America's Got Talent 2014 - Live Blog and Recap - Quarter Finals 4 (VIDEO)

Welcome to the live blog and recap of America's Got Talent 2014, "Quarter Finals 4"! The final group of performers from our Season 9 Top 48 perform for your votes! The acts competing tonight are:

Bad Boys of Ballet
Kelli Glover
Dom the Bomb's Triple Threat
Emil and Dariel
Nina Burri
Quintavious Johnson
Extreme
Jonah Smith
Mothman Dance
Jonatan Riquelme
Smoothini
One Voice Children's Choir

That's a pretty badass lineup, in my opinion. But can this show top last week's absolutely stellar quarter final extravaganza? We'll see. But I'm more than a little excited for what's on the horizon, as this is the final group of 12 in the Top 48, meaning we should find out soon if there will be Wild Cards, and how they'll be decided, if so.

I'm flying solo tonight, but I plan on staying on the ball with the videos and the live blog as best I can. So don't worry, we got this! Keep it locked right here for all your America's Got Talent needs as "Quarter Finals 4" gets underway!

Credit: NBC

Let's get this show on the road!

RECAP

-We open with a recap of last week's show, following an introduction of the judges. Nick Cannon asks Howard Stern just how big tonight is for the contestants since it's the last quarter final round. Howard asks Nick if he remembers his wedding night with Mariah, and says that all the pressure he felt then is minor compared to what the contestants are feeling. Nick, however, vows he performed well on his wedding night. "I would've won the million dollars that night." Good to see tongue-in-cheek modesty is alive and well.

BAD BOYS OF BALLET opens the show!

-In the pre-performance video, choreographer Adrienne talks a bit about the origins of the group, and how it's a dance troupe that takes a modern, sexy approach to ballet. She offers the usual boilerplate speech (which I have no doubt is the truth, admittedly) that this is do-or-die, and that they have to give it their all if they want to advance, since this what they really want to do with their lives.

-The routine, which is set to "Problem" by Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea, was very high-energy. But I wasn't feeling it when it started out. The guys are in blue while Adrienne is in hot pink, and her classical dance moves contrasts rather unpleasantly with the more modern moves of the guys surrounding her. It sort of felt like an opening act, instead of a potential million dollar finalist. But about halfway through, the performance really picks up as the choreography gets a bit more complicated. It's still not great, but it's at least good.

-Mel B, who gave them a standing ovation, absolutely loves this act and thinks they're amazing. Howie thought it was a good act, but feels "good" is bad when their name is "The Bad Boys of Ballet". Heidi, who also gave them a standing O, disagrees with Howie and says the group did a great job. Howard says Howie is more right than Mel B and Heidi, as he felt this was an aerobics routine. He says he was waiting for a lead singer to come out, since this group felt like background dancers to him. Ouch. But I don't think he's far off the mark, unfortunately.

-Nick interviews the troupe after the performance. Adrienne says "This is a blessing, just dancing here for all of you guys and for America." She then says she honestly doesn't think anyone has ever done ballet like that before, and if there's anyone out there who has, she thinks they should audition because she wants them on their crew.

VIDEO: Bad Boys of Ballet perform on America's Got Talent 2014

-After the break, Nick introduces the next act, which has 100 performers -- the youngest of which is only 7-years-old...

ONE VOICE CHILDREN'S CHOIR is up next!

-The kids talk about how they're all the best of friends, while the coordinator says the choir is a safe haven for kids. No matter what's going on at school or at home, with friends or with family, this is where they can feel accepted. Choirs are kind of tough to sell as a million dollar act on a show like this, but I'm a sucker for a good choir, so I'm kind of rooting for this act.

-They sing "Let It Go," and I kind of wish they'd gone with something else, since I feel we're at the event horizon with this song, in that there's literally no other ways left for it to be done, between all the covers on YouTube and talent shows like this. That said, this is an absolutely gorgeous rendition. The lead singer is simply terrific, and the choir's harmonies are on-point. I was genuinely impressed with this.

