America's Got Talent 2014 - Live Blog and Recap - Top 12 (VIDEO)

Welcome to the live blog and recap of America's Got Talent 2014, "Top 12"! We're just one week away from the finals, and the stakes couldn't be higher! The acts performing tonight are:

Mike Super
Sons of Serendip
Emily West
Miguel Dakota
Mara Justine
David & Leeman
AcroArmy
Emil and Dariel
Quintavious Johnson
Mat Franco
Blue Journey
Christian Stoinev

This is going to be an incredibly tight show, considering the level of competition still in the running. Of course, I'm still mostly convinced that this is all between Emily West and Quintavious Johnson. However, you never know which acts might step up and make a run for the finals (AcroArmy is a favorite of mine among the dark horse contenders). Videos will be coming as the night rolls on, along with my live commentary, so keep refreshing the page! And keep it locked right here for all of your America's Got Talent needs, as we begin the Top 12 show!

Credit: Michael Parmelee/NBC

Let's get this show on the road!

RECAP

-We open with a video of the contestants talking about how they're putting their everything into this, how they're in it to win it, and other big show platitudes I'm sure they truly mean. We then get into introductions as Nick welcomes everyone to the show and...doesn't chat with the judges?! I'm surprised, as we actually get right to it.

MARA JUSTINE opens the show!

-In an absolutely adorable video package, we see Mara Justine's first day of middle school, where she's greeted by a hall packed with adoring students. She's already the most popular girl in school, getting hellos from kids she's never even met. However, her sudden popularity leaves her feeling even greater pressure to deliver with this performance.

-Mara sings "Perfect" by Pink, and while it starts off really shaky and off-key (at least to my ears), she quickly recovers and delivers one of my favorite vocal performances of the entire competition. HOW IS THIS GIRL ONLY 12?!?! Seriously, such a sensational performance. And Mara is crying to see the judges giving her a standing ovation right as the song ends. She's so frigging endearing.

-Mel B calls the performance "perfect" and expresses how impressed she was by the vocal, the key change, and everything about the performance. Howard feels she's "graduated from America's Got Talent College," while Howie feels that although Mara is absolutely great, everyone tonight is great. If America wants to keep this greatness around, they'll have to vote her through. Howie does get a quip in, though, by noting that no little girl has ever "worn Pink" like Mara just did. Heidi, lastly, says that Mara should never doubt herself for one moment. And Heidi's right. Such a wonderful performance, from one of the most likable contestants in this entire competition. I really hope she goes through.

-In her interview with Nick, Mara notes that she sang Pink because it's uplifting to anyone who's ever felt bad about themselves. I'm voting for her, especially since I think she's going to get lost in the shuffle by the end of the night.

VIDEO: Mara Justine sings 'Perfect' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

DAVID AND LEEMAN are up next!

-David and Leeman talk about being recognized everywhere they go, and we get an accompanying comedy skit of the duo trying hard to get noticed by strangers on the street. One stranger even gives them her number...to give to Miguel Dakota. It's a cute little comedy sketch, although I kind of wish I knew more about these guys' background. But I don't think it's a big detriment to audiences connecting with them, since they're charming enough to sell themselves on their own merits (even though they've only barely escaped elimination in the past).

-So their act is another predictive magic trick, as they have a giant scratch-off lottery ticket onstage. They ask each judge to pick a balloon to pop, and then select a number to plug into the giant scratch-off ticket. Howie picks the number 6, Mel B picks the number 69, Heidi picks 41, and Howard picks 86. They pop a yellow balloon, which reveals a scratch off ticket they give to Howard. Howard scratches off the numbers one-by-one, and each number is correct -- except for Howard's, which reads 85. However, there's a rule on the back of the scratch ticket that says that if any of the numbers are wrong, David and Leeman must give the judge their jackets. The pair remove their jackets, revealing writing on their backs: "Howard will be off by one." Insane!

-Howie is speechless, and has no idea how America will decide. Howard thinks this is a fantastic act, for a fantastic season. Heidi feels they just might win the AGT lottery and score themselves a million dollars. Mel B, meanwhile, loves that the duo continually has her guessing about how they did it. They keep me guessing too, but then, so does every magic act on this show. I lack the intuition to piece the "how" of these tricks together. Anyone got theories on how they did it that don't involve a conspiracy with the judges?

