The Wall Street Journal reports that controversial satellite radio personality Howard Stern, who just helped get halfwit filmmaker Brett Ratner out of producing the Oscars, is negotiating to replace Piers Morgan as judge of NBC’s hit summer show “America’s Got Talent.”
Morgan, the toughest of the “Talent” judges, announced his departure on his Wednesday CNN show.
Stern, longtime friend of current “Talent” judges Sharon Osborne and Howie Mandel, is a huge fan of “Talent,” and has often railed against the lack of honesty among TV reality show judges (particularly the ones employed by “Amerosmith Idol”).
If Stern came aboard I suspect I would become “Talent’s” biggest fan, but here’s why it probably won’t happen.
Stern is contracted to continue his New York-based daily SiriusXM show for the next four years. “America’s Got Talent” shoots in Los Angeles. Stern hates flying and has rarely boarded an aircraft since 9/11.
On the other hand, Stern only does the satellite show Mondays through Wednesdays, and he already vacations during extended chunks of the summer. Would NBC be willing to drag Osborne, Mandel, host Nick Cannon and the rest of the “Talent” production to the East Coast?
“Talent” host Nick Cannon currently hosts the WXRK-FM morning slot long held by Stern, where he reportedly earns much, much lower ratings than Stern did six years ago.
A far less likely scenario would see Stern drag his enormous SiriusXM and OnDemand crews to Los Angeles.
Find the Jornal’s story on the matter here.