-Howard loves the act, but says that, unfortunately, he didn't think they did enough. "I think you're a talented group of kids, but I don't know if that's gonna do it," he says. Howie defends the act, albeit in a weird, almost backhanded way, saying that if America votes, they're probably going to vote for the song. He does like the act though, and so does Heidi. She says she normally hears her kids singing this song in a hairbrush, but it doesn't sound as good as that just did. (Way to throw your kids under the bus, Heidi!) Mel B notes that, coincidentally, she was just singing this song in her dressing room. She admits to being worried about this act at first, but says their voices really filled the room.

VIDEO: One Voice Children's Choir performs "Let It Go" on America's Got Talent 2014

JONAH SMITH is up next!

-Jonah is 39-years-old and has been playing music professionally since he was 18. However, he had to give up on his dream and get a job selling insurance because he got married and needed to support his wife. He's worried about starting a family while worrying about where the next paycheck is going to come from. This represents what could be his last opportunity to have a career in music, calling this the most important 90 seconds of his life.

-Jonah sings "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith, and I absolutely LOVE this. It's a smoky, bluesy cover that makes the song sound completely brand new. It's not perfect, necessarily, but there's just so much character in Jonah's voice that I can't help being impressed by this performance. Jonah is one of the better singers in this competition, in my opinion, and I hope he advances.

-Howard admits he often has trouble remembering what any one singer does from one round to the next, but says he always remembers Jonah because he's "the real deal." He thinks it's ridiculous that Jonah is selling insurance when he should be having a full-time music career. Heidi shows her love for Jonah by singing, "Want you to staaaay with me, here on AGT." And it doesn't sound half-bad! Mel B loves the song, but wonders if Jonah is feeling the pressure. Jonah, however, is simply thrilled to be here. Howie goes a step further than the other judges and says that not only is Jonah the best act of the night so far, but he's likely to make the semifinals.

VIDEO: Jonah Smith sings 'Stay With Me' on America's Got Talent 2014

DOM THE BOM'S TRIPLE THREAT is up next!

-Dom is obsessed with card-throwing, and it shows. However, his sister Lyric seems a bit less enthusiastic. She's a bit nervous about Howard, since everyone calls him the mean judge. But she says, between us, that Howard probably isn't really that mean. Their parents are super proud of them, and their mother, in particular, worries about being able to wear mascara to the show, since she can't help from crying. Adorable.

-The performance involves Dom going through a makeshift supermarket produce section, destroying fruits and vegetables with the cards while Lyric and Phoenix help keep things moving along by lending a helping hand at each section (moving the fruits and vegetables, pushing the grocery cart, etc.). Ultimately, Dom ends by winging cards out into the audience with surprising intensity. Dude is like a young Gambit from the X-Men! Still, while these kids are cute, I don't think this was necessarily a great act or anything.

-Heidi really enjoyed the act, and thought it was a fun experience. While Mel B likes these three, she wasn't sure if it was the right performance for tonight. Meanwhile, Howie thinks Dom should integrate both Lyric and Phoenix into the act more than they are, and the semi-criticism causes Lyric to tear up a bit, which prompts Howie to change his critique to emphasize how adorable she is. That said, he does like the act and think they did a good job. Howard isn't sure if that performance was enough for the kids to advance, and says it's just not a million dollar act. Unfortunately, I agree. I'd be absolutely shocked if these kids got through.

VIDEO: Dom the Bom's Triple Threat perform on America's Got Talent 2014

EXTREME is up next!

-And here, I thought we'd get Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt. But nah, this is a dance troupe based in Orlando, Florida, and founded by choreographer Julie Johnson. The act features dancers from all different races, cultures, backgrounds and ages, creating a kind of family. They all have passion and want the audience to sense what they're feeling. As their previous background packages suggested, they want to go all the way and hopefully open up a dance studio. They definitely have moves, so I'll be interested to see what they bring.

-The group rocks bright silver outfits, which actually kind of conflict with the bright lights of the stage, making it hard to really parse out what's going on. That said, this group definitely has talent, even if there's too much going on with the choreography to really appreciate the individual moments, as they come. I didn't dislike this performance, but I wasn't over-the-moon about it either. I thought it was kind of a middle-of-the-road performance, which is dangerous when you're competing for a spot in the Semis.

