourne as she tries to flee the theater.

Update: Here's what aired.

(S03E03) "A complete and utter waste of time." - Piers to 41-year-old country western line dancer Corky

This week on America's Got Talent we saw acts from Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. As usual, some acts were bad, some were good, and some were touching. However, this time around we were treated to some really weird acts such as the one displayed in the picture above. How do people come up with these ideas is beyond me. But one thing is for sure, they help make the show entertaining and unpredictable.

Jerry Springer and Mel B will host the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant live from Vietnam. Both Springer and the former "Scary Spice" are excited about the pageant. Mel B, former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, exclaims, "I'm thrilled to be a co-host of the Miss Universe Pageant. I believe the diversity and dedication that the pageant brings inspires and empowers young women across the globe." Springer, host of the hit summer show America's Got Talent, is also happy to take on the hosting duties. He says, ""This is obviously a great honor and getting to work alongside Mel B makes it even better."

The competition will feature contestants from eighty countries. Each pageant hopeful will be judged on three categories: swimsuit (the eye-candy category), evening gown (the shameless endorsement category) , and interview (the "We swear, we didn't just want to see them in swimsuits." category). Last year's winner Riyo Mori of Japan will be on hand to crown this year's Miss Universe.

The Miss Universe Pageant will air on July 13th at 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC (and simulcast on Telemundo).

(S03E02) "I have shoes older than you but I'd like to try you on!" - Sharon to 23-year-old Joseph, an Elvis impersonator.

The second episode of America's Got Talent auditions brought more great acts and more terrible performances. This week, we were treated to 15 complete acts that ranged from singing to magic (see picture) not forgetting impersonators and Drumtazia! Oh, and, unless I'm mistaken, we also saw the judges give 3 Xs to someone who finished in 4th place in another talent competition! More on that at the end of my review.

(S03E01) "Single worst tribute act I have seen in my entire life." - Piers to hopeful Bill

The greatest search for talent is back with a bang! Even if we only saw 12 complete acts during this two-hour premiere of NBC's America's Got Talent, I must say I was highly entertained. What I love about this show is that you never know what will come next. Will it be yet another singer? Dancers? An illusionist? A puppeteer? A guy twirling batons? A burlesque act? Unknown. It's like a surprise bag. And surprises we've got in this third season premiere. Bad ones, funny ones, weird ones, and amazing ones.

Join me in a slightly-longer-than-usual review of this two-hour entertainment packed premiere!

The graduates at Northwestern Law School have their panties all in a bunch because Jerry Springer is going to speak at their commencement. He has been invited because he's an alum (1968) and because of his past in politics, not his present persona.

I recently heard a story on This American Life about Jerry Springer that changed my mind about him (Episode #258: Leaving the Fold). As you all probably know, he was a on the city council in Cincinnati until he resigned for getting busted with prostitutes across the river in Kentucky. Stupid Jerry wrote a check for his romp. But, after that disgrace? He made a major comeback. He won another term on city council and then he was elected mayor of Cincinnati. Then he spent ten years anchoring the local news. Before he became the King of Trash TV, he was an inspirational politician and respected news anchor.

After they get past their chants of "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" and their booing, the graduates at Northwestern Law School will probably be treated to one hell of a memorable speech.

In my line of work (whatever that is), I am often put in the position of defending the medium of television. There is a large section of the population who is convinced that television is inferior to film and all types of print media. These people love to use a host of specious arguments to prove their point. Some choose advertising, others go with reality TV, I once argued with a guy who said, "Two words...Jerry Springer" and walked away.

I'm not going to use this blog as a way to refute these arguments, instead I'd like to give specific examples to defend the medium that I have come to love.

Television is great because it is directly responsible for the creation of the Muppets.

So, AOL TV did a poll about America's favorite talk show hosts and 1.3 million people made their feelings known. Interesting results. I didn't agree with some of them, like who I like waking up with. Diane Sawyer was the top choice, but I'd go for the second place finisher, Matt Lauer. As for whom to go to bed with -- TV talk show wise, that is -- I can't believe most of the people chose Jay Leno. Is he really that popular? I prefer David Letterman; I'm a sucker for the Top Ten lists.

During my senior year of college, my friend Ken, suffering through a tough job market right after he graduated, worked as a cook in the fraternity house in which he (and I) lived his college years. As he was preparing our lunches and dinners, he'd walk into the living room, see us slumped in front of whatever crap was on daytime TV at the time, and say, "Isn't Montel on or something?"

It became a bit of an inside joke that year. But even fifteen years ago, it seemed that Montel Williams' talk show was always on. But as of the end of this season, Montel is departing the syndicated airwaves, after 17 years.

I've been thinking. Yeah, I know you might find that hard to believe, but it's true. I swear it is! What I've been thinking about is television. Ah, now you believe my thought processes are truly in motion. A lifetime of television watching is behind me and what do I have to show for my hours of dedication?

Well, other than the cool TV Squad gig, that is. That goes without saying.

What I have are life lessons learned from television, as well as some obscure bits of knowledge I may have overlooked had I led the scholarly life without television in my life.

Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.

Today: on TV Squad Daily:

• K-fed isn't going to get whacked, and we're happy about that.
  
• The Jerry Springer Show is adding female security guards. For added security (right.)
  

The video's embedded below, or you can subscribe to this podcast via our feed. Plus, you can also download the file directly.

(S02E11) After a summer long of talent search, performances, and wondering why Boy Shakira and Kashif made it so far in the competition, we finally learned who was crowned the winner of the second season of America's Got Talent. Last week, the Top 4 performed after which America was asked to vote for the winner. The predictions I made last week and the results of our TV Squad poll are the same. Here is how we see tonight's standings to be:

• 1st place: Terry Fator
• 2nd place: Cas Haley
• 3rd place: Butterscotch
• 4th place: Julienne Irwin
  

This live 2-hour season finale episode featured guest stars Sean Kingston, Taylor Swift, The Muppets, and UB40, who performed with the Top 4. But that wasn't all, in order to fill the allotted time, AGT brought back the Top 10 contestants and we were treated with a performance from The Hoff.

If you don't want to be spoiled as to who won the grand prize, stay away from the rest of this post!