We’ve finally reached The top 12 and everyone has a chance to make it to the top six. I’ve decided to break the groups into categories and see how they stack up against each other. To make a truly interesting top six we need that right mix of dance, song, visual flair, and comedic timing.

The Acrobats - Chicago Boyz vs. Innovative Force

The Chicago Boyz - The direction of the trampolines in the beginning was great, but I actually disliked that we heard them yelling. I’m sure you’d hear it in person, but it was distracting on TV. There were several moments where the jump roping skills weren’t the cleanest. The pyramid jumping was amazing though and a smart choice for a wow-move near the end.

Innovative Force - I loved the structure they had for the dancers, the pacing was much better than I’ve seen in their previous performances. You really got to appreciate the shapes and tricks this time around. I also appreciated that the girls kind of got solos near the end of the structure. They needed dramatic to differentiate themselves from just being a cheer group with some dance moves and this was perfect.

The Verdict - I think both groups are being overpowered by the other performers, but if I’d have to choose one group, I’d personally pick Innovative Force. Chicago Boyz also were either 5th or 6th their first week, but the only other act that remains from that week is Kenichi and he has to be above and beyond the Boyz in votes.

Advance: Innovative Force

The Opera Singers - Branden James vs. Forte

Branden James - I feel like Branden was pigeon-holed into doing really stereotypical songs during his whole run, including “Hallelujah” this week. I want him to do an opera version of "Livin' on a Prayer." Whoever thought that lasers should shoot through him needs to be fired. He sang the song well and had power in his voice, but I just didn’t like the song choice.

Forte - Speaking of limited pool of music selection, Forte did a decent job with “My Heart Will Go On” but really only hit their stride when they hit the higher notes. I thought the three this week were a bit muddled, but the over-enthusiastic audience gave away how much support they have.

The Verdict - I would personally pick Branden over Forte (and Jonathan Allen over Branden), but I’m clearly in the minority. It may come to the point that both could make the top six. It’s doubtful and it seems like America (and Sri Lanka) have chosen their opera representative.

Advance: Forte

The Comics - Taylor Williamson vs. KriStef Brothers

The KriStef Brothers - The 90 second tutorial was an interesting choice because it formed a segment, but sacrificed tricks between the setups. The tootsie roll was impressive. The hangover was a great closer even with the minor wobbles. Obviously the two needed more than 90 seconds to really impress and do more tricks, but I think after the neck injury, they gained more fans.

Taylor Williamson - Taylor went for a self-deprecating family jokes. I liked the therapist joke and the “dark” ending. Taylor is good at what he does and I hope that this helps boost his career a bit more, but it’s just tough going up against so many types of acts and only getting 90 seconds.

The Verdict - One act is comedy, the other is comedic acrobats. Taylor has an uphill battle this week and even if he could get some of the KriStef Brothers voting block, he doesn’t have enough to get past a country singer or the opera singers.

Advance: The KriStef Brothers

The Visual Dancers - Catapult Entertainment Vs. Kenichi Ebina

Catapult Entertainment - The group decided to go for a story about a kid and his first day of school. I think most people can relate to not having friends or being picked on, or at least knowing someone like that where they could understand the storyline of this performance much better than the ship/whale/underwater theme from last week. The dragon was amazingly done and a nice fantasy touch to punch up the visuals.

Kenichi Ebina- Kenichi wanted to put emotion in his performance as a note for his wife. I think that it was the right choice after having something lighter and video game-like previously. The movements were so wacky, like he was a marionette in the beginning that it made me think he had a shadow team behind him. The strobe effects were amazing, but the angel ending was a little silly considering he had to go back down right at the end.

The Verdict - The last time we saw a shadow dancing group make it to the top was the Silhouettes back in Season Six. They went up against singers (including opera), dance groups, and a magician. This time around, Catapult is up against innovative dancers and comedians as well as the aforementioned groups. Catapult went the same direction as the Silhouettes with a more heart-tugging story. Kenichi did the same thing as well, going with the death/angel concept. I think both should advance but if I had to pick, Kenichi does so much as one person.

Advance: Kenichi Ebina

The Singers - Cami Bradley vs. Jimmy Brown

Jimmy Brown - Jimmy sang “God Gave Me You” and I while it was in his comfort zone, I really didn’t think it had any wow moments. He mumbled through some of the words in the chorus of the song and there was something about the timing of his lyrics that was off.

Cami Bradley - While I’m not surprised that Cami was given the final spot, I wonder if she is the one that production wants to win. I liked the version of “Livin’ on a Prayer” Cami performed; she really got into the song after she got up from the piano.

The Verdict - I think that Jimmy has the country voters with both his personality, his love for his mom, and the fact that he was in the army. He’s like the Taylor Williamson quip of being a fan of One Direction and NASCAR. That being said, with his performance this week, he doesn’t deserve to make the top six when Cami Bradley is around. I think that even Branden James deserves a spot over him even if that would mean that there were two opera acts.

Advance: Cami Bradley

The Standouts - Collins Key vs. D'Angelo & Amanda

Collins Key - I hated Collins’ act this time around. It felt laborious, and cheap. Paper bags? He couldn’t have sprung for fancy boxes? It was like watching a kid do a magic trick in a lunch room. If anything we learned that, Mel B. Doesn’t know how to read a clock. He still lacks a full show of tricks and I’d be very annoyed if he kept doing some prediction trick over and over again. If there was any way I could vote for an act that destroyed Nick Cannon’s watch, I’d choose that over Collins.

D’Angelo & Amanda - The pair went for a Samba, which was a smart choice considering the amount of party they could implement to counter the dramatic paso doble. The tricks were interesting and while I’ve seen these tricks from Sambas and Salsas on other shows, I appreciate the non-sexualized choreography for the two. Amanda noted “last minute changes” and it makes me wonder how manipulated the production was for the two.

The Verdict - Obviously, I can’t compare these two against each other but I can say that while both deserve to make the Top Six based off of their respective categories, I still don’t think that Collins has the right stage presence. Since D’Angelo & Amanda barely squeaked by their last week in sixth place, I doubt that they could squeak by again. I don’t think either will make it through, but I’d prefer D’Angelo & Amanda.

Advance: D’Angelo & Amanda

Final Prediction

Obviously, America isn’t just going to compare apples to apples and will vote with their hearts. It may mean that we have four singers and two dance groups in the final six for all we know. Here is my prediction for the Top Six.

12) Innovative Force
11) The Chicago Boys
10) Branden James
9) Taylor Williamson
8) Collins Key
7) Jimmy Brown
6) D’Angelo & Amanda
5) Catapult Entertainment
4) Forte
3) KriStef Brothers
2) Cami Bradley
1) Kenichi Ebina