Vegas - Night 1

More than 160 acts were given passes to the Las Vegas round on "America's Got Talent," and Tuesday night we finally got there. The performers landed at the Las Vegas airport, where it was decided that some of them wouldn't even leave the tarmac. Some of the acts would be cut by the judges as soon as they got off the plane. The rest would continue in the running for the final 40 spots in the Hollywood round. The airport hangar setting made for some increased drama as the judges debated during their flight from Los Angeles to Vegas about the futures of some of the contestants. Host Nick Cannon split the hopefuls into four groups and he said the news they'd get from the judges wasn't going to be good for some of them. A private jet carried the three judges from L.A. to Vegas, and a pair of Hummer limos flanked the jet as the judges disembarked -- and how's your carbon footprint feeling today? David Hasselhoff delivered good news to the first group o f performers, which included the high-flying group "Acrodunk." Sharon Osbourne told the second group they'd be going home. It included Kari Callin, the 43-year-old singer from the Seattle auditions who'd grown up with a cleft pallet, and and 9-year-old guitarist Tallan Noble Latz. Piers Morgan built up the drama as he announced the judges' decision to the remaining two groups. As slowly as he could, he finally told them that both groups would remain in the competition. The initial cut removed 25 acts from the process before they even left the airport, and the rest were off to discover the wonder of the Vegas strip. While they were off enjoying themselves, the judges were huddled up making more decisions. Finally, the judges called for a some individual acts. The first was singer/guitarist Keith Johnson and impressionist Pete Peterkin. Piers told an emotional Keith that the judges "concluded there are better singers," and that he would not be moving on to the next round. Peterkin was in. Next up to see the judges was 13-year-old dancer Arcadian Broad. He swung a triumphant fist in the air as The Hoff told him he was moving to the Hollywood round. Other acts joining him (in a montage): Acrodunk; the Platt Brothers (mimes, acrobats and dancers); Recycled Percussion; David Johnson (The David Hasselhoff song guy); singer 14-year-old singer Thia Megia (who sang "I Am Changing"); G Force (the young girl rock band that sang Pink's "So What?"); 8-year-old dance couple Erik & Rickie; a capella group Mosaic; the Texas Tenors; yodeling dominatrix Manuela Horn; and clogging sisters The Fab Five. Anthony Ferrante, a 74-year-old retired barber turned dancer, went to see the judges next. He talked about what a dream come true it would be for him to continue to the next round. He was out. Three dance crews -- Euphoria, Destined 2 Be and BreakSk8 -- were called to the judges' room, where they were told they wouldn't all go through and would have to face each other in a dance-off. They were given the same piece of music and asked to come back later to vie for a spot in the next round. Similarly, a couple of illusionist acts -- Drew Thomas and Joseph Constantine -- were put next to each other. Piers questions whether there was room for two such acts in the Top 40. Piers broke the news to Joseph, who hoped to bounce back financially from this show, that he would not continue to the next round. Drew, on the other hand, was sent through to Hollywood. A capella group "The Spiritual Harmonizers," a group of postal workers who have sung together for 10 years, were told they didn't make it to the next round. A montage of acts who were sent home followed. Breakdancer Hairo Torres was put through torture by Sharon before she finally told him he would be moving through to the next round. Singers Lawrence Beamen (the deep-voiced Southerner who sang "Old Man River") and Kevin Skinner (the chicken farmer and guitarist who sang Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes") were the last two acts to learn their fate. Lawrence was told first that he was through to the next round while viewers waited and wondered what happened with Kevin. The Hoff finally told him he was going through, as well. The Las Vegas round concludes Wednesday.