TUESDAY
5:04 p.m.
Running late, of course. Hair and makeup took a little long. En route to Stage 36 at CBS Television City.
5:17 p.m.
Checked in and escorted through the studio and to the press tent. A bit of a scramble since nobody knows where I should go. They send me into the studio, then out the back way, then back inside.
5:24 p.m.
Grabbing a drink and some snacks, plugging in all the equipment and testing everything.
5:33 p.m.
We are watching stage managers co-ordinate talent on stage. Nick is rehearsing and pre-taping intros.
5:51 p.m.
Files are ready. Final preps happening on the stage.
5:59 p.m.
AGT is live (on the East Coast)
6:09 p.m.
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is practicing a few notes on stage. Music cues tested. Almost back from commercial.
6:14 p.m.
Another powerful and great performance from Landau. What a voice! Crowd is on its feet. Judges are standing. Press is impressed. Howie just said 'he sealed the deal' with a million-dollar performance.
6:19 p.m.
They haul us outside saying Landau is coming to talk, but he's a no-show. We instead take promo pics of me in front of the AGT press backdrop.
6:22 p.m.
SpeakFree Media Inc. is one of eight media outlets on the red carpet. SFM is right beside a local paper from Colorado. There will be 17 outlets tomorrow.
6:25 p.m.
Back in the tent to watch another electrifying performance from Team iLuminate. Howie looks stunned and all judges on their feet.
6:32 p.m.
We are outside the tent getting ready to chat with Landau. We didn't get a chance to hear the judges comment on Team iLuminate. Landau is such a humble guy. We talk about his inspiration and the superstar he is performing with tomorrow night.
6:44 p.m.
The press is taking a little long with the finalists so JB, the pro interviewer, whips through spontaneous questions and sends them on their way to get back inside the studio for the end of the show.
6:46 p.m.
There is a problem onstage. The giant LED wall won't open up to remove POPLYFE's gear to make room for the Silhouettes. They are stalling for time with recaps.
I am told LeAnn Rimes, Patti LaBelle (I just walked by her dressing room. She's got some big dudes out there) and several others are performing tomorrow. Tonight's guest performers were all pre-tapes so they aren't joining us on the red carpet.
6:55 p.m.
Silhouettes still have to perform and there's only five minutes left. This season recap is killing lots of time. The show will continue on as long as it needs until all acts have performedn. Hopefully East Coasters have added extra time to the DVR. The press is assuming the technical difficulty will be edited out for the West Coast.
6:58 p.m.
Live show begins again. Silhouettes on stage now. I like how they have evolved -- I can't pinpoint exactly how they have but it just seems like more entertaining performances since they first auditioned.
7:01 p.m.
Sharon gives standing ovation and her buzzer goes off. What a debacle tonight. Come on, NBC!
7:03 p.m.
We didn't see POPLYFE since we were outside the tent, but the recap seemed like a brutal performance. We could hear it from our TV in the tent. I'm wondering what happened with them. It'll be interesting to watch this show when it airs here in Cali to see what it was like.
7:21 p.m.
The judges are here. They are going down the press line. Will be talking with Howie first, then Piers, then Sharon.
7:53 p.m.
Some reporters just don't know when to shut up. Takes forever to get the judges. I tell Howie what "Swaggerville" is before we start taping. I also have Piers go over and hit Howie as he's doing an interview. Sharon tells me she has 17 pets and I tell her I'll have my BlackBerry with me tomorrow to show her my dogs.
8:16 p.m.
Still waiting for POPLYFE and the Silhouettes. They appear on the red carpet but then get pulled away to take the popcorn lounge segment. They will rejoin us much later.
8:39 p.m.
Last but not least the final two acts come out. POPLYFE's singer maintains she didn't stumble and doesn't know why Sharon is saying that. The group of kids is very energetic and talks over each other. They are asked about their style and song selection.
8:43 p.m.
The charming group from Colorado -- well, two people from it anyway -- explain what happened when the "technical difficulty" halted the show. They have great energy and the little girl with the choreographer can't stop smiling. I think she has been very well trained for a beauty pageant.
9:15 p.m.
Just back at the hotel with a pizza on the way and lots of audio and pics to edit.
10:29 p.m.
Web content uploaded and radio audio being edited for tomorrow morning's shows.
