Union Suits on America's Got Talent?! Really?

Union Suit Fans, did you happen to watch NBC's America's Got Talent, Season 19, this past summer, featuring Simon and Heidi, Howie and Sofia? If you did, maybe you caught Episode 7 where two boys from Japan appeared in their union suits. I had not seen that before on this show. Their contibution was absolutely fantastic and the audience and judges eventually went wild. In fact, Sofia, pushed the golden buzzer as she was so taken with them and their performance.

The duo go by the stage name of "Schumacher" (for some reason) and had perfected their talent over the past ten years. It was the first time Yuya Gomi and Ryu Taro had ever even been in the United States. There they were, standing on stage in front of America's most famous judges and an overflow theatre crowd, dressed smartly in matching suits and dress shirts. Would they dance, sing, do magic?  Well, no. But their act WAS magic. 

After introduction by the judges, all of a sudden, Taro starts pulling off his clothes and shoes. His shirt and vest come off, followed by his pants. In the meantime, Gomi walks off behind a black curtain that had been previously erected....

In the blink of an eye, Taro strips down to a white union suit! Gomi returns with an animal mask. Taro takes a seat in just his long underwear as the audience stare in questionable wonder. 

 

Suddenly, holding the mask over his partner's head, Gomi drops the mask on to Taro's head who quickly erecs his body into a sort of standing crab position.

The result? A boy is transfigured into a dog!  

That's what I said, a dog. To everyone's surprised, a canine now stands in front of Gomi, America and the world?

Taro barks as the mask tongue wags happily. Simon, the audience, 

and I, at home, break into hysterical laughter while Sophia gazes at the transformation, a bit puzzled.

A dog in a union suit? Amazingly unique! 

As the dog mask is removed, the boys jump to their feet, receiving long exuberant applause....

Taro, in his white long underwear, is triumphant!

But, they are not finished. Taro begins frantically wrapping black electrical tape over his union suit, placing it all around his arms, legs and torso: 

 

Gomi returns to the curtain while the crowd anticipates the possibility of another masked marvel....Taro continues wrapping black tape over his white underwear....

Gomi does return with another mask as Taro takes his previous position on the stage floor: 

A new mask, this one black striped, is purposely dropped on Taro's head and "presto," a zebra stands there on all fours as the crowd and judges go crazy! 

 

The boys rise to accept another robust accolade from the audience.

Taro removes the tape from his union suit and dispenses with the zebra mask while Gomi heads back to his curtain.  What's next?!?!

 

Well, you'll need to watch for my posting of Part II of Amercia's Got Talent to see what these boys, known as "Schumacher," have planned next. If you can't wait, find this episode on NBC Universal / Peacock or simply google this very talented duo.

You'll not want to miss what comes next!

 SLINGing Fools 

  

Have you seen the latest Sling TV Commercial?  "The Permed" is busted out of jail by his two compadres, Sling and Crazy who had dynamited his jail cell right in front of the sheriff. 

The threesome go on a rampage across the desert, 

seeking a streaming service that allows them to choose their very own TV channels....

 

Shortly, they run across an old prospector, clad only his hat, union suit and boots, not prospecting but rather doing of all things, watching TV. 

 

Why he's wearing no clothes and sits there in only his long underwear is never revealed. I suppose it's anyone's guess because it is not evident in this commercial!  Perhaps he traded in his burro and clothes for that new television set.

 

Suddenly, Sling slings his lasso while Crazy and The Permed take notice.  The rope loops around the poor old man's television. 

 

 

His TV is jerked away from where it sat, out and away from the old gold miner...

 

Astonished, he jumps up and down exceedingly irate....

and proceeds to do a pretty funny jig in his union suit! 

 

 

Losing his hat...

he screams to the heavens asking for mercy and the return of his TV.

Not many tv commercials contain actors in their union suits. So when one does, it is worth sharing. Take a took.  Thanks to Sling for entertaining us union suit fans.

BLOGGER'S NOTE: I'll be taking a short sabbatical but beginning in mid-October, watch for more union suit postings in Union Suit Fans in the Limelight, including scenes from The Great Race with the late, great Donald Sutherland:

and the long awaited, Escanaba in da Moonlight, starring Jeff Daniels!

Hey, Union Suit Fans!  Can it be The Great Bob Dillon all set for his next concert, wearing Union Suit Underwear?!?! 

A little tight in the seat, don't you think?  Talk about shrinkage!  Time for new underwear!