SUSAN PIERCE: NBC's new season of "America's Got Talent" has already proven itself more exciting than this year's "American Idol." "AI" can't boast it had a sword swallower, a chainsaw-juggling unicyclist or singer Alice Tan Ridley.
If that last name doesn't ring a bell, this will: Ridley is the mother of Gabourey Sidibe (Precious in the movie of the same name).
That's right. In February, Ridley was walking the red carpet with her daughter at the Academy Awards, and two months later (this week's auditions were taped in April), she's auditioning on a TV talent show, telling the judges her claim to fame is that she's a New York City subway worker.
Really?!
Ridley sang "At Last," and she did have the voice to belt it out and do Etta James proud. But somehow, it just didn't seem fair that a woman whose daughter can help her retire and live a life of ease was competing with "regular Joes."
LISA DENTON: I guess that's true to some extent, but who among us wouldn't want to see where a lifelong dream could take us. I admire the fact that she's not using her famous daughter to make connections with producers. She's going to earn her chance the old-fashioned way, by her own merit.
You could tell from her performance that it's not just attention she's seeking; this is her dream. And her voice was phenomenal. Deep and true.
SUSAN: New judge Howie Mandel has taken over David Hasselhoff's seat at the judges' table. His quick wit has made him a great addition in terms of entertaining viewers.
But as a talent judge, he's still too much of a bleeding heart, in my opinion. He's got to learn from Piers Morgan and toughen up. Howie gave a thumbs-up to gimmicky acts like Mary Ellen Elaine Rineer, a 74-year-old retired machine operator, whose teased red beehive was more impressive than her yodeling.
LISA: If you really miss Hasselhoff (and I'm not suggesting you do), just tune in to "The Young and the Restless," the soap that made him famous 25 years ago. He's returned to his role as Dr. William "Snapper" Foster. Yes, Hasselhoff as doctor.
By the way, does it seem strange to you that we have two Brits deciding the fate of these all-American contestants? America's got talent, maybe, but Britain's got judges.