Episode #3.16

The final 10 performers were announced on a special, action-packed, 30-minute episode of "America's Got Talent" on Thursday, and the results came with a few shocking moments. The big question on many viewers' minds was whether 4-year-old Kaitlyn Maher would make it into the finals. Judge Piers Morgan suggested on Wednesday night that it had been fun, she was their princess, but it was probably time for her to go home and make way for a more deserving finalist. Did America heed his words? No. Kaitlyn stood nervously at first but became very excited when host Jerry Springer called her name over the dance group SickStep for a spot in the final 10. The last push to the $1 million grand prize and a headlining gig in Las Vegas begins for Kaitlyn and the nine other finalists on Tuesday night. So, who were they? To the results...: Thursday night's special results show broke the final 20 into the groups in which they performed. Tuesday night's performers were the first to hear the results of America's vote. The Wright Kids took center stage along with The Zooperstars, who appeared with all but one of them not in costume for the first time. The judges had suggested the Zooperstars' antics had run their course and America agreed. That meant The Wright Kids moved into the first spot in the top 10. Next to center stage were single mom Queen Emily and insurance-salesman-turned-opera-singer Neal E. Boyd, two fan favorites who earned an uproar of boos and gasps as they were called to the stage at the same time. The judges appeared shocked as well, with Sharon Osbourne mouthing something along the lines of, "Are you serious?" Springer ramped up the drama long enough, announcing, "The next act to move into the final 10 is ... (pause) ... (pause and camera zooms on each of their faces) ... (pause just to pause a little longer) ... BOTH OF YOU!" The crowd roared and Sharon's heart began to beat again. The flip side of that fun little bit was that when Extreme Dance FX, "the hippest synchronized clog dancing you've ever seen," met at center stage with The James Gang, who had been a disappointment for a few weeks. Both acts went home. Finally, Springer called Frank Sinatra impersonator Paul Salos and percussion group The Cadence forward. Salos took a deep breath and crossed his fingers as Springer made the announcement that confirmed Salos' spot in the finals, sending The Cadence home. That left the fates of Army sergeant-turned-singer Daniel Jens and singer/guitarist Jessica Price in the hands of the judges. David Hasselhoff made his choice first, which surprised him. He told Jens not to go back to Iraq as a solider, but as an entertainer, and he complimented both performers before picking Jessica. Sharon said she wasn't sure if either act could sustain his or her own show in Vegas so she made her choice "as a mother" and picked Jens. Piers, who clarified that when he suggested Jens continue to serve his country he meant it in a noble way, said his choice was made with the utmost respect to both singers and picked Jessica. She broke down in tears and hugged Jens before joining the other finalists. The Wednesday crowd: After first announcing that Kaitlyn Maher made it into the final 10, Springer asked Donald Braswell and The Tapping Dads to come forward. Braswell, who originally didn't make it into the top 40 and got his spot after America voted to replace another act that had to drop out due to injury, made it into the final 10. Nuttin' But Stringz and The Taubl Family came to the middle of the stage, where Nuttin' But Stringz got the good news they were hoping for, and The Taubl Family discovered the end of the road. Singer Sarah Lenore's face said it all when she was asked to join pianist and singer Eli Mattson for their results. Mattson has emerged as a crowd favorite and earned rave reviews from the judges for his rendition of Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You." Lenore, meanwhile, was told by every judge that she picked the wrong song on Wednesday with Leona Lewis' "Keep Bleeding." Mattson went on, Lenore went home. Only Elvis impersonator Joseph Hall, baton twirler Jonathan Burkin and one spot in the final 10 remained. The judges would have to make the choice and Sharon simply laid her head face down on the judges' table because she could stand the pressure. Piers made his decision first and, though he praised Burkin for his skill and the fact that he's never made a mistake, he worried that he's already seen the best Burkin has to offer. He said his choice of Hall was based on feeling like he had more to offer. More to offer? An Elvis impersonator in Vegas? Really? Sharon didn't say much, but fumbled over the names of the two contestants, both of whom she likes very much. She first said "Jonathan" then "Joseph," then asked, "Which one is Jonathan?" Finally, she said, "The baton boy" and laid her head back down on the table. That left the decision to The Hoff. The credits on the packed episode were already beginning to roll by the time he finally let out his choice: Joseph Hall.