Australia's Got Talent is an Australian reality television show, based on the original UK series, claiming to find new talent. The fifth season premiered on the Seven Network on 3 May 2011 and ended on 2 August 2011, where singer Jack Vidgen was crowned the winner of Australia's Got Talent, while illusionist Cosentino became runner-up. Judges Dannii Minogue, Kyle Sandilands, and Brian McFadden returned for the series, as well as host Grant Denyer.
The producer auditions took place in 16 cities across Australia, and ran from October to December 2010. The successful acts from these auditions were then invited back for a second audition in front of the judges and a live audience. These auditions were held in February and March 2011 in four major cities, including one day in Gold Coast and Perth, two days in Sydney, and three days in Melbourne. From over 200 successful auditionees, only 48 acts were selected for the semi-finals. The six semi-final shows began on 31 May 2011 and ended on 5 July. Introduced, was a new format to the show where three acts from each semi-final would advance through to the next round. In previous years only two acts have made it through each semi-final.
One of the most notable performances was by Jack Vidgen, a 14-year-old singer who sang a rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" for his audition. His performance earned a standing ovation from both the judges and the audiences, and has received more than 1.5 million views on YouTube. Vidgen has since been dubbed Australia's answer to Justin Bieber, and has also attracted international and local interest. The show had also sparked controversy, with accusations of contestant Jordan Paris plagiarising other comedians' jokes in his audition, and reports of contestant Chooka Parker's incident backstage following his elimination from the show.
Auditions
The producer auditions took place in 16 cities, throughout New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. These auditions began on 17 October 2010 and ended on 12 December 2010. The successful acts from the auditions were then invited to a second audition in front of the judges and a live audience. These auditions began in Gold Coast on 19 February 2011, followed by three days in Melbourne from 25 February 2011. They also took place in Sydney on 12–13 March 2011, and ended in Perth on 20 March 2011.
Semi-finalists ParticipantGenreActFromSemi-FinalResultAdam HynesMusicSingerCairns5FinalistAfrikan WarriorsPerformingAcrobatic Group Launceston5Semi-finalistBree De Rome MusicSingerGold Coast1FinalistBelle AirPerformingAerial DuoSydney4Semi-finalistBenchmarkMusicSinging GroupGold Coast2FinalistBen PriceComedyComedianMelbourne3FinalistBeau SargentPerformingContortionistPerth5Semi-finalistClara HelmsSingingOpera Singer Perth5Semi-finalistChooka ParkerMusicPianist Red Lion, Victoria2FinalistCapreeMusicSinging Group Sydney3Semi-finalistCosentinoPerformingIllusionist Lysterfield South, Victoria2Runner-UpDeep BlueMusicOrchestra Gold Coast1Semi-finalistDan ConwayMusicSingerTamworth, New South Wales3FinalistDangerboy & IvyPerformingSideshow DuoNewcastle, NSW2Semi-finalistDash & D'BreeComedy Entertainers Melbourne1Semi-finalistDavid De VitoSingingOpera SingerGold Coast3FinalistFiona MariahSingingOpera Singer Perth1Semi-finalistHazel PhillipsPerformingEntertainerGold Coast2Semi-finalistInstant BunDancingDance TroupeVarious locations4FinalistJack VidgenSingingSinger Manly Vale, New South Wales1WinnerJesse EmmanuelMusicSinger Coffs Harbour6Semi-finalistJordan ParisComedyComedianGold Coast5Semi-finalistKLD X–treme Air ForceDancingCheerleading Group Melbourne2Semi-finalistKy BaldwinDancingTap Dancer Sydney6Semi-finalistLiam BurrowsSingingSinger