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Local man cloggs onto television
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By WENDY MITCHELL Staff Writer
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ABERDEEN, Ohio -- It is a distinctive American form of folk dancing, sometimes called Hillbilly tap-dancing, but Aberdeen native Kenneth Fithen and his friends have taken their clogging talent to a national level of recognition.
Following an audition Wednesday, Kenneth Fithen and members of his dance team, "All That" have advanced to the next round on the newest television talent search program, "America's Got Talent," hosted by Regis Philbin, which airs on Wednesday nights on NBC.
Comments from the judges were all positive, said Kim Osborne.
Close to the group, Osborne kept track of the post audition conversation between the judges and the dance troupe.
"Your name speaks for itself; you guys are all that," said singer/judge Brandy,
"You guys are great and have a shot at winning the whole thing," was heard from actor/judge David Hasselholf.
Joking with the group, the third judge, newspaper editor Piers Morgan told members of All That, that he did not like it.
"The reason is that all the women in America are going to want you. You guys are what this show is all about." said Morgan.
Talent and luck are what appears to make the show popular. Viewers will have the ultimate decision in who wins the $1 million prize.
Luck has been with Fithen; he has received a multitude of awards at competitions and according to reports, in 2003 he was a passenger in a vehicle that overturned on Kentucky 8 in Augusta. The driver was seriously hurt, but Fithen was not injured.
Locally, family and friends are rooting for Fithen, and All That.
"I first saw him dance in Germantown when he was about 7 or 8 years old," said Roby Cooper, a family friend.
Another time, Cooper and several of Fithen's family members traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to see Fithen and All That perform at the Carolina Opry.
"Kenneth is very likable; all of the guys in the group are very polite and nice, they are all very talented and when they leave the stage they always get a standing ovation," said Cooper.
"America's Got Talent" is not the first time the five member group has been on television.
"A few years back they appeared on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon," said Cooper.
Fithen, 27, is the son of Harry and Linda Fithen of Aberdeen. He is a graduate of Ripley Union Lewis High School and holds a bachelor of mortuary science degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
A show performance photo of Fithen and All That can be seen on the "America's Has Talent" Web site at nbc.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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