Prince Poppycock takes on Jackie Evancho and tries opera on 'America's Got Talent'

We've been talking a lot on Culture Monster about Jackie Evancho, the 10-year-old who sings opera and is a fan favorite on NBC's "America's Got Talent." But with the competition nearly over, another performer seemed to be making a bid for our attention: Prince Poppycock.

Fun for the mouth to say and a scream to watch. Tuesday night in the "America's Got Talent" finals, he was at nearly equal odds with Michael Grimm for least likely to take home the $1 million.

Culture Monster was very much looking forward to his next opera sendup and pushed away the niggling worries brought on by the set and his costume choice.  When it became apparent that "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's opera "Turandot" was on the menu, we were filled with anxiety. (Many Culture Monster readers had hoped young Jackie would have sung that. She choose "Ave Maria.")

This aria requires a powerful voice and an earnest outpouring of emotion, neither of which are Poppycock's strengths.  His voice is light and agile -- perfect for Mozart or Rossini -- and winking your way through the final aria of a Romantic opera is just asking for trouble.

As it turned out, Tuesday night wasn't a shining moment for Poppycock, who has performed on Los Angeles stages. Trouble with the in-ear monitors aside, it was his repertoire choice that killed his chances.

Judge Piers Morgan disliked it so much that he buzzed during Poppycock's performance. While we wouldn't be entirely surprised to discover this was an attempt to inspire outraged supporters into voting, he did have a fair point. Poppycock does many things extremely well but there aren't many women who would accept a Louis XVI fop as a serious romantic lead, even in opera. What makes the character great is that it's a sendup of an opera singer's vanity and the decadence of the art form. In "Nessun Dorma," the fun was gone.

We wonder if Poppycock should be confined to the winking cheekiness of his previous performances or is it OK for him to explore more serious repertoire?

After the winner is announced Wednesday night, return to Culture Monster later to discuss the results.

-- Marcia Adair

Follow me on Twitter @missmussel

Photo: Prince Poppycock performs at the Cavern Club celebrity theater in the Casita Del Campos restaurant on April 7, 2009.  Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[cougarmommy]

I will not disagree that Poppycock's voice shines in pieces demanding twists and turns at a rapid pace but Piers' action (buzzing) was nothing short of the worst act of rudeness he could have perpetrated. I was willing to listen to Piers' criticism but he didn't have to jar the ear with that blasted buzzer. I was enjoying listening to the music.

[Beryl Crystal]

Excellent.. ha ha..

[Gay Boy]

With all that make-up, (Halloween) costumes, and his he/she talks, it's hard to take Prince Poppycock seriously!! I didn't say that he isn't talented, but for me and most of my friends, he's is just a fabulous drag queen. But Jackie Evancho is a true pure talent of this season. So for me, Jackie Evancho should win. Good luck, Jackie!

[annie]

I am amazed that such a beautiful voice comes out of this little girl, but on the other hand it kind of creeps me out. It is almost like it isn't real.

And for Pierce, how rude of him to do such a thing as to buzz Poppycock during his final performance.

[Pbernotis]

I agree, his rude "buzz" right prior to the best part in the act was terrible.

[A2Z]

He buzzed because he felt that PP's "performance" was not worthy of being included among the finalists and we happen to agree with him - it was basically a rape of a fine operatic aria and therefore a travesty.

[Nicole]

Don't understand why some people have strong aversion to performers who wear make-ups and costumes. What's wrong with it? It adds fun to the show and is part of art and the creation process. It is fully utilized in some other countries like Beijing opera (a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics.) Don't you think it's just boring to watch someone just stand there and sing? Embrace the diversity.

I also agree with everything @annie has said.

[walt kovacs]

piers got the cnn gig...he wont be returning to either bgt or agt

so how does a showman go out in style? with tons of controversy

people will be watching tonite hoping that popinfresh won, just to spite piers

people will tune into his show on cnn...hoping he falls on his face

and watch for simon cowell to ride in on his white horse to take piers' place next summer...after he announces that he is quitting all the brit shows

btw, prince popinyourmouth cannot sing opera, and his attempt was a joke

had he tried that in the original audition, he would have been booted

[Jesse]

Prince Poppycock's singing sounded great to me. The buzz was a farce. He buzzed him just at the moment before he set up the final note. That was the biggest cheap shot I have seen in my life.

When people critique performances, I would prefer they be specific. Specify the notes missed, and the flaws. I do not take vague descriptions, and generalizations seriously.

[Andrei]

IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A LAS VEGAS ACT, PRINCE POPPYCOCK SHOULD WIN. HE'S GREAT LAST NIGHT. PIERS MADE IN A MISTAKE IN BUZZING HIM. THIS IS THE FINALS, AMERICA DECIDES THEIR FATE. IF HE DOES NOT WIN, I AM BETTING FOR MICHAEL GRIMM

[Wally]

Amen, Prince Poppycock deserves to win. Jackie's voice will still change and we don't know coz she is still very young. Michael Grimm is a great singer, hope a recording company signs him up. Thank you.

[A2Z]

The difference, Nicole, is in HOW it is being sung. The buzzer was used by Piers not as much because of the way PP's act looked (though it may have been inappropriate to the material too) but mainly because of the way it sounded.

