Quarterfinals, YouTube

Twelve contestants pulled from YouTube, which we're quickly (and often) reminded provided one of last year's breakouts in little singer Jackie Evancho, are up this week on "America's Got Talent." After the requisite ribbing between host Nick Cannon and judge Piers Morgan, Piers tells us that some of the acts seems pretty good and some "have the potential to go horribly wrong." TNC Elite: A group that is proud to bring clogging to Hollywood, with routines set to modern music. The group of about a dozen dancers from Charlotte, N.C., puts on a pretty impressive display of quick feet. Piers says it wasn't bad, even though he's not a clogging fan, and ultimately thinks it was "pretty good." Sharon says she doesn't know whether it worked and that the clogging may have been fighting with the music. Howie thinks they'll "need to do more" to do well in the competition. He says now that he's seen it on stage, "it's really good on YouTube." Brett Daniels: A 50-year-old illusionist from Milwaukee says he's enjoyed a lot of success in magic and he "lost it." He's looking to reinvent himself on the show, bringing back something he hasn't done in 15 years. Doing what he bills a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, Brett makes "her" appear from a portrait hanging high above the stage. Piers buzzes him. Sharon says she liked it all, but the presentation was a bit slow. Howie says the illusion was "incredibly original" but he questions the performance. He says he sees potential. Piers says the trick was fine, but notes "it's an old trick." He says he got bored with the middle bit, but is interrupted by Howie playing with a fart machine. Piers says it's disrespectful to the performers who are competing for $1 million. Gabe Rocks: A bulldog from Bellingham, Wash., who does some tricks, including one he's going to try that his owner says is one of the most difficult dog trucks that only a few dogs can do. She has him sit on a rocking horse, hit a buzzer with an X on it as an impression of Piers, and has him lift his leg on a cut-out of Piers, which causes Piers to buzz. Piers calls it "a completely pointless act." Sharon tells Gabe she loves him and says she knows how hard it is to train a bulldog. She says, "This dog is worth a million dollars." Howie says America is going to fall in love with Gabe. Aeon: A parkour group from L.A. has "spot-on" technique, according to Sharon. Replicating their street moves on a tight stage will prove to be a challenge. Piers buzzes them before too long as it seems their moves just aren't translating onto a stage setting with props. He says it was poorly coordinated and choreographed. He says they missed some moves, which they deny, causing Piers to comment on their large egos. Sharon says it's "very clever, but it was very repetitive." Howie disagrees with both, saying that it was edgy and active and he liked it. Breena Bell: An 8-year-old dancer and contortionist from Lincoln, Ala., made Howie wonder if she actually has bones when he saw her on YouTube. Before she starts, Nick warns Piers that if he buzzes her, he's "truly evil." He does just that, and Nick tells her she was "outstanding, but there are ogres in the world." Piers says he's trying to keep the competition honest. He says she's a very gymnast and should be looking to enter the Olympics because that's where her talent is. Sharon agrees with Piers, saying it's a bit early for her to go on in the competition, but she should continue performing. Howie says she will have a good shot i the contest in a few years, when she's older and even stronger. Kevin Colis: A 33-year-old musician from New Braunfels, Texas, says he's always felt music was meant for him, but he gave up on it after turning 30. His fiancee signed him up for the competition. He says this is his "last shot" and he's "going to go for it." He sings Bruno Mars' "The Lazy Song." Howie thinks he did great, but he's in a "really tough category with other singers in this competition." Piers says he's got a good voice and says the singing category is not as strong as it's been in past years, "so who knows -- you might be two songs away from a million dollars." Sharon says that if this is Kevin performing nervous, he'll "be phenomenal" as he gets more comfortable. Beth Ann Robinson: A 14-year-old dancer from Alabama is amazed to be on the show. She says she has an intense and unique dance style. Piers says the show's warming up and that Beth Ann was really good. He wonders, though, whether a solo act like this can win. Sharon says Beth Ann's movement is "effortless" and that she's "a very special lady." Howie agrees with both, saying it looks like Beth Ann eats, sleeps and breathes dance. He wonders whether America will respond to this form of dancing, but regardless, she's going to be a star. Gymkana: An acrobatic team that accepts anyone who wants to learn about the craft and is based on each group teaching the next comes to the show. The group does a pretty cool routine that's centered around two very tall ladders and dancers hanging off of them. Sharon can't believe they aren't professionals, saying "it was incredible." Howie says they fall under the category of "What will they think of next?" He says it's amazing. Piers pokes fun at Nick's socks, then says the routine was good, but a little repetitive. He calls it "brilliant" for their first time up. Kalani Freestyle Basketball: A guy from Hawaii says all he had was a basketbal to get through some hard times growing up. Howie calls him a one-man Harmlem Globetrotters, based on his YouTube performances. Piers buzzes him immediately after Kalani dropped one ball while trying to spin one ball on top of another. Piers says he was willing to let one mistake slide, but not two. Sharon says she understand it's daunting because he's not a pro at it. West Springfield Dance Team: A dance team that promises to be different and more intense and downright scary. Piers says they were one of the most intriguing acts based on the YouTube video. He says they did live up to the potential he thought they had. Sharon says she loves all the drama to their performance but they might want to think about their name. Howie says they're going to have to be great to compete with the other dance groups in the competition -- and they are. Matt Wilhelm: A bike trick artist who got the most votes on YouTube for the competition calls his act "breakdancing on a bike." Wearing a full body suit that glows because of black lights, Matt shows off some moves on his bike that are reminiscent of Fighting Gravity. Sharon says it's a really great act and the bike is his dance partner. She calls it "very special, very different." Howie says "America never gets it wrong," and there is a reason why America gave him more votes than any other act. He thinks there's a full act here. Piers believes Matt is going to have America on his side, and again brings up Jackie Evancho. Powerhouse: A high school choir that takes it to another level comes out and sings Katy Perry's "Firework." Howie gives his first buzz of the night. Piers says the performance made him happy "in a very strange way." He calls it the cheesiest thing he's ever seen, but it makes him happy. Sharon says it makes her "very happy." She says they made her want to come up on stage and sing with them. Howie says he wasn't as happy, saying "Glee" has set the bar, and "this was 'Glee' Light." He says "America's Got Talent" needs something beyond that.