ELKHORN – ‘America’s Got Talent” airs every week on TODAY’s TMJ4. Two of the semi-finalists are from Southeast Wisconsin.
Brothers Phil and Pat Smage enjoy hanging out with the goats on the family farm in Elkhorn, but their true love is a little bit louder, and a whole lot more dangerous.
The brothers ride Moto Trials, or stunt motorcycles.
“You take all the seemingly impossible stuff to ride over in front of you, and you try and ride over it without making a mistake,” Phil explains.
Pat adds, “The first time you see an obstacle you haven’t seen before you want to pick the technique that’s gonna get you up to the top the easiest way possible, that’s what practice as all about.”
Phil admits his younger brother Pat is a better rider.
“It’s true. I realize that everybody’s got their purpose in the show, and my purpose is showing the crowd how hard it really is,” Phil says.
Riding is in the Smage blood. Their parents met at a motorcycle show. Their mom Sharilyn still can’t believe it. “Little did I know that we would court and be married and have children, and have motorcycles still be an avid part of our life.”
She admits it’s not always easy to watch her sons do the dangerous stunts.
“They’ve had their share of injury… You have to have faith. I’ve been known to say–why can’t you just play the saxophone?” she laughs.
All the bumps, bruises, and broken bones are paying off. The brothers are semifinalists on NBC’s hit show ‘America’s Got Talent’!
“This show–it can change lives, has changed lives in the past,” Phil says
The brothers already have a traveling show, and perform across the midwest. Now, three tough judges and 14 million people are watching! Pat admits, “It’s been different, but I’m definitely glad we’ve been able to do it and do it together, and still in it, so definitely a bonus we’ve made it this far.”
The brothers hope to keep it all going.
“I’m still dreading that day that Piers looks to us without a smile on his face–don’t want to hear what he’s gonna say. I’m trying to stay away from that,” Phil says.
No matter what happens on the show, these brothers say it’s all been worth it, and they’ll never forget where they came from.
“It’s cool feeling having everybody behind us and supporting us, and watching the show and hopefully voting,” Phil exclaims.
The boys are scheduled to be back on the show next Tuesday, August 30, so be sure to tune in and vote!
Phil is also an accomplished snow skater, and has a production company at smagical.com.
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