‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: And the final finalists are ...

Nicely done, America. Nicely done. The voters on “America’s Got Talent� put the two best semifinalists from Tuesday night’s show through to next week’s finals (which, possibly just to confuse us, will take place Wednesday at 9 p.m./8 p.m. Central). They also lined up two worthy contenders for the third and final slot, with the judges making the call as to which went through.

And while it was fun to see Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider hop onstage to perform his anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It� with young upstarts Haunted by Heroes and to groove to Train’s admirable “Drive By,� the best part of the whole night rested squarely in the results: Thanks to the show’s voters, we didn’t have to see that little girl from the Untouchables sob again.

“Tonight, I’m not crying,� the 8-year-old cutie declared after her group of preternaturally talented dancers learned they’d made it safely into the top four, where they were ultimately joined by Olate Dogs, David Garibaldi and his CMYKs and Lightwire Theater. “I’m over all that crying stuff.�

Indeed she was. Instead, she and the other pint-size pros in the Untouchables gleefully jumped up and down when Nick Cannon announced they were the first of the three acts to advance to the finals.

“It feels amazing,� the tiny, now-tearless tyke said of America’s vote of confidence. The variety of dances they’d brought to the stage -- cha-cha, tango, samba -- had “really paid off.�

Next to get the good news was the backflip-worthy canine act Olate Dogs. “It’s a blessing,� one of the remarkable pooches’ trainers said.

That left the judges to decide between two of their favorites: glow-in-the-dark Lightwire Theater and street painter turned stage performer David Garibaldi and his CMYKs. “It’s our life,� the Lightwire Theater performers begged. Garibaldi, meanwhile, vowed to “bring that wow� to the finals.

“Neither one of you should have been in this position. You are way too talented,� Sharon Osbourne told them, calling the situation “a travesty.� Nevertheless, she coughed up a decision: Lightwire Theater.

Howie Mandel offered his choice: Both were creative, million-dollar acts, he said, and he wasn’t going to weigh which was better. Instead, he went with his gut: David Garibaldi and his CMYKs.

That left Howard Stern to make the ultimate call. For once, America’s judge didn’t seem to relish his power. But after rightly chastising Garibaldi for the previous night’s sub-standard performance -- and the strange-looking painting it produced -- he proclaimed that the act he’d most likely pay to watch, and the one he’d most like to see in the finals, was … Garibaldi.

The paint-splattered performer appeared near tears as he thanked the judges and the voters, saying he felt “honored� to have emerged victorious against such a worthy adversary. Very sweet.

So the finalists are ...

Tom Cotter
William Close
Joe Castillo
The Untouchables
Olate Dogs
David Garibaldi and his CMYKs

Terrific lineup, varied talents and not a singer among them. Who would you like to see take the win?

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