America's Got Talent and Hairo Torres

With a wink and a grin, Hairo Torres lets us
in on the joke on America's Got Talent.

If you're not watching America's Got Talent, you should give it a try. The key is to not take any of it too seriously. Sure, it's corny, and over-produced, and emotionally manipulative. And The Hoff is a bit crazy. But it's just so darn entertaining. Like the variety shows of the past, you've got all these wonderfully talented (and some not so talented) folks of all ages, shapes, and sizes giving it their all to make you smile, laugh, or gasp at their ingenuity and skill.

Take Hairo Torres for example. This charming break dancer/contortionist/comedian has to be seen to be believed. He does things with his limbs that defy explanation and drops himself into some crazy situations. He's energetic, skilled, and incredibly appealing. With his unusual combination of skills, where else could he get noticed than on a variety show of this sort? Thank you, America's Got Talent. For all your flaws, you've given us entertaining moments like this:



With all the blood, guts, and car crashes on TV these days, it's nice to see a little more old-fashioned TV with acrobatic dance troupes, flaming guitar jugglers, and 8 year old guitar prodigies. So just ignore the manufactured melodrama, and enjoy the America's Got Talent acts who've been training their whole lives to bring you these few minutes of spectacle.

And hey, The Hoff is crazy in the most fun way.

Watch America's Got Talent on NBC, every Tuesday and Wednesday night at 9/8c. You can find links to all my AGT write-ups here (including Hairo Torres' audition video) and here.

PHOTOS: Hairo Torres during his America's Got Talent Semifinals performance, screencaps c2009 Fremantle Media, Syco TV, NBC.