While we're on the subject of America's Got Talent, here's an update on my favorite wronged contestant, Eddie Haskell (he of Eddie Haskell and His Singing Saw). You may or may not remember him, but he was unfairly shut down by the judges after he did, oh, about 3 seconds of his act. Well, Eddie is alive and well in California, and has added some new dancers and a former fellow AGT contestant, Flame, to his act (Flame works with miniature horses – she was last seen as a member of Shadow Dancing. If you don't recall, Shadow Dancing was made up of Flame, one of her 4 horses and 2 pirates – all of whom didn't last much longer on stage than Eddie. She has since (wisely) dumped the pirates.) Eddie is still performing and working on new material - I still think he should release a CD of his music (hint, hint Eddie!) Since you really didn't get a chance to hear him on AGT, here he is. Enjoy!

Ever wonder what it's like to audition for a reality show? The world of television isn't as glamorous as you may think (I, personally, have worked on a few shows and it's a whole lot of "hurry up and wait", stale bagels and bad attitudes.) The producers of the surprise NBC hit America's Got Talent are currently in the process of filling the slots for the next round of the talent extravaganza - and it promises to be Hoff-tastic! My friend Canada Anne (who was also on this past season of Last Comic Standing) showed up for the New York auditions and files this report:

There I was Wednesday early morning on October 11th standing in a line-up out side of the Jacob Javitts center to audition for the second season of Americas Got Talent. Originally I did not want to go to this audition as I went to the one back in April, and ended up discouraged from that experience.

This time the auditions were held over by the Jacob Javits Centre over by the West Side highway in New York, used mainly for conventions. This was way better thought out then the auditions back in April, where we had to stand outside by the Port Authority for over six hours to get rejected. I guess they [the producers of the show] figured that since the last turnout was so massive, they needed a bigger space.

So I arrived there at 6am. When I got there the line was already over 3 miles long and stretching 4 long blocks. There was a vast array of characters including circus clowns, contortionists, jugglers, mimes, a rock harpist, and everyone in between to audition for this show.

Yep, America's still looking for talent. NBC announced on Monday that the summer hit America's Got Talent is returning for a second season. So if you couldn't get enough octagenarian strippers, jugglers and Leonid the Magnificent (who could get enough of him?) - fret not. If you are a stripper, juggler, rappin' grandmother or some other such thing, and want to be judged by Hoff, Brandy and Piers (as well as the rest of the country) - the audition schedule is up. Here are the dates and locations:

It all comes down to tonight – who gets $1 million? Whose dream of fame will come true? And how will I survive the rest of the summer without the Hoff? Let's go!

Of course, we have a lot of time to fill tonight so after. The Carly Simon hit "You're No Good" provides the background for highlights of the worst of the first cattle call for the show (bad juggling, animal acts, dancers, baton twirlers and the like.) Then Regis flexes his talent muscles, launching into "There's No Business Like Show Business" with a bevy of chorus girls. What have I done to deserve this? Turns out the ladies belong to magician Nathan Burton who made a bunch of previous contestants appear including burlesque stripper Michelle L'Amour, Bobby Badfingers and Dave the Horn Guy. And yes, Leonid came across the stage one last time, resplendent in orange spandex and feathers. God, I love that guy!

The next block opens with a tribute to the worst impressionist ever, Harry Carey (I guess to show that the finals could have been worse) and goes right into the Crazy Caliber Talentâ„¢ finals. First up is Rudi Macaggi (the "I Like You" guy) – who promises an intelligent act and proceeds to dance (and dribble a basketball) while standing on his hands. Duane Flatmo again plays "Malagueña" on the guitar with a kitchen mixer but then plays it on a trio of guitars with a weed whacker. Teeth-cussionist The Great Stamen Show plays another classical piece on his teeth (and pays a small homage to Bobby Badfingers as well.) The Douglas Lee (Yahoo Serious hair) again plays 28 water-filled glasses – tonight's tunes are some classical tune (Nietzsche's Dance?) and "We Will Rock You". Egg catcher Dave Nakfoor is up last. He's able to catch some well-thrown eggs (the judges had horrible throws!) The audience liked Rudi too and he wins a Dodge.