Sydney4FinalistMac-CussionMusicPercussion Group Brisbane4Semi-finalistMajesticPerformingContortionist Brisbane6FinalistMeriden RhythmixPerformingGymnastics Group Strathfield3Semi-finalistMisfits Stunt CrewPerformingStunt TeamAdelaide3Semi-finalistMatty ShieldsGymnasticsPole Dancer Sydney1Semi-finalistMatty "The Bandit" WhiteMusicRapperCoonabarabran, New South Wales5FinalistPete the Kabar RockstarSingingSingerBoonah, Queensland4Semi-finalistRock 'n' Roll Ropers DancingJump Rope TeamQueensland1Semi-finalistRod CollinsMusicHarmonica Player Cairns4Semi-finalistRod "The Old Fella" GregoryComedyComedianMaitland, New South Wales4FinalistReplicatorsMusicBand Sydney4Semi-finalistSKBDancingDance Group Sydney6Semi-finalistSteve RomigMusicSinger Tootgarook2Semi-finalistStuart BigginsSingingSingerAlbury, New South Wales6FinalistSisters and MistersMusicChoir Melbourne5Semi-finalistTaiko DrumMusicPercussion Group Hobart, Tasmania6Semi-finalistTeam RocketDancingDance DuoCairns1FinalistThe Flying LotahsPerformingPole Acrobat DuoBrisbane6Semi-finalistTimomaticSingingSingerSydney6FinalistTom WardMusicGuitaristTasmania3Semi-finalistThomas CraneSingingSingerPerth3Semi-finalistUprisingMusicBandMansfield, Victoria2Semi-finalistWayne RogersPerformingDrag Singer Sydney5Finalist
Semi-final summary Buzzed out | Judges' vote |
Semi-final 1 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult Fiona Mariah 1 Rock 'n' Roll Ropers 2 Bree De Rome 3 Matty Shields 4 Dash & D'Bree 5 Team Rocket 6 Deep Blue 7 Jack Vidgen 8
Semi-final 2 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult KLD X–treme Air Force 1 Hazel Phillips 2 Dangerboy & Ivy 3 Steve Romig 4 Uprising 5 Benchmark 6 Cosentino 7 Chooka Parker 8
Semi-final 3 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult Thomas Crane 1 Ben Price 2 Meriden Rhythmix 3 David De Vitto 4 Tom Ward 5 Capree 6 Misfits Stunt Crew 7 Dan Conway 8
Semi-final 4 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult Replicators 1 Mac-Cussion 2 Rod Collins 3 Instant Bun 4 Pete the Kabar Rockstar 5 Rod "The Old Fella" Gregory 6 Belle Air 7 Liam Burrows 8
Semi-final 5 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult Sisters and Misters 1 Afrikan Warriors 2 Clara Helms 3 Beau Sargent 4 Adam Hynes 5 Matty "The Bandit" White 6 Jordan Paris 7 Wayne Rogers 8
Semi-final 6 Semi-FinalistOrderBuzzes and Judges' VoteResult Ky Baldwin 1 Stuart Biggins 2 The Flying Lotahs 3 Jesse Emmanuel 4 Taiko Drum 5 SKB 6 Majestic 7 Timomatic 8
Notes Due to the majority vote for Majestic, Minogue's voting intention was not revealed. Due to complications, The Flying Lotahs had to perform outside the studio; the judges were required to be in person to view the performance, and used hand-carried signs in place of their buzzers, though they never used them.
Finals summary The "Order" columns lists the order of appearance each act made for every episode.
Key Buzzed out Judges' choice
Final showdown 1 OrderFinalistActBuzzes and Judges' votesResult 1Chooka ParkerPianist Lost judges vote2Bree De RomeSinger/GuitaristEliminated3Ben PriceComedianWon public vote4David De VitoOpera SingerWon public vote5Instant BunDance Troupe Won judges vote6Dan ConwaySinger/Guitarist Eliminated7MajesticContortionist Eliminated8Jack VidgenSinger Won public vote9CosentinoIllusionist Won public vote
Notes 1 David De Vitto, Cosentino, and Jack Vidgen were the three acts who won the public vote. 2 The judges then had to choose a fourth act to go through to the grand-final. Judges' votes (revealed in order) McFadden: Ben Price Minogue: Chooka Parker Sandilands: Instant Bun
As their votes were a tie, the result went to the public vote. It was then revealed that the act who received the most votes was Ben Price.
