America’s Got Talent: a New Circus is Coming to Town

America’s Got Talent: a New Circus is Coming to Town–New Season, New Cast Additions, New Attitudes by Roxanne McDonald

Jerry Springer and Sharon Osbourne come in to replace Regis Philbin and Brandy Norwood. How will the changes re-shape “America’s Got Talent”?

New York Post notes that because Regis Philbin—original host of “America’s Got Talent”—found it too much to travel from New York to L.A. to do both his show and “…Talent,” Regis gave up the latter: “I’ve had a great time working with everyone on ‘America’s Got Talent…,” he told press, but, “Unfortunately, since the show is taped in Los Angeles, I underestimated the impact the heavy travel schedule would have on my daily syndicated talk show.”

Enter replacement, Jerry Springer. E! News quotes the name that has been on nearly every tongue at one point another, as he says, “I’ve been around some of America’s most talented individuals on my talk show for the last sixteen

years, so I’ll feel right at home hosting ‘America’s Got Talent.’”
Says Senior VP of alternative programming development and specials for NBC Entertainment, Craig Plestis, “Jerry Springer is the perfect ringmaster to harness all the incredibly diverse talent of America’s Got Talent under one big tent.”

“To say the least, he is known for presiding over an unpredictable show where the unexpected is the typical order of the day,” noted Plestis.

Producers Simon Cowell and others also heralded the arrival of Sharon Osbourne, who would replace Brandy. The R&B star is dealing with lawsuits brought on after her involvement in an automobile accident that killed 38-year-old married mother of two, Awatef Aboudihaj, in December of 2006. So Sharon Osbourne has been called in to replace her.

According to Celebrity Spider,
Cowell thought Brandy’s return would be “incredibly uncomfortable.” Co-producer Ken Warwick agreed that the car crash and lawsuit would have “probably played on the audience’s mind.”

But so far, there are issues with the replacements. Or one of them: while Osbourne had worked on the British show produced by Cowelll, The X Factor, and Cowell was thinking how Sharon would “happily tackle the outspoken tabloid journalist,” Piers Morgan, saying that Morgan is “actually very annoying and someone has to tell him that,” the two Brits are embattled already.

Piers says Sharon “keeps walking off the set in fury, calling me disgusting.”

Still, Plestis and crew (according to Zap2It) acknowledge how “Sharon Osbourne is show business personified, and she has seen and done it all.” Plestis says, “She will make an excellent fit with David and Piers, who we’re delighted to have back for another great season.”
So while Jerry is ready to do his thing as the new host, though he says “no one can replace Regis,” Sharon apparently is ready to crank on the cranky Piers. As Reality TV World reports, “America’s Got Talent” executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “We’re very excited about our new ensemble of judges and host this season…. I’m certain this extraordinary and dynamic group will prove most entertaining to our growing audience.”

Will we have more outrageous acts? Will the judging serve as Simon squared? Let the circus begin!

“America’s Got Talent” season two begins Tuesday, June 5th.

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