By Bill Brioux
It was crunch time this week on Canada’s Got Talent as the audition round came to an end. A total of 18 acts from across Canada made it through to the semi-final round, with an eventual grand prize of $150,000 at stake, as well as the opportunity to perform in the America’s Got Talent Las Vegas LIVE show at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Tuesday’s sixth episode began with a feat of strength as 6 Pack Papadat from Guelph, Ont., stopped two roaring motorcycles from moving forward with his bare hands. Papadat told the judges that he does this on the side to raise money for children with cancer. The jawdropping stunt earned him four easy yeses.
Next up was a different kind of superhero – Arik Pipestem from Calgary, dressed in traditional regalia for his acrobatic First Nations hoop dancing.
Howie Mandel was the toughest judge to impress on this night. He deducted points from Pipestem for fumbling a few hoops and for not getting a story across. Trish Stratus, however, had no problem following this act. The result was three out of four yeses and a shot at the semis.
An adorable pre-teen act called “4Dance” from Calgary moved most of the judges with their sweetness and their pluck. Kardinal Offishall said they were “really, really, really dope.” Lilly Singh told the kids that they punched her “straight in my feels.”
Howie, again, wasn’t feeling it. Three yeses, however, kept the kids in the contest.
Lenya Wilks, a singer from Brandon, Manitoba, who is originally from Jamaica, told the judges she survived a home invasion when she was 21. She sang with power, wowing Kardinal who told her she “demolished the stage.” Even Howie was moved, telling her “A door opened tonight.”
Most impressive of all, however, was The Renegades, a large and diverse dance troupe from Toronto. Together for five years, their dream is to represent their city internationally.
The many members moved as one on stage with an incredibly co-ordinated routine. They earned a standing ovation from everyone at Fallsview.
“You have made us so, so proud to be judges on this show,” praised Lilly.
A thoroughly impressed Mandel beckoned host Lindsay Ell to the judges’ desk and then all five slammed down on the Golden Buzzer, a move not even in the show’s playbook. Bottom line, The Renegades will return, and they promised an even greater routine ahead.
There were the typical unusual acts. A cat with a furry collar was introduced as a “micro-lion.” One confused contestant referred to Lilly as “Lisa.” Cassidy Civet from Port Moody, B.C., in a full, furry animal costume, looked like they had wandered in from The Masked Singer.
The judges had the unenviable task of eliminating a few of the three- and four-star acts from previous nights. They chopped about six, getting down to the 18 semi-finalists that would make it to the next round. They are:
- Arik Pipestem, a hoop dancer from Calgary, AB
- Canine Circus, a circus act from Toronto, ON
- Chucky Mady, a record breaker from Windsor, ON
- Courtney Gilmour, a comedian from Toronto, ON
- Esther & Ezekiel, singers from Caledonia, ON
- GRVMNT, a dance troupe from Vancouver, BC and Lilly’s Golden Buzzer winners
- Jeanick Fournier, a singer from Chicoutimi, QC and Lindsay’s Golden Buzzer winner
- Kellie Loder, a singer from St. John’s, NFLD
- Ola Dada, a comedian from Fort McMurray, AB
- Savio Joseph, a magician from Brampton, ON
- Shadow Entertainment, a Bollywood fusion dance troupe from Mississauga, ON
- Shea, a singer from Vancouver, BC and Howie’s Golden Buzzer winner
- Sébastien Savard, a object balancing violinist from Alma, QC
- Stacey Kay, a singer from Cambridge, ON and Kardinal’s Golden Buzzer winner
- The Renegades, a dance troupe from Toronto, ON and the Group Golden Buzzer winners
- The Sentimentalists, mentalists from Toronto, ON
- Theo & Mila, acro gymnasts from Oakville, ON and Trish’s Golden Buzzer winners
- Trillium Entertainment, an aerial circus act from Toronto, ON
NEXT WEEK: The first nine of the 18 semi-final acts will compete to see who Canada votes on to the final round.
Canada’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv, or stream anytime on Citytv+, the Citytv app, or at Citytv.com
Bill Brioux writes about television daily at Brioux.tv.