I spent an evening watching the Finals of America's Got Talent, it will be the last time I watch the show after in my opinion, they came up with very questionable results, wronging nine highly talented vocalists and musicians.
Nothing against the young man who's talent was “Spoken Words” basically a poet, however, I doubt very much that this poet got more votes from the AGT viewers for his talent than did those who sang so incredibly well, played instruments and sang, which takes hours and hours of work to be that good, and no way does “Spoken Words” compare to the little man flying through the air, doing incredible acrobatic feats high above the stage floor.
Then there was Archie who sang with such a great voice, from his soul after 38 years of incarceration. Finally being set free when it was proven that he was innocent. Yet the man is not broken and is an incredible talent. He sings his life story, poetry, life experiences in song.
Out of the 10 finalist, I see the young man, “Spoken Words” in 10th place. Should have been the first one eliminated in comparison to the other nine contestant's talents.
Reminds me of when the Heisman Trophy voters decided a defensive player needed to win the award and they selected Michigan defense back Charles Woodson over the sensational quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers Peyton Manning, who had broken all kinds of records. Nothing against Woodson, but just about everyone in the country knew Manning got robbed. Simular to when the voters chose Florida's Tim Tebow because of ESPN promotional agenda through out college football season, over the incredeable Darren McFadden from Arkansas who was the most dominate college football player two years in a row.
Based on the information I have gathered, besides the golden, buzzer the ONLY other act per night that goes through to the finals is the act selected by the "super-fans" with 1 from each state. This is terrible. Think about this, in the US we have a Senate and a House, the 2 branches of Congress. AGT has essentially made the super-fan from Rhode Island have the same power as the super-fan from California. This could explain the odd voting results that ensued with some participants. Beyond this, the only other way to advance to the finals is via golden buzzer, which can be so controversial, because a large portion of the golden buzzer has to do with the order of acts. The probability of an act receiving a golden buzzer increases exponential within the middle 50% of acts. This is simply not fair, and AGT has essentially monopolized its show and has not only given the public 0 opinion on what should happen but also creating a simply unfair voting system that doesn't represent the population as a whole.
AGT likes to constantly say the winner gets a million dollars. Turns out that is not exactly the way it goes
The winning act that they say achieves the most votes is crowned the winner and receives a cash prize - although stipulated as $1 million per the program's advertising, in reality winners can choose to either take it as a lump sum, or as a financial annuity of this amount that is paid out over forty years at around $25,000 per year, with both options liable to taxation.
In fact, the winner will not receive $1 million. No AGT winner ever has.
At the end of every episode of AGT, a disclaimer flashes on the screen explaining: “The prize, which totals $1,000,000, is payable in a financial annuity over forty years, or the contestant may choose to receive the present cash value of such annuity.”
If the winner chooses the first payment option, he or she will receive about $25,000 a year for the next 40 years. This is taxable income in the U.S., so the total amount received after four decades would be significantly less than $1 million.
Choosing the “present cash value” of the annuity instead would earn the winner about $300,000, less taxes – meaning he or she would pocket between $150,000 and $200,000.
AGT also promises “a headline show in Las Vegas” as part of the prize package. That’s nothing more than performing as the final act in a variety show on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Only a handful of AGT winners have gone on to successful entertainment careers. Season 2 winner, ventriloquist Terry Fater, and magician Matt Franco, who won Season 9, signed lucrative deals for their own shows in Vegas.