-Heidi loved the act, while Mel B just felt the whole thing was kind of dated. She didn't like the outfits or the choreography, which is disappointing to her since she loved the act so much at first sight. Howie thinks they're a great act and did a good job of conveying their passion on the stage. However, Howard agrees with Mel B, saying he doesn't think people are going to remember this in five minutes. Howie argues this was the best dance act tonight, despite there having been only one other dance act tonight so far. But Howard just doesn't agree.

-In the post-performance interview with Nick, Julie says they like to entertain, tumble, and perform. She adds, "My family has so much more to offer." I like the act, but I'm kind of with Mel B and Howard on this. I'm not sure I'm going to remember this by the end of the show. What do you think?

VIDEO: Extreme performs on America's Got Talent 2014

EMIL AND DARIEL are up next!

-They talk about how their grandfather has taught them so much, giving them their first cellos before they could even walk. Their grandfather moved from Russia to give his family a better life, and they feel they owe everything to him. Their grandfather is incredibly proud, and says he's been waiting for this all his life. It's an absolutely beautiful segment, actually. I got goosebumps.

-They perform a very lively rendition of "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, and it's...kind of awesome, actually. I was genuinely surprised at how well this worked, since I wouldn't have thought a cello-infused version of that song would work. But even better than how it sounded was the stage presence these guys have. They weren't just playing the song, they were ROCKING OUT!

-Howie loved the performance, saying that while he never would have expected a rendition of "Satisfaction" quite like that, Emil and Dariel prove that "there's always room for cello." (A cute play on the old Jell-O slogan) Howard dug the act and thinks they should bring their grandfather onstage for their next performance. Heidi feels they should open up a brand new category of music just for these guys. Mel B thought it was "off the chain" and calls them exciting, passionate, edgy, current, and fun. That's a lot of superlatives. And they deserve'em all.

VIDEO: Emil and Dariel perform 'Satisfaction' on America's Got Talent 2014

NINA BURRI is up next!

-Nina talks about meeting her husband in a cafe in Switzerland, and her husband confirms it was love at first sight. Nina then goes into her talent, as she first discovered contortionists after going to a circus in her youth. She decided to get into the profession at the age of thirty, after spending nearly half her life in ballet. This is her dream, and she's hoping she can have a successful career in contortion. Seems like a lovely woman. I hope she's good.

-I don't know what it is with silver outfits, but they're all the rage, I guess. Nina performs atop a well-lit platform, illuminating the crazy ways in which she contorts her body. Seriously, this is a hell of an act simply from the athleticism of it all. It's almost surreal, the things she can do. It ends WAY too soon, actually, as I wanted to see more of this. Perhaps that's her intention, to leave the crowd wanting more. If so, it's a huge risk, but I'll say it definitely worked on me.

-Howard says he's so impressed by the courage of Nina's backstory, as she went off to China to learn contortion at age 30. "You are a beauty up there. You are stunning, you are captivating, mesmerizing," he says. He calls her an inspiration. Heidi, meanwhile, says everything Nina does is incredible, although she wonders if this act is big enough for a room like this. Mel B felt the act was way too short, saying she just didn't want it to stop. She says Nina is like a "graceful spider," and is sure husbands across America are asking, "Why can't my wife do that?" Howie takes it a step further and says that's exactly what he was thinking. He straight up tells Nina she was sexy up there, and admits that while his wife isn't so young, he'd love if Nina could teach her just two of those positions. So what are the odds Howie is sleeping on the couch when he gets home tonight?

-Nick interviews Nina about how she prepares, and she admits that she doesn't eat for eight hours beforehand, so she's pretty hungry. I like Nina a lot, as not only is she insanely talented, but she also seems like a wonderful person. I want to see more of what she can bring, since I agree that this was way too short. It just left me wanting more.

VIDEO: Nina Burri performs on America's Got Talent 2014

QUINTAVIOUS JOHNSON is up next!

-Quintavious has been singing since he was a little boy, and sings pretty much everywhere, whether the shower, the grocery store, or at school. He's the oldest of three children to a single mother, whom he loves (calling her "Super Mom"). Naturally, Quintavious loves singing, and feels that what he has is a gift, adding that, like his Auntie says, he has to either "use it or lose it".

