Ansley Burns – Tween singer – Last time, Simon made her sing Aretha twice. She prepared hard for this, so she does not have to sing again.. Simon's fake southern accent (imitating Ansley) is atrocious. Yikes. She's very perky and personality plus. She could do Disney shows. Her singing, however is just so so. She performs Carrie Underwood's "Good Girl" and it's flat and yelly. Simon didn't like the track (again!) Once again, he asks her to sing a'cappella. It's a little better without the track. Gabrielle says she blew it out of the water. Ellie is impressed by her poise. Simon loves her personality. "I think you've got something special," he says. "Think she's someone we could help," he says as an aside.Light Balance Kids – Kid version of Light Balance show – The group is from Ukraine and range in age from 11 to 13. Tweens! The young spokesperson speaks very good English. Once again, the group delivers a fun and energetic performance that is a modern meld of dance and computer generated effects. The kids' ode to America earns them a standing ovation. Hm. Julianne says they stepped up the creativity and innovation. Howie likes the kids better than the adults. Simon calls it brilliant. "I think you could be stars," he says. IT'S COMING IT'S COMING. Hence my earlier "hm." Honestly I wrote that in real time. Ellie muses "If only there was a sure fire way we could get you to the live show." Here it comes: "THERE IS she shouts as she smashes her Golden Buzzer." Aw. The kids are crying their eyes out.

Stephanie's Child – Drag girl group not highlighted during auditions –  Check out piece from OUT. The trio backed up The Voice contestant and drag queen Chris Weaver on the season 13 finale in 2017. Simon buzzed their audition. Yet they are back. They're clapping back at Simon…and he likes it. They are good singers, though. Impressive harmonies! But again, Simon hits his buzzer. He's gunning for a reaction, and that's all. What a set up. Howie loved it and will fight for them. "I couldn't listen to that screaming any longer," says Simon. "I love a wrong opinion!" chirps one. Gosh, it's like we've time travelled to the mid-aughts version of American Idol. 

Nick and Lindsay – Husband/wife knife throwing act – Simon did criticize Nick's opera trilling last time. He sings while doing a host of dangerous stuff, including laying on a bed of nails while Lindsay places a concrete block on his belly. She hits it with a fire lit mallet.It ends with a little knife throwing…and violin. Howie loved that there was…so much. Apparently, there was some butt action. Edited out of the clip, of course.. Julianne thinks they are fun. Ellie wonders how Nick is alive. Simon calls it "fantastically nuts." He wasn't even thinking of the singing this time. The act is pretty ridiculous. Absurdity is the only thing that holds it together–their skills are really weak.

Andrei & Alexander – Acrobatic duo not highlighted during the auditions – And not really highlighted here, either. Julianne and Simon are generally complimentary. But, obviously a no. 

Melissa Arleth – Circus performer works with trained rats – Forty year old travels all over the country in her trailer–with her sweet and lovable rats! They are also super smart, she claims. The sewer rats prove that all the time. Ellie does not like rats. And does not want to meet one! I hear ya, girl. Uh oh. The rat, Maricella, won't play tonight. Melissa finally coaxes her to enter a colorful maze, and the act recovers. Sort of. Melissa uses her body as part of the maze. It's amusing. The rat finishes fine, raising the American flag. Ellie has changed her mind about rats. Gabrielle loved it. But Simon says it wasn't enough to advance to the Dolby.

MacKenzie – Singer – Thirty one year old singer has been chasing the dream. He suffered a vocal hemorrhage, and nearly lost his voice.  He sank into a depression. But he got a second chance! He sings a piano ballady version of "Faithfully" by Journey. The arrangement shows off his voice. He's got quite the impressive range. He better be careful with those big notes, or he'll hurt his voice again. MaKenzie delivered the kind of performance that impresses singing show judges. Ellie called his joy undeniable. "It was raw, it was you." Julianne says the performance felt pushed. She has a point. I would not call that effortless. But Simon thinks it's amazing. Which is all that counts! He likes that it was raw and real and "the best singer we've had tonight." Gabrielle says that she understands a familiar song in a whole different way. 

It's time for RESULTS! I am really surprised that Carmen Carter advanced. She's a fairly generic diva singer. She does have a big personality, which Simon loves. So there is that. Gonzo was a stupid choice. His tambourine act has already worn extremely thin. For entertainment value, the judges could have chosen the talented drag queens Stephanie's Child. Also, it's criminal that highly skilled acrobats, Duo MaintenanT were passed over for the mediocre knife throwers Nick and Lindsay. Even the rat act, Melissa Arleth, was better. 

My heart broke for young singer Ansley Burns who sobbed and sobbed and sobbed after her elimination. At least she got a hug from Simon! Hm. I say it over and over–kids should not be subjected to these high pressure TV competitions.

Next week, Jay Leno joins the judges panel. 

RESULTS

Light Balance Kids – Ellie's Golden Buzzer
Greg Morton – Comedian/impressionist
Marcin Patrzalek – Teen Guitar wiz
MaKenzie – Singer 
Carmen Carter – Diva singer
Nick and Lindsay – Opera and Knife Throwing
Gonzo – Japanese Tambourine dude2 <---IMO?? dumb!!!!!!!