Episode #3.10

In the first live show of the third season of "America's Got Talent," host Jerry Springer got things moving by announcing that the 40 contestants in the semifinals are vying for a $1 million prize and a chance to headline a show on the Vegas strip, saying "the prize is the biggest, ever, anywhere in the world." Ten acts performed Tuesday night, five will move on to the next round. Those will be announced Wednesday night before 10 more acts hit the stage. It was also announced that Donald Braswell, the singer whose vocal chords were severed in a freak accident 11 years ago, won the viewer vote that determined the 40th spot in the semifinals that opened when the Russian Bar Trio had to bow out due to injury. Best of the best Neal E. Boyd: The insurance salesman turned opera singer stole the evening with a powerful performance of "Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)." He got a standing ovation from the all three judges, who scooped praised upon him by the shovel full when he was done. Judge Piers Morgan told Boyd, You have become the Michael Phelps of this competition. You have become the man to beat, and whoever beats you is going to have to give the performance of their life. Jessica Price: Singer and guitarist Jessica Price, who has long shared her story of her father abandoning her family, gave a genuine performance of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," bringing the crowd to its feet. The judges loved it, as well, only telling her that she needs to embrace her talent and show a little more confidence on stage. Derrick Barry: The Britney Spears impersonator promised to raise the controversy stakes a bit and came through to some extent, embracing a version of the schoolgirl outfit Spears wore in the video for "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Barry lip-synced and danced to the tune and received a quick "X" from Morgan. The judge later told him, Its nothing personal, and Im sure the entire audience will not agree with me. I dont think, personally, that grown men should be wearing school girl outfits and pretending to be Britney Spears. David Hasselhoff didn't seem to mind, admitting, "I'm questioning my sexuality." Worst of the night Ronny B., who The Hoff said had "Zero voice. Zero danceability. Zero talent," did his best impression of William Hung, circa 2004, performing Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." It just wasn't funny anymore -- which begs the question of whether it ever was. Morgan told Ronny, "The show is about fun and entertainment. And youre funny and entertaining." Sharon Osbourne followed by saying, You are an absurd little man, but I do like you. Will America? The D.C. Cowboys were pretty much a mess. The choreography wasn't good, which drove Osbourne to the Paula Abdul-esque comment, "What you lack with your dancing abilities, you make up with your personalities." She might as well have said, "You look great!" Even The Hoff, one of the dance group's biggest supporters during the audition phase, said, "Tonight, you were just a little off." The James Gang: The 1920s music and hip-hop hybrid thrilled the crowd with its performance during the audition, but went too far to try to impress on Tuesday. They included a couple of attempts at cheap magic tricks, including some pulling of doves from their jackets, which ended with some of one of the doves escaping from a pocket at the end of the routine. Morgan suggested that if they got through, they should slow down and focus on singing instead of such gimmicks. But will America give them a second chance? On the bubble Extreme Dance FX: A nine-person precision clog dancing group performed to Salt & Pepas Push It. The group put forward a solid effort, performing first in the season's first live show. Morgan, who reminded them that he wasn't the group's biggest fan, said it was "terrific." Cadence: The group of percussionists from Missouri took the judges' advice by adding music to their routine, but the judges struggled to see what was special about the group and different from what the Blue Man Group is already doing in Vegas. Shimshi: The previously impressive illusionist opted to do what was ultimately a card trick -- albeit a pretty mind-blowing one. He asked a volunteer from the crowd to pick a card from an oversized deck, then picked the woman's card after suspending the deck eight feet above the ground, doing a backflip and kicking the deck in such a way that the woman's chosen card was the one that stuck to tape he'd put on his foot. It was remarkable, but Morgan and The Hoff questioned the decision to do a card trick at such a critical point in the competition. Elite: The 10-year-old martial artist put together a pirate-themed presentation that had her kicking, punching and tossing her faux-foes around the stage in a highly choreographed routine. It was mildly entertaining, but came off a little hokey.