When Howard Stern announced that he was done with NBC’s America’s Got Talent, he suggested show creator Simon Cowell take his spot. Well, that’s exactly what is going to happen.
NBC announced today that executive producer Cowell will be a judge for the 11th season of AGT. He replaces Stern, who announced during the summer that season 10 would be his last.
“I am really thrilled to be joining America’s Got Talent next season,” Cowell said in a statement. “What I love about this show is that it’s open to absolutely anyone. America has some fantastic talent just waiting to be discovered, and I would like that talent to come to our show, including any dogs who can sing!”
To American audiences, Cowell is still the guy whose harsh criticism of singers helped American Idol become a cultural phenomenon. He was also a judge on the ill-fated U.S. version of The X Factor. In the U.K., he is also a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
AGT averaged 12.5 million viewers and a 2.9 18-49 rating for the Tuesday episodes during season 10. The show launched in 2006 and is now hosted by Nick Cannon. The other judges are comedian Howie Mandel, model Heidi Klum and former Spice Girls singer Mel B. (Yes, American talent will now be judged by a panel without any actual Americans.)
AGT typically starts new seasons in May and runs into September.