'America's Got Talent' narrows field to 5

[August 13, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A trio of singing siblings, five sisters who tap dance, three tenors from Texas, a husband-and-wife dance team and a man and his dog are advancing to the next round of "America's Got Talent."

Voices of Glory, a singing trio from Highland, New York; the Fab Five, dancing sisters from Morgan, Utah; the Texas Tenors of Houston; Paradizo Dance from Brooklyn; and Tony Hoard and his dog Rory from New Castle, Ind., learned Wednesday that they will compete in the show's semifinals. All are vying for a $1 million prize and the chance to headline a Las Vegas show in October.

Nick Cannon hosts. Judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff preside over the competition and offer advice, but viewers choose who wins the NBC talent show. Fans can vote for their favorites via phone, e-mail and text message, with a limit of 10 votes per phone number or address.

Morgan was disappointed that Hoard and Rory advanced instead of a piano-playing singer from California.

"If Charles DeWayne does not go through tonight, it will be the biggest scandal in the history of 'America's Got Talent,'" he said.

Apparently, scandal ensued.

Other contestants advancing to the semifinals earned unanimous praise from the judges. Osbourne called the Fab Five and Rory the dog "brilliant." Morgan called Paradizo dance "incredible" and lauded the Texas Tenors, saying their performance made him "proud to be American, and I'm not even an American." Hasselhoff said the Voices of Glory are "fantastic" and "what this show's about."

Wednesday's episode also featured a performance by the band LMFAO and magicians Penn and Teller.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/

[Associated Press; By SANDY COHEN]

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