The finalists for the big prize were doing their acts last night, vying to be declared the winner, to get the money, the fame, the whole schmear. Competition was hot, but their acts were surprisingly awful.

One of the best is Drew Thomas, a magician who had an act that left even the judges, familiar with Vegas, amazed. Sharon Osbourn had told him on the previous show, that for Vegas he needed to dress up and look the part, (like a tux and tails, not like a car mechanic.)

So what did he wear last night? Same old thing. And his props are a problem. Cardboard and plywood looking, haphazardly put together. Cheap and dusty looking. Does he want to lose??

Grandma Lee was great; a funny old lady with perfect comedic timing. One of her jokes: "When I die I want to be cremated and spread around Krispy Kreme--that way my two fat daughter in law's will see me twice a week."(Go Granny!)

But another act that had fascinated everyone went flat. A couple comprised of a hefty guy and a tiny wife whose mystic and romantic acrobatic dance routine was beautiful to watch, failed last night. The unusual thing in the act was the teeny wife would have her husband on her back and flip him over. (A recipe for a slipped disc, but so be it.) Totally blah, no romance. Bye for them.

The probable winner is a cancer survivor, a woman with a beautiful operatic voice who dresses for the part. If anyone else out there watches the show I'd like to know what you think.

susil