-In the interview with Nick, the guys remain coy about how they did it, with David claiming they just got lucky, and Leeman saying he just wants to wrap up the interview so he can get to the food in the back. This was a stellar routine, and I'd love to know how they did it.

VIDEO: David and Leeman perform on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

SONS OF SERENDIP are up next!

-Their video package actually fears a music video-type performance of "Hallelujah" as the group talks about receiving a letter from a soldier who served in Afghanistan who told them their music brings him peace. Heidi calls the lead singer's voice angelic, and says Sons of Serendip are an act she'd pay to see. The guys admit that while they came into the competition not necessarily expecting anything, they're beginning to feel victory is within their reach. "Why not us?" Why not, indeed.

-They perform "Ordinary World" by Duran Duran, and OH MY GOD, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL. I wasn't sold on the song at the start, but man, did this just build and build to a glorious crescendo. I can't get over how ethereal they sound. I'm convinced that when you die, they're playing a Sons of Serendip CD on the boombox next to the pearly gates (because of course Heaven would still use physical media, I guess).

-Howard reiterates that the only thing he doesn't like about them is their name, but notes that the group has grown throughout the competition. He notes that not only did the lead singer open up his voice, but they also had a hot violinist. (He wonders why no one is asking her out) Heidi says their performances just get grander and grander, arguing that this might be their best. Mel B absolutely loved it. Howie, meanwhile, notes that people on Twitter are saying the sound is off, and he's hoping the techs have corrected it, since America needs to vote for this act.

-These guys absolutely deserve to be in the finals. Having all these amazing acts go so early has me a bit worried, but at this point, I'm not sure there's anyone in this Top 12 that doesn't deserve to move forward, at some level. But some acts are better than others, so it's kind of crazy that we're only three performances in and they've all been knockouts.

-Back from break, as Nick is holding Scooby (well, one of them, anyway) and recalling how Howie told Christian Stoinev he needed to lose the dog from the act (um, that's not what he said. He just needs to not completely rely on the dog for 80% of the act). Nick hands Scooby to Howard, and Howard notes that Scooby is shaking worse than Heidi on her "first date with that young guy."

VIDEO: Sons of Serendip sing 'Ordinary World' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

CHRISTIAN STOINEV is up next!

-Christian talks about how disappointed he was with the comments last week, fearing that his time in the competition would be over. He was thrilled to advance, however, and is intent on showing that he's not a dog act, he's a hand balancer. For his part, Howard says if Christian wants to stick around, he'll have to bring something different. I agree.

-The performance opens with a music video in which Scooby is on the run from law enforcement. He's wanted for the crime of "Attempting to Steal the Show," which is a clever way of taking the criticism last week and showing good humor about it. Scooby opens things by balancing on a golden basketball, before Christian transitions to doing some extreme hand balancing on a pedestal atop the stage. Some of his movements are insane, and are making my muscles ache just to watch. He almost looks like he's going to fall, but it appears to be part of the act. Christian finishes with an acrobatic back flip off the top of the pedestal, landing perfectly. A terrific performance. That said, the choice of 'Latch' as the music for this was an odd, slightly jarring choice.

-Howie and Mel B are high on Christian, with Mel B in particular calling this one of his best performances. Heidi, meanwhile, feels as though there's still a lack of balance between the dog and the hand balancing. Howard, however, disagrees completely, calling Christian a "smart entertainer" who knows how to take criticism and grow from it. Howard reiterates that he never means criticism negatively, but rather to help contestants, and Christian can hold his head high knowing he did his very best. I'm not sure if this is an act that's going to go any further, but this really was a killer performance.

-In his interview with Nick, Christian tears up saying that while he's love the chance to continue on to the finals, he doesn't take any of these moments for granted. I think Christian's likability is as responsible for his advancement as Scooby, honestly.

