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Howard Stern to breathe new life in tired reality TV offerings, AGT back May 14

By April MacIntyre May 14, 2012, 13:51 GMT

AGT\'s Howard Stern - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Self-deprecating, honest and quick on his feet, the decidedly un-PC shock jock Howard Stern will make the previously stale America's Got Talent, mired in predictable groaners from the former judge Piers Morgan.

Stern speaks what people think, and his off the cuff remarks are usually howlers. Despite some pressure from parent's groups, NBC was clever to have him join the reality TV competition.

"What a crazy idea, to put me on a family show -- someone on NBC should be fired for that," Stern said to Matt Lauer on TODAY.

Stern criticizes the judge panel on American Idol during his interview.

He cites his "tough" dad who critiqued him early in his career.

Stern's also a fan of many reality TV competitions, analyzing them on his radio show.

"I merely wanted to go on and be a very serious judge," he continued. "And what we found as we traveled all over the country that it turns out, I'm the judge that everyone agrees with."

Telling Lauer that not everyone is wonderful, he vowed to change the feel good namby pamby remarks so many reality judges (Jennifer Lopez we're talking to you) lob. Stern tells of his moment with a 7-year-old rap hopeful who started to cry after the new judge X'ed him out of the running.

"Well, of course, I felt horrible inside," Stern recalled. "I don't know the rules. I walked up on stage and I hugged him and I calmed him down. ... "Matt, what am I Frankenstein? ...I'm a compassionate person, I raised three daughters..."

Stern kept Lauer off-kilter through the entire interview: "I'm honored to be on the TODAY show. I never get to be at the TODAY show. Matt and I are personal friends. We sit at my home, we drink wine, and we evaluate the TODAY show."

"I liked when Al Roker was fat, compared to how he is today!"

America's Got Talent returns to NBC for its seventh season on May 14.

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