Over the weekend I was viewing Comcast on demand (not a plug, although if they want to comp my cable they’re welcome to) when I saw an ad for the new “America’s Got Talent” with Howard Stern. I actually got excited to see the show and tried to watch it on demand, but all they have are previews as it doesn’t come out until next Monday, May 14th. For the past few seasons they had Piers Morgan on the judging panel in the place that Howard has taken, and Piers was a buzzkill. He played the mean judge, but he came off as a humorless ass, in my opinion. Howard will tell it like it is and you know that he won’t mince words, and he won’t be mean for mean’s sake. I don’t listen to his show regularly, but from what I know about him he’ll bring some new energy to AGT. (That’s what they were touting in the ads, and I was sold I’ll admit.) I think he’ll boost ratings quite a bit too. That might not be enough for the show’s revenue, as a conservative group is urging advertisers to boycott America’s Got Talent now that Stern is on board. Here’s the story, thanks to TMZ:
The Parents Television Council is seething with anger over Howard Stern’s new gig on “America’s Got Talent” … so they fired off a scathing letter to ALL the show’s sponsors, threatening them to cut ties or face their wrath.
TMZ obtained a letter — written by the PTC — that was sent to a whopping 91 advertisers and commands them NOT to invest their millions with NBC’s tent-pole talent show … because they feel Howard Stern will corrupt America’s children with his provocative ways.
In the letter, PTC cites Stern’s violent and crude language as reasons to boycott the show, quoting his comments on former “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino: “Hey Fantasia, you’re not getting little boys hard. Nobody’s beating off to you. Little boys want boners. They want a Britney Spears or a Rihanna.”
The PTC blasts Stern’s talent-judging qualifications — saying he’s only an expert at “looking at insecure, naked young women and telling them whether or not they were hot enough to pose for Playboy.”
PTC’s threats can’t be taken too lightly … the advocacy group targeted MTV’s “Skins” and NBC’s “The Playboy Club” … and BOTH were later cancelled — though neither of them drew the ratings of ‘AGT.’
[From TMZ]
If Stern is saying offensive things on air during America’s Got Talent, then maybe some kind of boycott would make sense. These are things he said on the air on a satellite radio program geared for adults, I don’t think they should have any bearing on his ability to do his job as a judge on a network television show. Yes he’s a controversial figure, but he’s also a hugely successfully personality. He knows where the boundaries are and he’s likely to respect them. It seems really premature to stage a boycott due to his other job, and I hope advertisers are smart enough to realize that. Hopefully the ratings will be strong enough to quickly trump this controversy.
Howard and his wife Beth are shown outside The Late Show on 2-1-12 and in Southampton at an event on 8-20-11. Credit: WENN.com
They will have no impact. There will be other sponsors lined up if any should cave. Howard Stern will not bring his adult sthtick to the show. The other side of Howard is smart and very funny and as will be seen on the show compassionate. Howard lives and breathes shows like America’s Got Talent so will be invested in the auditions emotionally and not do anything to upset the network. He wants the show to succeed with him not fail because he was added. The ratings will be huge’and their boycott will be a nonstory.
I’ll only boycott the show if Howard asks the women to get bolt-ons or engage in bestiality.
“the ratings will be huge” lol how wrong you were. ratings are poor. no one cares about stern. he’s totally irrelevant. nbc won’t be re-signing him.
Its kinda hard to take the PTC seriously when they boycott everything..
I don’t know….I kind of agree and don’t think AGT is a goof platform for Stern. I’m a huge fan of his, but it’s a family show.
the PTC is like one person, some freak who follows Howards career and writes nasty letters demanding he be fired. No one should take this PTC crap seriously, even reporting it on TMZ gives that dude power. Funny, the end of the acronym stands for Council yet its one and a half weird people writing hate letters at someones place of employment demanding they be fired. ANYONE who is ANYONE knows what AGT has on their hands, the biggest hit ever on a network. Cannot wait for that dumb show that otherwise I would never have watched.
Howard is a smart guy and recognizes that different audiences have different needs and expectations. He’s not there to interview lesbians…and anyone who has heard his show in the last 5 years know that Howard has evolved considerably even on his own show. He has discussed AGT extensively and recognizes that his role is to judge, not to make this show HIS show.