VIDEO: Christian Stoinev performs on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

-Back from break as Nick announces that the Muppets and Jackie Evancho will be live on the results show tomorrow. I could have sworn Ed Sheeran was announced for the show too?

EMIL AND DARIEL are up next!

-Emil and Dariel talk about how their grandfather came to America and built this family from nothing. The boys' sister and cousin gush about them, while Emil and Dariel's mother breaks down talking about how seeing her boys play the cello reminds her of her father playing the cello. It reminds her that he was able to make it to America and succeed. It's a genuinely heartwarming vignette, and I admit I had goosebumps.

-They perform 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith, and while this is a beautiful performance, this falls a lot closer to traditional cello playing than the rock fusion act they've been presenting over the past few weeks. I also feel like the song choice is way too safe. Of course, right as I write that, a chorus comes out and sings along with their performance, showing that the boys listened to the judges last week when they suggested that they bring out a singer to join their act. This was my favorite performance from these guys, and even though I don't think it's enough to get them to the finals, I thought they really did a great job of filling the room. Mel B and Howie give them a standing ovation.

-Mel B says the guys did an excellent job, and gushes over the performance. Howie says he loves Steven Tyler, but he didn't even miss Steven Tyler with that performance. He's trying to wrack his brain on how America could possibly narrow these choices down. "Half of you are going home tomorrow?! Say it ain't so!" he declares. Howard, meanwhile, states that while he enjoyed the performance, the presence of the chorus kind of proves his point from last week about the need for a singer. He says that while Eddie Van Halen is the greatest guitarist in the world, he couldn't do it all on his own. Heidi feels similarly, saying she felt something was missing. Mel B and Howie strongly disagree with her, and tell her she's wrong.

-In the interview, Emil and Dariel thank Howard for his suggestions, and tell him they take each suggestion very seriously. Howard reiterates that he only offers criticism to help contestants, not tear them down.

VIDEO: Emil and Dariel perform 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

ACROARMY is up next!

-The lead choreographer talks about not wanting to let the kids down, while also discussing the experience of having made it this far. I'm thoroughly confident he's not going to bone this up, since I've yet to see an AcroArmy performance that didn't absolutely blow my mind. But I can certainly understand the concern.

-This routine is performed to that song I don't know, but which is frequently used in promos for The X Factor UK when s*** is about to get real. And this is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I genuinely feel this is one of the best acrobatic acts in the history of this show, as a recap really can't do this justice. They throw themselves around, do amazing flips all over the stage, and conclude with a positively BREATHTAKING pyramid culminating in a giant swing off the stage into the waiting arms of two below. The judges are on their feet immediately. Meanwhile, my mind is blown like a malfunctioning NES cartridge.

-Howie can hardly manage anything more eloquent than "WOW!" Mel B declares it "off the chain", while Howard and Heidi also gush over the performance, and I'm so busy picking my jaw up off the floor that I don't even catch what they actually say. This was a stunning performance that should 100% seal their place in the finals. If not, America is dropping the ball in embarrassing fashion.

VIDEO: AcroArmy performs on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

QUINTAVIOUS JOHNSON is up next!

-We basically get a repeat of his last vignette, as he gets recognized around New York. He knows everyone's name, and everyone knows his, from the security guards to the production assistants, etc. He says that his grandmother keeps him grounded though. Heidi says some people are known by just one name, like Madonna. She feels Quintavious could be one of those artists. Quintavious then talks about how much he loves Nick Cannon's style. In a cute moment, the interviewer asks if he wants to be like Nick Cannon some day, and he jokes that he's already like Nick Cannon, before immediately clarifying that he's just joking. Awesome kid.

-Quintavious sings the Mary J. Blige version of Rose Royce's 'I'm Going Down' and this is absolutely killer. I swear, this kid just slays every freakin' song he picks. And that's what I love about Quintavious. He stays in his wheelhouse, but he's never boring when he stays there. He sings a lot of the same kinds of soul songs, but he always nails them, showing more grit and passion and connection to the music than many singers twice his age. Sure, some of the runs don't exactly land, but damn, I could watch this kid perform all day. Quintavious is going places. Oh, and make that another standing ovation for tonight from the judges. I think Christian and David and Leeman are the only acts not to get one so far.

