America's Got Talent, Pleading for Its Susan Boyle

America's Got Talent kicked off its new season last week with big ratings. Two episodes. The week's two highest rated shows.

That, you'd think, would be good enough for the show's producers to can their choreographed attempt to create the U.S. version of Susan Boyle, Britain's Got Talent's lumpy runner-up.

But, no.

Last night, Talent zeroed in on country bumpkin Kevin Skinner, an aww-shucks-type unemployed farmer who perfectly fits the Boyle mold -- rumpled clothes and the skin of a man who's worked outdoors for years.

Talent's likeable and frequently teary-eyed judges, David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan, pounced.

Skinner's a respectably talented singer who might bring down the house at a country fair or a truck-stop bar (that's not a knock -- I wish I could sing well enough to bring down any house).

Talent went overboard in trying to make this ugly duckling its swan. In fact, Morgan said as much without uttering the "SB" words -- Susan Boyle.

Talent also went overboard with Carol Lugo, a goodish dancer from Jersey City who got a standing ovation for simply saying, "I'm 62." Ooh-kay.

America's Got Talent is a lot of fun to watch. And its ratings prove it doesn't need to try so hard to find an underdog it can cling to (and that NBC can build a massive multimedia promotional campaign around).

Meanwhile, there were some genuinely talented people on last night's show, including Skinner.

He got Talent's plum final segment. You know, the final few minutes when the music swells, the audience gasps and the judges flail their arms, mouths agape, to ensure that we viewers know they're floored.

Thia Megia, a 14-year-old girl from California, was a good singer who I'm guessing will make it to the finals. And magician Jay Mattioli was impressive.

Comments

[hensam]

You're right PatA and it.s very condescending to say such things. What is the problem to want absolutly have a SB in all countries. She has a nice voice but wake up there are the best.
I cannot hear any more about her cause I have an indigestion to hear about her.
For Kevin, he is very good, very intelligent, nice fellow and very simple and more balanced than SB.
I support Kevin and this game of comparison is stupid.

[charlclarke]

I just had to listen to "Kevin Skinner" sorry this chicken plucker is no Susan Boyle. He sings fine, bu comes across as a real, chicken plucker act. That's not important however, he is just a good singer. Susan Boyle is an exceptional singer.

[charlclarke]

I hope that the Country Bumkin "Kevin Skinner" is just nearly as good as Susan Boyle. Susan is the real thing. I don't watch these shows but I've watched Susan Boyle on youtube many times. She's great and I would make an exception if she came to the USA, I would watch, except would prefer she sing another song.

[kbkw54]

We have Kevin Skinner. He has a wonderful voice.

[eggplant43]

Sure, the show goes for self-promotion. I think you get a pass on that if you are a talent show. Kevin is definitely down home, but he is no Susan Boyle. I think he is simply a humble man, in touch with his emotions. Unpolished, I think he is a refreshing, natural talent.

I thought the audience was spellbound by his performance, watching in quiet awe until the end, at which point he received a standing ovation. I'm no big fan of country, but this fellow transcends that label in my opinion, he touches your heart, a rare commodity in this cynical world.

[MsCuda]

I have eclectic tastes in music, and I like what I like. I don't normally listen to country/western, and I don't watch TV (saw the youtube of Kevin singing), but I like this young man. His voice is simple and honest. It's not got the polished perfection of the greatest stars. But you know what he's got?

He's got a lot of heart, and it came out in his presence on stage. I think we're too much used to being herded toward what corporate music tells us is supposed to be "good." We've turned our backs on our bards for too long. I hope he goes as far as he wants to go, and I'll help him get there by buying whatever music he creates.

[PatA]

Kevin, would I qualify as a "country bumpkin" if you wrote a piece about me? I grew up in southeastern Oklahoma only 26 miles from the Arkansas line. I fed cattle and hogs and helped bail hay as a youngster. I went on to own some cows and trudged through cow manure to feed them. I went to college and majored in psychology.
Thus, my question to you is, what IS a country bumpkin?
I think you showed no class at all in stereotyping that young man who sang last night.

[kbkw54]

This guy was FANTASTIC.