Final showdown 2 OrderFinalistActBuzzes and Judges' votesResult 1Stuart BigginsSingerEliminated2Team RocketDance DuoLost judges vote3Liam BurrowsSinger Won public vote4BenchmarkSinging GroupWon judges vote5Adam HynesSinger/GuitaristEliminated6Matty "The Bandit" WhiteRapperWon judges vote7Wayne RogersDrag SingerEliminated8Rod "The Old Fella" GregoryComedianWon public vote9TimomaticSinger/DancerWon public vote
Judges' first vote (revealed in order) McFadden: Matty "The Bandit" White Minogue: Benchmark Sandilands: Matty "The Bandit" White
As McFadden and Sandilands both voted for Matty "The Bandit" White, he won the first judges vote.
Judges' second vote (revealed in order) Sandilands: Benchmark Minogue: Benchmark
As Sandilands and Minogue both voted for Benchmark, they won the second judges vote. It is unsure who McFadden would have voted for.
Final Key
OrderContestantActFinished1Liam BurrowsSinger 5th place2Instant BunDance Troupe10th place3Ben PriceComedian8th place4David De VittoOpera Singer 9th place5Matty "The Bandit" WhiteRapper6th place6Rod "The Old Fella" GregoryComedian4th place7TimomaticSinger/Dancer3rd Place8BenchmarkSinging Group7th place9Jack VidgenSinger Winner10CosentinoIllusionist Runner-Up
Notes Vidgen was awarded the grand prize of $250,000. Guest performers on the grand final decider show were Justice Crew and Jessica Mauboy.
Reception
Controversies Comedian Jordan Paris, who made it through to the semi-finals, was accused of plagiarising his jokes in his audition, of which he performed a routine about English singer Robbie Williams. On 26 May 2011, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that the same routine was performed by English comedian Lee Mack in 2007 on the British stand-up comedy show Live at the Apollo. Paris said he was aware of Mack's work but did not rip off his routine, stating "comedy's a funny thing. Obviously there are a lot of people doing a lot of things, but a joke's a joke. If it's making people laugh then I'm happy." That same day, Brisbane Times also reported that the other half of Paris' routine – about his three requirements for dating a woman – had been lifted from a routine by US comedian Geoff Keith.
After losing the judges' votes in the first final showdown, host Grant Denyer tweeted that Chooka Parker reportedly took the news of his elimination very badly. Parker was reportedly banging windows and doors after losing the grand final spot to dance troupe Instant Bun. He was then warned by studio security before driving off with his parents before the show ended. A spokeswoman for the Seven Network told The Daily Telegraph, "Chooka's family have acquired a TV since he became part of the show and he has understood how the show and fame works since he started... He was upset when Brian said his routine had not developed enough and later went upstairs to the edit suite and blamed them for ruining his performance and he became a bit physical, slamming his hand into a window."
Many of the above cited newspaper stories were grossly exaggerated with Chooka admitting later that although he had been upset it did not happen as the tabloids had argued. Instead Chooka was upset because "The producers took out a crucial part of my song. They pretty much destroyed my piece. I went backstage to ask them why they did it but they wouldn’t listen to me. I just hit the window, I definitely didn’t wrap my hand in a jumper and smash it. I’m not two-faced, what I said on stage I meant. All I want from my music is to make people happy", Chooka said. "You’ve got to hear my music from start to end. By changing it they made it sound as if I had made a mistake. Not winning the show wasn’t too disappointing, winning was never a dream. I just wish they hadn’t cut my song." explains Chooka."Chooka Parker denies Dummy Spit" The Courier Mail 17 year old Bree De Rome continued in her success from AGT 2011 and was managed by Adam Wilkinson (5 Seconds Of Summer)recording her first EP at Studio 31 and distributed By MGM, De Rome made an appearance on various programs including Love Child.
Contestants