[Suzanne]

There's no doubt that all four of the finalists are talented...however, there's only one who can carry a Las Vegas Show (not a concert, not a music hall), and that is Prince Poppycock. The buzzing last night was despicable and unwarranted, especially given FG and JE made mistakes as well, and I'm praying the American audience makes up their own minds and doesn't rely on the opinion of one man who up until last night adored PP. John Quale is quite charming, very attractive, and immensely talented! And he's quick on his feet when it comes to one-on-one with the Judges! He's already a winner, but he should win AGT, hands down!

[Fiona Hemstock]

In this day and age, people cannot expect that what is considered "culture" should not also grow and expand to include new "findings" like Prince Poppycock.
He CAN sing, he is entertaining, he brings something to the audience and audiences who were never interested in music like the songs he interprets. Someone commented that they can't take him seriously. Well that is the point, who could take the modern version of Romeo & Juliet serious when it came out, starring Claire Daines? The point is, he brings something where others do not. GO PRINCE POPPYCOCK! Good for you for bringing something old into a refreshing new light!

[Janet Brown]

I've been thinking about Prince Poppycock's performance all day, and why I, like Mr. Morgan, was uneasy about it. I didn't dislike it the way Mr. Morgan did. Quite the contrary, I loved it. I was just afraid that it might hurt Poppycock's chances.
I believe that Mr. Morgan gave himself away on an earlier night when he said Prince Poppycock was becoming his "guilty little secret". It was fine as long as the gayness was a joke, but let the fantasy become beautiful and romantic, and all of a sudden, it became a little too uncomfortable. Why shouldn't a performer try to show range and variety? Prince Poppycock just has depths to him that have not all been revealed. I am one grandmother who thinks he is a lovely young man with serious talent laid down on a foundation of serious, formal study. I accepted him as a serious romantic without a problem. Serious romantacism doesn't have to be about one's sexual orientation, or sex at all.
I don't know of a more serious romantic than an imaginative child. I, a mature Virginia lady, was taken back to my childhood by Prince Poppycock's performance last night. For those few moments before the offensive buzzer, I found myself in that magical world of imagination. Its childlike dream quality caught me off guard.
It was only upon reflection today, that I realized he had taken me back to my childhood. I thought of my dreams of being a wild pony running across the prarie. I knew I wasn't really going to grow up to be a pony, but still it made me a bit sad. Likewise, I knew Peter Pan wasn't going to be flying into MY window, but I loved him just the same. Most of us grow up and "settle" more or less happily with an adult life and an adult job. We don't turn into ponies or fly out the window. Poppycock is one of the lucky ones. He grew up to be his dream. Now THAT"s a role model!

[CAH1964]

Piers is entitled to his opinion and gets paid to express it honestly, and I agree with him to a great extent. PP's final act was too serious, which is not his style and what makes him so entertaining. PP is in a class of his own with his humor and showmanship; but pit him against Jackie as a serious opera singer and it takes him down a notch, or two or three. It's also his right to ring the buzzer whenever he chooses. At least PP proved himself a competent performer by not getting thrown off by it.

[Synapse Associates]

I quite enjoyed the outrageous over-the-top style of PP. He is very entertaining, creative, and talented...and probably will end up in Vegas anyway.

But last night, he took a calculated risk in trying to beat front runner Jackie in singing opera. Either vanity or just bad strategy, it didn't pay off. He is quite a good singer but turned his act from fanciful whimsy into just a fop singing opera.

Also his gratuitous gay humor and double entendres that he inserted at least once in every after-performance interview grew tiresome. Perhaps he assumed the public thinks being gay is as cute as being an angelic 10 year old. Well, probably not so much.

[Bonnie]

I was disappointed in PP's not--at least once--performing without all the makeup and wigs. Did anyone catch Donna Sommer's glances at him while they were performing together? She looked frightened. At least once, with such a legend as her, I would've liked to see John's great-looking face sans makeup and his own great locks and NOT-- for Pete's sake, pink hair! He has an admirable voice. And re: his choice of songs--I thought he was choosing his aria based on Paul Potts' win of BGT a few years ago.

[David B.]

Prince Poppycock has better career-advancement opportunities than the bland Michael Grimm. As someone said, Grimm is a good lounge singer but not a headliner; he sounds like a weak Springstein. John Quale ("PP") is versatile, and goes his own unique way, which is often difficult for an artist. I can see Quale working in films or movies in different roles than the "PP" one, because he is full of genuine talent. Quale is the one to watch during coming months and years, not Grimm.

[Stan C.]

NBC should be ashamed and the show should be canceled.

Why allow a 10 year old child to perform, when there is no real chance of her winning even if she is the best? Why let any child on the show? Why not have a kids first place division? They were totally caught off guard. These shows are historically corrupt.. just like when Susan Boyle lost. The big shots did not think she was marketable. Who even remembers the act that won?

The only reason she did not win was because there was no way she could honor a Las Vegas contract. There are already complaints floating around that a lot of people could not get through to vote for her. The line was silent or busy at the peak calling time. I hope some hotshot entertainment reporter digs deep.

Although the others talents were exceptional, the show is about finding a star, not a popularity contest, or a vote for a sob story about your grand pappy needing a new house. I thought Jackie and Prince PC were the best. Nice raw talent, not a jazz singer, who is good, but not too uncommon.

Stan