Quarterfinals, Week 3

Another set of 12 hopefuls are up on "America's Got Talent," and four spots in the semifinals are up for grabs. Wasting no time getting to the action, host Nick Cannon calls for the first act. Summerwind Skippers: The jump rope sextet from Boise, Idaho, vows to bring a new level of choreography and performance to their act. They offer up a high-intensity, mistake-free performance with flips and tremendous timing. Piers is blown away, noting that he didn't like their performance in Vegas, but they turned it all upside down this week. Sharon agrees, saying they made the act "all very current, and it doesn't look like you're in the schoolyard anymore." Howie says it's "amazing to see, in a short dose," but it's up to America to decide whether they want to see more. Sh'boss Boys: The tiny trio of rappers, 5, 6 and 7 years old, are coming strong with a new routine, new props and ready to do whatever they have to do to win. With backup dancers in tow, they start with a bit of the Jackson 5's "ABC," before declaring "that's old school, we're new school," and launching into their own song. Sharon says they thoroughly entertained her and she wants to hug them because they're so darn cute. Howie says they're adorable and that America is going to love them. The 6-year-old calls out the producers, saying the producers told them to do "45 minutes of 'ABC' and 45 minutes of our own" song, and Piers tells them to ditch the "ABC" bit and stick to their own stuff because it's "brilliant." Mauricio Herrera: Mauricio has lost 19 pounds, but none of the spunk. He's loving life in Hollywood and Sharon says she hopes people get the humor in what he's all about. Piers buzzes him not too long into his intro bit of Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas." Sharon soon has a bit less of the fun than she was expecting, buzzing him shortly into Mauricio's rendition of Tom Jones' "Delilah." Howie says he loves Mauricio, but understands why others are buzzing him. Piers says he gets the humor in it, but if he was staying at a hotel and an act like Mauricio came on at night, he'd go back to his room, pack his bags and leave. Sharon says the "galloping" threw her off, but he is "a lot of fun to watch." Seth Grabel: Seth is hoping to redeem himself after his illusion malfunctioned in Vegas and he was given another chance. He says this performance puts his life at risk. He starts by being suspended from a straight jacket, then falls into a vat and is carried over to a cannon, where he's apparently shot across the stage and into a pool of water, except you don't see him cross the stage and he magically appears from the tank of water. Howie loves it, saying he was totally impressed and has no idea how it was done, and hopes America votes for Seth. Sharon says it was "very dramatic," the production value was incredible and she's never seen that trick before. Piers calls it bigger, better, faster, slicker and, ultimately, Seth's best routine so far. Poplyfe: The band of youngsters has to convince Piers that it's more than just a lead singer, but they're worried that she's lost her voice in advance of the live performance. She seems fine as they rock out a version of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Sharon says they took a big risk and it paid off because she was impressed and hopes America will bring them back. Howie dittos everything Sharon said and proclaims them "the best act of the night." He reminds voters that they have to cast their votes and not assume other people will. Piers again points out that the lead singer's performance was again tremendous. He adds that "tonight, I saw the point of the band" because they were brilliant. Ian Johnson: Ian says he's trying to bring the yo-yo back and reminds the ladies that he's single. He's setting out to prove people who think the yo-yo can't be turned into a Vegas. He brings high intensity and some cool tricks, but one minor stumble brings a buzz from Piers. Later, his big finishing move also falls. Howie says there's no doubt Ian will be the best yo-yo artist in the world, but he's not sure it's a Vegas act. Piers tells Ian he made the yo-yo as exciting as it could possibly be, but "it's still bloody boring." Sharon says she likes it but wants to see some more of Ian's personality into the performance. Piers asks how that's possible and Sharon tells him that just because he's having a terrible day doesn't mean he should take it out on Ian. Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.: Landau is riding his "don't judge a book by its cover" approach, aiming to surprise viewers with the voice that comes out of him. He vows to "be the entertainer that I was born to be." After a somewhat stiff and shaky start, he seems to get his rhythm on Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." Piers says Landau is a serious player because he heard some of the sound check earlier and it was terrible, but the live performance was great. Sharon says she can't tell Landau how proud she if of him and how hard he's worked to get there. Howie says Landau is still on track to change his life. Purrfect Angelz: The octet of former NFL and NBA cheerleaders are looking to land their own show in Las Vegas. One of the dancers injured her leg during rehearsals. Their Country-themed dance had them climbing ropes and pretending they were riding horses. Howie said he wanted to order the chicken wings because he felt like he was in the best Hooters he's ever been to. Piers, who buzzed them, says it was a "terrific performance" but doesn't see them moving on. Sharon says it was a great performance with fun choreography, but she wonders whether it's worth $1 million. Monet: A young singer we didn't see much of during the audition rounds explains that her family lost its home in Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The 12-year-old is dedicating her performance of the song, "Home," to her mom, because "wherever she is, that's where home is for me." Howie talks about the passion and heart she has when she sings, and those things make up for the fact that she missed some notes. Piers reminds everyone of Jackie Evancho and says "girls like that don't come around very often." He says he didn't buzz her because she has a lot of promise, but this is "probably as far as you're going to go in the competition." Sharon notes that Jackie could probably afford voice lessons and Monet likely could not, given what she's been through, and she did very well. Captain & Maybelle: The wild husband-and-wife sideshow vows to step it up for this round, but the judges aren't sure they want to watch. Captain & Maybelle go through some tricks, with him swinging a frying pan from a chain that's hooked into his tongue piercing, and her swinging the same pan on a chair hooked through her nostril. But the big finish is when the Captain hooks a tea kettle on two chains into his bottom eye sockets and swings them around. The judges didn't see most of it, as they turned around in disgust. Piers calls them the sickest two people in America, which prompts a high five. Sharon admits she didn't see much of it. Howie can't find words to describe it. Lys Agnes: We're reminded of Lys' fiancee's passing, and that's what drives her performance. She says she's had so much sorrow in her life that it's time for the joy the competition is bringing her. Piers says she's very talented but her performance didn't knock him out. It didn't move him, he says, and with the opera singers he has to feel moved. Sharon says she was moved and it came across for her "quite beautifully." Howie says she definitely moved him. Professor Splash: Professor Splash talks about how at the age of 50, the exhilaration of making a splash is still as great as it was when he was a child. The show goes outside for his stunt: a bellyflop from more than 36 feet high into a pool with just 12 inches of water. Howie's speechless and Professor Splash he can expand on the act with fire and more. Piers calls it the most bizarre, stupid, dangerous and sensational stunt he's seen. Sharon agrees it was absolutely fabulous.