The looming final has the NZ's Got Talent judges excited, reports AMY RIDOUT
KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Got Talent - and bags of it, say the judges as the show approaches its Monday finale.
Former Pop Idol judge Paul Ellis says it is difficult to speculate which way the votes will swing on the night and who will go home with the $100,000 first prize.
"I think the public have chosen really well and they've chosen an incredible variety.
"We've got singers, we've got tap dancers, we've got circus acts, we've got pets, animals - you couldn't ask for a better finale."
When it came down to it, the judges looked for a genuine and honest performance, he says.
"It's not about grandstanding, it's just about entertainment to get the votes, endearing yourself to the public.
"You can't be Bono overnight."
The audiences were also a key factor in decision-making.
"I like to use the audience as a barometer of where [the act] is at," he says.
"I think it's really important because that snapshot will emulate what's happening in people's lounges.
"And maybe I'm sussing out - especially if I'm going to be a bit quick with the tongue - whether I'll get a drink bottle in the back of the head."
The most difficult part has been telling someone they aren't up to scratch, especially children, Ellis says.
"The rule of thumb in my book is to let kids under a certain age have their moment, because it'll be something that will stay with them for quite some time. There's no need to completely rattle the poor little kids, you want them going away with a pretty good memory."
Richard Driver says choosing between such different groups has been tough - and for more reasons than simply talent.
When deliberating last week between traditional Samoan dance group Legacy Dance Company and funk trio Ease he ran into a problem.
"They were both fairly equal in terms of popularity and potential so it was a really tough call. And of course they're all big guys, and their families were sitting behind us."
Miriama Smith says the best part has been the entertainers themselves.
"A highlight for me was when Chaz picked up little Americus when she was crying and gave her a cuddle and she wrapped her little legs around him. That was just adorable."
The public reaction has been amazing, she says.
"Everyone's been really positive and supportive and that's been a good thing.
"It's got a really good feelgood factor about it, and people are just entertained."
New Zealand's Got Talent Final, Prime TV, Monday 7.30pm
OUR PICK
I'VE BECOME a real sucker for NZ's Got Talent. It sure started off ropey. But as the contenders have been whittled down it's started living up to its title.
Unlike NZ Idol, the contestants in this democratic apples'n'oranges talent quest reflect what a nation of obsessive oddballs we can be - from hula hoop circus kid Americus Wilson to Quest the skateboarding Border Collie to Timoti Pekamu the moonwalking harmonica-playing teacher from Taihape.
And it's shown how the drive to perform - even if it's doing something that is never going to make you rich and famous - is a strange all-consuming thing.
This is being written before the last two finalists were decided. So it's hard to pick a winner. Whatever happens, we're sure we haven't seen the last of semi-finalist, 14-year-old singer Coral Pitcher - her mum Emmeline was a Stars In Their Eyes finalist as Cher. Wee Coral, bless her, did a tasteful Ella Fitzgerald number. Young people these days huh? Such rebels.
But our pick for the big night is TMC/That Mean Crew, the tap-dancing double act of Auckland teens Simon and Andrew. They might be bringing "tap into the 21st century" - said Richard Driver - while wearing jackets seemingly liberated from the 1980s. But they look like young men already on their way. And this show is just another stage on which they will stamp-st-stomp-st-stomp their mark.
Russell Baillie