-Howard feels Quintavious is an incredible talent, and Heidi agrees. Mel B, meanwhile, thinks Quintavious "could very easily win" this entire competition, and I can't really disagree with her there. I mean, sure, Emily West might be the better singer, but she's been doing it way longer. If Quintavious is this good NOW, imagine how good he's going to be in ten years' time? Howie declares that Quintavious is not going down, he's "moving on up to the finals." As well he should.

-Nick says he's humbled by Quintavious shouting him out in the pre-performance video, but notes that Quintavious is way better than he is. He asks where Quintavious even gets it from, and he says it's a God given talent that comes from deep inside. I love this guy.

VIDEO: Quintavious Johnson sings 'I'm Going Down' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

MIKE SUPER is up next!

-Mike feels he's "The Cinderella Story of America's Got Talent," saying that he's already been eliminated once. He says his biggest competition is every other magic act, noting that Mat Franco brings showmanship and good lucks, while David and Leeman can jockey back and forth with one another. His act involves an intimate trick that he needs Howard's help for, going to his studio and getting him to sign his prediction for the trick. Howard signs it and wrinkles the prediction so that it can't be switched out.

-So Mike's trick is a predictive magic trick based on America's spending habits. He's going to try and tell the future, and has Nick Cannon shuffle some playing cards, before having him deal out eight cards, face-down. He then reveals that he took a random collection of bills from various audience members earlier in the day, telling Nick to note the serial numbers. He then puts Nick in a chamber and fills it with the money before turning on the wind machine to create a "Cash-nado". Nick amusingly plays along, pretending to be annoyed and thrown off by all this. Nick comes out of the chamber clutching a bill, and it turns out the serial number on the bill matches the numbers on the cards Nick picked. But that's not all. The prediction in Howard's envelope has a message that, when burned with a butane torch (which refuses to light, thus "proving this is live television"), reveals the serial number on the bill Nick pulled out of the chamber. Took a while to set up, and I think he started to lose the audience a bit, but he really brought it home in the end with a fantastic trick. Howard and Howie give Mike a standing ovation.

-Mel B genuinely doesn't know how he does it, and so she decides it's really magic, since she wants to believe in magic. Heidi's mind is blown, while Howie is thrilled that his Snapple Save pick has delivered so spectacularly. Howard tells Mike that he's finally realizing his potential now that he's gotten rid of Desmond, noting that he's a much better performer now without that crutch, which he never really needed in the first place. I couldn't possibly agree more. Desmond was a cute bit for a few performances, but Mike Super is a far more compelling performer on his lonesome.

VIDEO: Mike Super performs on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

BLUE JOURNEY is up next!

-The dancers talk about being given choreography they aren't sure they could pull off, while also recounting how nerve-wracking it was waiting for the results during last week's show. They plan on doing everything they can to make the finale, since this is their biggest performance yet. I have a good feeling about these two. I've yet to be disappointed by a routine of theirs.

-Their dance is set to a cover of "I Put A Spell On You," and it's positively stellar. It involves them being controlled by a shadowy hand as they dance their way through a series of doors. It's such a visually intricate act, particularly once they switch to the overhead camera where they're shown to be crawling their way up ladders projected on the floor. You kind of have to see it to appreciate it. It's absolutely lovely.

-However, the judges didn't love it. Mel B thought it was boring, and wished they would have started with the ladders. Howie agrees with Mel, thinking it wasn't their best. Howard, meanwhile, disagrees strongly, saying they did a great job and have presented a body of work that they should be proud of. Heidi agrees with Howard, saying they never cease to amaze her. She says they really deserve to be here, and she hopes America votes for them.

VIDEO: Blue Journey performs on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

EMILY WEST is up next!

-Emily talks about how she's lived her life for music, saying that some little girls have lived their life for a husband and a family, but that was just never a priority for her. She says a husband will come someday, if he's out there (um, RIGHT HERE, EMILY!). Over this video package, we hear her sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which is apt since she compares herself to Dorothy leaving the Yellow Brick Road behind.

