This week, America’s Got Talent premiered and welcomed a new judge., Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed “King of All Media.”
“Welcome to ‘America’s Got Talent’ where dreams come true” said new judge Howard Stern during the premiere episode in which he judged a variety of acts alongside veteran judges Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.
After news broke that Stern would be judging the show, viewers waited patiently to see how it would pan out. Some secretly hoped it would be just like his spicy radio show while others crossed their fingers hoping it would be just the opposite.
Either way, the nation knew they were in for some entertainment with the addition of the shock jock and NBC knew they had hired a judge who would surely liven up the flailing talent show.
NBC was so determined to liven up the show with the addition of Stern that they promised him they would move production from California to New Jersey just to accommodate his busy schedule.
“I was particularly proud that when they moved the show to New York, I felt really glad for our local economy and to bring business into New Jersey I think is a good thing. I really feel like I should be given a hero’s parade in New Jersey — especially in Newark,” he said, according to NJ.com.
Stern surely entertained, though it wasn’t the kind of entertainment his fans were used to sans cursing or blurting out anything inappropriate during the episode. The toned-down judge did nothing short of compliment and comfort contestants, while staying honest the whole time.
In one scene, the 58-year-old took a liking to an act that combined dance and electronics into an amazing light show highlighting plants and dinosaurs.
“This is going to sound sappy and you’re going to make fun of me for saying this,” he said after the group’s performance, “We are the greatest country in the world, we have the most creative people. You are everything that makes America great, I applaud your originality.”
He added, “Thank you for lifting everyone’s spirits in this theater tonight.”
Check it out.