After a tribute to fallen juggler Kenny Shelton, we are treated to a performance by the Blue Man Group, who deliver their interpretation of the Who's "Baba O' Riley" (known by most non-Who fans as "Teenage Wasteland".) Very cool, probably the most entertaining thing I've seen all season.

Ahhh, the finals. I can't believe it's (almost) over – but for now, it's 2 Leonid-less hours (it's just no fun without him!) So, will the contestants "bring it" for the finals? Let's see...

All of the acts get to work with "celebrity coaches" prior to their performances tonight (how American Idol). The judges aren't voting this time around, but Piers notes that they can still use their buzzers. Hoff says that America should vote for the contestant with heart, who wants it the most and is "absolutely in the zone." Thanks for that, Dave.

The auditions-to-finale recap shows that America really doesn't have much taste – showing the acts that have gone by that should be on stage tonight (or given a chance to impress in the semis at least) such as magician Nathan Burton, Eddie Haskell (hi, Eddie!) and my boy Leonid the Magnificent (since he didn't make it, is he now Leonid the So-So?) Well, this is promising to be a long recap, so let's get to it...

A capella singing quartet At Last is up first. We discover that they all live together (kind of like a new millennium Monkees). Their special celebrity coach is Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan. Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me feel for you...oops, sorry. Their song tonight is "Killing Me Softly" (by either Roberta Flack or the Fugees, depending on when you grew up) with the (kind of unnecessary) addition of a pair of pop-n-lock dancers and an assortment of percussionists. They turn in a solid performance (as they have each time in the past.) Hoff gave them a thumbs up. Brandy expected more, but still gave them a check. Piers complements the guys and says they've gotten bigger and better and could do a 90-minute headlining gig. Well, that was a good start...

Again, I'm sorry! If you knew how badly I needed a vacation...

So anyway, here is the recap of wild card week on America's Got Talent. You may have heard the sad tale of how my VCR crapped out on me and I'm just going by You Tube and the smidgen of the results show I was able to see, but I think you'll get the gist of the episode and will be ready to go for next week's finals!

The wild card round is a second chance for some of my personal faves (cloggers All That and of course, the unforgettable Leonid the Magnificent) as well as audience favorites Quick Change and Nathan Burton to land a spot in the finals. Here are some of the highlights:

All That. They're great. They not only came on stage and wowed the crowd and judges, but they danced to "She's A Bad Mama Jama" (I love that song!) Here's their routine:

Ok, tonight we not only find out who joins the Passing Zone in the finals, we're also treated to the musical stylings of the Big Hasselhoff. Woo-hoo, I can't wait!

First of all (after the recap), Jon and Owen are back to perform some more juggling. Tonight they're back to the garden variety pin juggling. They are really great jugglers, but it's their rapport that really sells their act. After their bit, it's time to burst some bubbles. Regis calls up Desperation Squad, Dave Smith and the King Charles Unicycle Troupe and lets them know that they got the lowest number of votes. Not really a big shocker. Before the break we're promised the dangerous Tom Green (yes, that Tom Green. My, how the mighty have fallen.) I'm scared.

Yes, it's once again time for Crazy Caliber Talents – brought to you by Dodge (remind me never to buy a Dodge.) This week, the acts all revolve around exciting body part tricks. (Don't get any funny ideas, this is a family show!) First up is The Great Stamen Show, a man from Bulgaria who plays his teeth. Skylar Aud sings love songs with balloons – he sucks helium while singing Patsy Cline's "Crazy". Regis partook of a balloon and sounded just like a Muppet. Sammi Pryor plays a new kind of instrument - her ears. Alexis and Alicia are last up they perform "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". One little girl sings most of the song, while her partner belches out some of the key words. Cute. It's going to be a tough round to judge. Stamen and his musical teeth win out.