-He sings "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," and while it's not flawless, it builds beautifully. It's such a powerful song, and delivered with such emotion and feeling beyond his years that I immediately banished any thought of this being the wrong song for him. Sure, it doesn't really suit his age or experience, but this was absolutely stunning. All four judges give him a standing ovation, and the crowd is going BONKERS for this kid. And I'd argue he deserves it.

-Heidi calls it perfect (among other "p" words such as "powerful"). Mel B says, "You just showed us your gift, and what a powerful gift it is." She adds that he earned the loudest cheers of the night. Howie tells Quintavious he needs to start thinking about what he's going to do with a million dollars. Meanwhile, this seems to be the first act of the night for whom Howard is genuinely enthusiastic, and I can't blame him. This was a positively stellar performance. I'll be gobsmacked if he isn't in the semifinals.

VIDEO: Quintavious Johnson performs 'And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)' on America's Got Talent 2014

MOTHMEN DANCE is up next!

-The two creators of the group -- Jason Whicker and Jennifer Kelly of -- tell their story, as they've spent time providing rigging and choreography for other peoples' acts, but want to step out of the background and into the spotlight. They've quit their full-time jobs to give this a real shot, saying they want to do something that no one has ever seen. Jason breaks down into tears when recalling how his son keeps saying, "Mommy, I want to see Dad on TV!" Although he's been away from his son for a while due to the competition, he feels his son understands that this is his dream.

-I thought this was awesome! It's an aerialist routine in which the dancers did all sorts of cool choreography, both on the high-wire and on the ground below. The theme of the dance is the Moon Landing, as a video screen projects the moon's surface while the dance itself illustrates the effects of zero gravity. It wasn't as good as other video screen acts like Aerial Animation, Blue Journey, or Kenichi Ebina, but I thought it was one of the more fun, memorable acts of the night.

-Mel B says she's a big fan of the act, but felt there was something missing from the act tonight, calling it a bit repetitive. She adds that at this stage of the competition, they have to step it up a bit more. Howie, who gave them a standing ovation, says, "If this was repetitive, then I need to see a bit more." He adds, "Mothmen, you've got moth balls. You were amazing!" Howard says if he were a professor at AGT University, his number one rule would be "You've got to be memorable." And he feels Mothmen Dance absolutely delivered that. "That was fun, that was exciting, and it was different. An A+ from the university." Heidi, however, feels they may have relied too much on the video screen in the background, which seems like a bit of a silly critique considering Aerial Animation and Blue Journey are 90% video screen. Not that I don't absolutely love those acts, but still.

VIDEO: Mothmen Dance perform on America's Got Talent 2014

SMOOTHINI is up next!

-Smoothini talks about doing magic on the street corner, and recalls how there were no magic tricks in the hood of Washington Heights. One of his fondest memories was watching Cheers with his dad, and recalls how he would sneak out of his house late at night to go to the local bar to do magic tricks for everyone there. He would also do magic for his troopmates in the Marine Corps, which he felt helped him to refine his craft.

-I love Smoothini, but I almost felt like this act was too subtle for such a large room. He brings Howie and Mel B onstage for a trick involving money manipulation. In short, he turns a $1 bill into a $100, and then turn that into a $50, and that into a $20, all while telling a story that for every child you have, your money is halved. It's clever, and goes into mind-blowing territory when he moves the imprinted Federal seal on the bill, and then materializes a goldfish out of nowhere, which he drops into a glass of water. It was really impressive, actually, but I just don't think this was the right routine for a crowd this huge, since Howie had to keep breaking in to let the crowd know what Smoothini just did, in case they couldn't see it. If the audience can't get a good grasp on what you're doing, you're not going to get the best reception from the room. And perception in the room can occasionally affect perception at home among voters.

-Heidi says, "I'm just not sure if you can take this to the bank." She feels like what he's done in the past was far more amazing, and that perhaps her disappointment was from how difficult it was for her and the rest of the audience to see it. Mel B loved the act because she was up close and personal, but she does agree that the act might have been too small for the audience. Howie disagrees and says the millions of viewers at home will be impressed by this. "You saw it, America! You vote for it, America!" Howard, meanwhile, says "This was just a mess." He says it was like being in a bar and having the worst seat in the house.

-In the interview with Nick, Smoothini agrees that the act was small, but says he had to remain true to himself and to his act. I like Smoothini a lot, but I'm on the side of the judges on this one.

