by Wilfred Okiche

Season 3 of the hit reality TV show, Peak Talent Hunt, gets under way as the last 12, chosen after the zonal finals, move into the Peak Talent House. After receiving some tutoring and mentoring from experts in the music and dance scene all week long, the final 12 came out to show the judges (Dayo “D-One” Adeneye, Oreka Godis and OJB Jezreel) just how good they are.

Here is how they are fared:

Comedian Shortcut was up first and he regaled the audience with joke after joke, even trying on D1 for size. Judges hailed his originality and ability to keep it fresh at all times. Immaculate took on Alexandra Burke’s version of the much covered ‘Halleluyah’ and a leery D-One couldn’t help himself – she was “romancing the mic,’’ he blurted, adding for good measure, “and caressing the song’’.

Some other things he said – we cannot begin to comprehend.

The Plus One threesome delivered a spirited routine that was shaky at first but picked up with time and the judges told them as much. They also expressed pride at Chima John’s remarkable improvement but urged him to work harder on his rap. Amadi Jane Frances brought the energy from start to finish and Oreka said she ‘’owned the stage’’.

“She was “romancing the mic,’’ he blurted, adding for good measure, “and caressing the song’’.

Bernard John played some of today’s most popular hits with his violin and Oreka called him a firecracker. D-One declared that once he gets home, he was handing one of his sons a violin (If only we believed him) .

M-Factor’s delivery was almost pitch perfect and OJB declared him the clearest rapper of the night. Victoria Bassey sang a song for mama but failed to impress the judges much. Then Isiave Phinia slummed through a rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Man down’, but the judges inexplicably found it to their taste. Question mark.

Their weird tastes further came to the fore when they gave Ejiro Elvis, a singer who had one of the night’s  best performances, a lukewarm reception. After hitting those high notes?!

They then applauded a similar performance – absent the high notes. Mercy, Lord.

Thankfully, the show came to a winning close with drummer Jeremiah Olaleke proving that instrumentalists can entertain as well as vocalists.

Nine contestants progress to the next round.

Remember to vote via text messaging to keep your favourites in contention. Who’s yours?

Oluwapelumi