Wow, the summer's flying by, isn't it? This week is the last of the semi-final rounds for America's Got Talent (well, except for the wild card round next week.) Tonight, we'll see who's in the running to upset the Rappin' Granny in the race for one million dollars. So, without further ado...

Recap, blah, blah, blah...but there's some drama behind the scenes with the judges squabble session. I think it centers around burlesque dancer Michelle L'Amour (Miss Brandy wasn't too fond of her the first time around – she doesn't want to offend middle America...somehow I think we're going to see a little T&A later tonight....) First contestant of the evening is The Passing Zone - the Harry Anderson-esque juggling duo – promising a never seen before act that is guaranteed to impress the big Hasselhoff. Will it? Insert commercials here...

John and Owen have been juggling for 18 years after meeting at a juggling convention
Their "ginormous" (their word, not mine) act tonight – 3 space suit-clad audience volunteers are suspended from harnesses and swung around (juggled, as it were) while the boys pass balls back and forth between the rotating folks. Hoff gave them props (he may be over his "juggler thing" once and for all), as did Brandy – even Piers thought the Zone ascended the juggler stigma (and he liked their clothes, finally!)

It's time to see who joins the Rappin' Granny in the finals (I still can't figure that out). But first, 59 minutes of filler and commercials. (And I'm missing Who Wants to Be a Superhero on Sci-Fi – this is my pathetic, TiVo-less life.) So, here we go...

The first few minutes of the episode are familiar - mandatory judge introductions/banter and recap of last night. Regis then introduces, "fresh from her appearance on Pimp My Walker", Rappin' Granny. She is a really nice lady (and a cancer survivor) but this rapping thing I still don't get. Of course, she'll be performing later on in the show.

If you watch this show on a regular basis, you know what's next – yup, the Weird n' Wackyâ„¢ acts. Arthur the One Man Band is wheeled out on stage with a very elaborate set up (drum machines, percussion, keyboard, etc.) Arthur is a Japanese fellow from Pasadena, fresh from a successful run at the Santa Monica Pier. He sings "La Bamba." A Japanese guy singing a Mexican song. Only in California...

America's Got Talent. 2 more hours of my life. I've been told I go on too long with these recaps, so let's get right to it!

After the mandatory recap, judge squabbling, etc. Regis asks the Hoff for "the envelope" (funny, they never had one before...). Hoff says the envelope is possessed by the only person who can "Hassle the Hoff" (his words, I swear) and get away with it - Donald Trump (?)! What is it, Sweeps Week? What's Trump-ster's (Regis can't address anyone by their real name, can he?) talent? I hoped he'd admit his secret tap dancing skills, but alas, it's just making money and building buildings (oh and yeah, The Apprentice.) Big whoop.

Tonight's first performers are Team Acrodunk. This quintet describes their act as acro-dunking or extreme dunking – a combination of acrobatics and basketball (well, just the dunking...the Harlem Globetrotters they're not.) They're energetic, and great (I'm a non-basketball loving chick, so I don't really know how to properly compliment them) and get kudos from the judges. (Fun fact: The Dorian Gray-like founder of the group is 42 years old! I swear, he looks no older than 25. There's some scary painting rotting away in an attic somewhere.)

Young (real young, she's 12) chanteuse Caitlyn Taylor Love is our second performer. She's a cute kid, snagging the talent award at some sort of Little Miss Texas beauty pageant. Her talent? Singing, of course! Her song is Whitney Houston's olympic tribute, "One Moment in Time". She's got a nice voice, especially for a 12-year-old, but can she make the cut? Brandy thought she chose too big of a song, but gives her a check for effort. Hoff thought she was too pitchy (Hoff's been watching his American Idol) and also gave her the courtesy check. Piers finally kept it real, saying she looked like a star, but didn't sing like one.