-Emily sings "Nights In White Satin" by The Moody Blues and...yeah, this is every bit as good as you'd expect it to be, if not more so. I'm utterly bereft of words to describe this, other than to say that she's one of the best singers I've seen on any reality competition. How she isn't a household name by now is beyond me, but she deserves to be enormously successful. She gets a well-deserved standing ovation.

-Heidi says Emily makes her forget she's watching a competition, since she's already a star. Mel B says she absolutely nailed it, talking about her haunting, dream-like quality. Howie, for what feels like the ninth time tonight, says he has no idea how America will choose among these acts. Howard says that Emily just made a case for The Moody Blues getting into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, since they deserve a spot there on the strength of songs like that. "Shame on the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame," he says. He then states that Emily is the most talented singer this show has ever had, and that he makes sure to say as much any time he's interviewed by the press. I don't doubt him. Nor do I blame him. Emily is sensational.

-Emily talks about how this was her parents' wedding song, and her father was thrilled to learn she'd be performing it. I love that her parents picked this as a wedding song. Great taste in the West household.

VIDEO: Emily West sings 'Nights In White Satin' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

MAT FRANCO is up next!

-We see Mat with his brothers, who've supported him in his magic all his life. They get breakfast together and impress a waitress with magic as Mat talks about being able to see light at the end of the tunnel. Howard notes that Mat is the real deal, and that he's never disappointed them. I truly, genuinely like Mat and hope he brings something as mind-blowing tonight as he brought last week.

-Mat does a series of card-related tricks, starting with a card cannon that shoots out a card that the judges chose. He then transitions to having Howard sign a card, before having the deck shuffled. With each snap of the fingers, the card is brought back to the top, culminating in a big finale in which Mat somehow manages to make the card appear in a tin left underneath Mel B's cell phone for the entire performance. Just wait for the video, trust me. It's impressive, even if I suck at explaining it.

-Mel B calls the act genius, and says he's doing the impossible. She adds that he's really hot. Heidi is still staring at the card, mouth agape, as if she doesn't believe it. She tells Mat he's her favorite magician on the show. Howard says that people like Mat are the reason they're the #1 summer show. "Everything you do is so amazing," he says, calling Mat a professional. Howie tells Mat he's incredible, and that he needs to do magic and make votes appear, since he deserves to stay.

VIDEO: Mat Franco performs on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

MIGUEL DAKOTA closes the show!

-Miguel talks about how badly he wants this, particularly after getting a taste of Radio City Music Hall. Howie talks about how Miguel could be the next big thing in music, but Howard isn't entirely convinced. He says there's still a lack of connection there in each of Miguel's performances. Miguel vows he's going to do what he can to prove to Howard wrong.

-Miguel sings 'Gimme Shelter' by The Rolling Stones, and while I've liked Miguel in the past, I'm not sure he could have picked a worse song to sing at this stage in the competition. His voice gets swallowed alive by the band and the backup singers, resulting in the night's one truly disappointing performance. I just didn't get this at all.

-Heidi feels like Miguel's voice got lost in the song. "I prefer you on the stage with your guitar, where I can hear you clearly." She says she just didn't love it that much. Mel B, however, disagrees. She says he's a true star, and that he's capable of everything. Howard says he's rooting for Miguel, but felt this was too big a song. He says he found himself missing Mick Jagger the entire time. Much like Mel B, Howie disagrees with the dissenters, saying Miguel has the potential to be the biggest star this show has ever had. He says the little girls are going to vote their butts off for him, and I don't doubt that one bit, actually. Especially since he got to close the show. But I'd be super disappointed if he got through over some of the other acts that slayed it tonight. Then again, Miguel IS a talented guy, and this may have just been a case of a good singer picking the wrong song.

VIDEO: Miguel Dakota sings 'Gimme Shelter' on America's Got Talent 2014 Top 12 (VIDEO)

-And that's a wrap! What did you think of tonight's show? And which six acts do you think will go through to the finals? Sound off in the comments! And don't forget to join us tomorrow night for the live results show, as we find out who will move on to the America's Got Talent Season 9 finals! Until then, thanks for hanging out.

GOODNIGHT!