VIDEO: Smoothini performs on America's Got Talent 2014

JONATAN RIQUELME is up next!

-Fifth generation circus performer: his grandfather was a clown and his father was a trapeze artist, just as a few examples. He notes that he wants to take his "rolla bolla" (balance board) act to the next level, and reveals that he's using no harness or safety net. He's going to go higher and bolder for his act, prompting concern from his family, who tell him to be careful. I'm already nervous for this guy. Fingers crossed for Jonatan!

-I was MORTIFIED throughout all of this, and not just because the act is scored to the world's most panic attack-inducing music. Jonatan basically stacks a series of metallic cylinders, with the rolla bolla in the middle like that superfluous third slice of bread inside a Big Mac. He does this while already balancing on a giant swing, which had my heart pounding like crazy. As the swing lifted into the air, it seemed like Jonatan was almost certain to fall, especially given how horrifically wobbly the tower was. But Jonatan was able to climb to the top of this stack, balanced precariously on the rail-thin swing, and remain poised atop for about five seconds or so. And thank God that was it, or I might have passed out from worry.

-Mel B was horrified for Jonatan, uncertain whether he'd fall. But she applauds the act and tells him he did a good job. Heidi echoes the sentiment, although she seems less enthusiastic about the performance. Howard, however, says this is the first rolla bolla act he's seen that actually deserves a place in the finals. Howie likes the act but doesn't know why he wouldn't at least put a crash mat on the ground. He says Jonatan is exciting and daring and deserving of a semifinal spot. I've never been a big fan of the death-defying acts, but I do think Jonatan has guts like few contestants have ever had on this show. Is that worth a semifinal spot? I suppose we'll see.

VIDEO: Jonatan Riquelme performs on America's Got Talent 2014

KELLI GLOVER closes the show!

-Kelli recalls singing everywhere as a kid, noting she even put on talent shows in her backyard. Her parents have no idea where she gets her insane singing talent from, but they know it's not from them. Kelli says getting cut from AGT in 2009 was the darkest moment of her life, but she refused to give up. Being put through to the quarter finals on this go-around is like vindication. "This second chance isn't just a second chance on the show, it's a second chance at life."

-Kelli sings "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. And it's...well, it's not bad. But it certainly wasn't up to Kelli's previous standards. I actually thought it was stronger in the opening verses than it was in the choruses, as Kelli just sort of falls out of pitch in places. I think it might have been nerves, but regardless of what it was, I don't think it bodes well for her chances. Then again, she did go last, so that might help keep her fresh in voters' minds. However, that wasn't enough to save Acte II two weeks ago. I guess we'll see. I do like Kelli though, and would probably give her a second chance if it were up to me.

-Heidi thought it was an unforgettable performance, and tells Kelli that she has her vote. Mel B says she was worried because Kelli started out lacking confidence, but was relieved when the chorus kicked in and Kelli found her voice. She tells Kelli not to be so tight and "unconfident," since she can sing. Howard feels the same way, and tells Kelli to believe in herself and her talent. Howie loves Kelli for teaching America to never give up. It IS an inspiring message, regardless of what you might think of the performance.

VIDEO: Kelli Glover sings 'If I Ain't Got You' on America's Got Talent 2014

-And that's a wrap! Looking back, this show was a pretty major disappointment. There weren't any acts I was really enthusiastic about other than Jonah Smith and maybe Mothmen Dance, and even then, if either act had gone last week, they'd have virtually no shot. Hell, some might argue they have no shot now. This is where the luck of the draw comes in, since I think some of the acts that were eliminated last week would be surefire semifinalists if they'd been placed in this grouping. But since I have no idea how the producers decide which acts go in which grouping, I can't really argue its fairness or lack thereof. All I know is that we lost some really great talent last week, while some hit-or-miss talent will probably sail through here by default. Of course, you never know who might bounce back and prove they deserved to advance after all. And that should make for some good TV. But if I had to pick five acts to go through, I'd guess that Quintavious Johnson, Kelli Glover, Jonah Smith, Mothmen Dance, and Smoothini probably make it through. Although Nina Burri and Emil and Dariel deserve consideration.