I love Howard and his wife Beth for their work for North Shore Animal League. He speaks quite a lot about his aging bulldog, Bianca, and how sad it makes him to think of losing her. He and his wife had Bianca’s name tattooed on their arms recently because they were traveling for a few days and missed her so much. Some may find that silly, but I think it’s sweet and shows a lot about who he and his wife are as people.
I think it’s sweet too 🙂
If we were all judged so harshly because of our past, we’d never leave our homes.
Howard is awesome. He’s going to be great on the show. Period.
If one is truly rabid about free speech (as I am), one must – even at points 20 years apart – be somewhat happy when a high-profile person is pitted against those who favor censorship. The “adult entertainment” industry is vital in our society from this same perspective.
^THIS. X 1,000,000,000
As much as I like that a guy like Howard Stern exists to shake up old notions of entertainment and scandalize the conservative crowd, I have to say, personally, I don’t like his radio show. My boss plays his radio show every day in the office and it makes me so uncomfortable to hear him talking about….well, everything he talks about, while I’m working.
That said I’m glad they’re comfortable with adding a controversial figure to their show in spite of pressure not to. I just wont be watching.
I love Howard but even I can admit that his show is NSFW. Your boss has some balls..dang..
Yeah, its uncomfortable. Plus the other day the same boss told me that the things men look for in women are boobs first and nails second, so I’m officially in creepy mad men hell.
Howard Stern is irrelevant. He is neither smart nor compassionate, I don’t now where people come up with this stuff. He is just an act. Everything is about him and his wife and his money, period.
How hard is it to be a judge, come on, man. It’s just a gong show ripoff.
+1 🙂
Remember when he attempted to run for mayor of NYC some time ago and then dropped out when he realized he would have to disclose his finances; it upsets me to no end when the left comes to the defense of what are really self serving 1 per centers like Howard, there are better martyrs out there.
Jeez these people need to get a life. Maybe they should focus on the REAL
problems in society like child porn, over-sexualisation of girls, political corruption, you get the picture. NOT AGT, it’s a family show, of course it’s not going to turn into some sex-crazed stage show just cos he’s on it. Someone buy the PTC another brain cell, it’s clear the one they currently have isn’t functioning all too well.
Yay Howard! (Brain’s not working this morning, so I defer to the folks who’ve already posted wonderfully written acolades.)
I love Howard and normally did not watch AGT but I will now just because Howard is smart, savvy and funny.His satillite show is for paying adults. Let’s see how he shakes things up a bit…I can’t wait for the interplay between the judges!
I am actually looking forward to this season of AGT. Good job to whoever decided to persue him as a judge, you just gained a new viewer.
I don’t like the way he treats, talks about and talks to women.
I have a great disdain for conservative groups like this…they are, in my opinion, bullies. And, I don’t even like HS but he’s been in show business a lot of years I think he understands that their are different audiences.
HS is probably thrilled that the PTC wants the show boycotted! In his mind, this is just more ‘good publicity’.
Different take; no i won’t watch because these talent shows have beaten themselves into the ground; I don’t care for Howard or the PTC – as the great Keith RIchard opined in a USA today interview awhile back – he doesn’t watch talent shows – you want to make it, get a band together and go on the road for five years; don’t try to get lucky on some lame corporate created and sponsored “talent” show – and the stones’ music will be played long after the top twelve finalists in AI’s run are forgotten.
PTC is ridiculous, they complain and boycott show after show, and I don’t think they have any real effect.
If they want to review and put out parental guidelines to help people decide what their kids should and shouldn’t watch, great, but they’re just bullies always looking for a platform.
Howard Stern is misogynist garbage.
I totaly agree. Add racist to that list. I wouldn’t watch any show he was on.
Never seen AGT, will watch this year just for Howard 🙂
Don’t understand all these women who are defending Stern, when the man has spent his whole adult life objectifying women, making them second class citizens… I guess it would be OK for Howard to tell them they don’t give little boys boners….
i’ll never understand why they let the untalented judge at talent shows.