America's Got Talent determined its first five fourth-season finals acts during Wednesday night's live broadcast of the NBC reality competition series.
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The Texas Tenors, a tenor trio from Houston, TX, Grandma Lee, an elderly stand-up comedian from Jacksonville, FL, and Kevin Skinner, a singer and guitarist from Mayfield, KY, were revealed to have finished as the Top 3 vote-getters after Tuesday night's performance show which featured 10 of the season's 20 semifinalist acts performing for home viewer votes, automatically earning them a spot as in the finals.
America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon also revealed that acrobatic basketball team Acrodunk, magician Drew Thomas Magic, dancer Arcadian Broad, husband-and-wife acrobatic dance duo Paradizo Dance, and dog-and-owner act Tony Hoard & Rory had received the five lowest home viewer vote totals and been eliminated from the competition.
The announcements then left judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff with the task of deciding which of the two acts that had received the fourth and fifth highest vote totals -- The Voices of Glory, a sibling singing trio from Highland, NY, or Fab 5, a team of tap dancing sisters from Morgan, UT -- should become the fourth act to advance to the finals.
However the decision wasn't an easy one for the judges -- as they could be seen struggling with the choice from the moment The Voices of Glory and Fab 5 had been revealed as the fourth and fifth highest vote-getters.
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"All I have to say is Voices of Glory, you know I have a soft spot for you kids anyway. But I really feel like they have contributed so much to this show and we still haven't seen the best of them... They are nearly there. Fab 5, five gorgeous sisters that are unbelievable dancers," said Sharon.
"They have both added so much to the show in different ways. I am not going to say who's staying and who's going. I can't. I won't do it."
Piers and David seemed confused as Sharon passed the decision over to The Hoff.
"Wow," he began before turning his attention to The Voices of Glory. "You're so young. You have such a long way to go. But you're brilliant. You're so on your game and you're so right for this competition... I pass it to Piers."
With both Sharon and David unable to make a decision, Piers realized it was time to take control.
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"I think I speak for the panel. We were in three minutes of debate during the break when we saw who this was, because I felt terrible for Acrodunk -- they're an amazing act. The fact that we've already lost an act of that talent concerns me," said Piers.
"Now I see two incredibly talented, very different acts. We were just saying we either send them both home, or we put them both through. But we can't work it out in our heads."
Piers, Sharon and David then huddled together and revealed their decision.
"We have decided this," said Piers. "There is only one fair way to conclude this. We have to treat them both fairly. We have decided there is going to be no judges' pick."
"No judges' pick?" asked a confused Nick.
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"What we've decided," continued Piers, "is we're going to throw the rules out. We're going to send you both to the finals."
"The judges can do whatever they want on this show!" exclaimed Nick as The Voices of Glory and Fab 5 celebrated. "Anything goes!"
America's Got Talent's 10 other semifinalists -- contortionist breakdancer Hairo Torres, pianist Jeffrey Ou, married juggling team Mario and Jenny Ferreira, singer Lawrence Beamen, dance ensemble FootworKINGz, opera singer Barbara Padilla, singer/guitarist Drew Stevyns, musical band Recycled Percussion, singing trio The EriAm Sisters, and ballroom-dancing children Erik and Rickie -- will perform for the remaining finals slots on Tuesday, September 8 at 9PM ET/PT.
America's Got Talent's fourth-season finale is currently slated to air Wednesday, September 16 at 8PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio