Devil In Disguise? Howard Stern Shows Softer Side In America's Got Talent Debut
May 14 2012, Published 2:00 p.m. ET
Breaking Celebrity News Staff Writer
Howard Stern made his highly-anticipated debut on NBC's America's Got Talent's seventh season premiere Monday night, and he showed his charming, articulate side to a mainstream audience that might associate him with potty humor, strippers and sideshow freaks.
In weeks leading up to the premiere, the Parents Television Council called for a boycott on the show's advertisers based on Howard's "decades-long penchant for profanity" and assumption he'd "conduct himself in precisely the same manner as he has done for decades."
On Monday, his conduct was just fine, as the Private Parts star showed he was ready very serious about evaluating the country's hopefuls, and not doing a prime-time version of his randy radio program.
"These executives at NBC must be out of their mind taking a risk on me!" said the radio legend, who was famously fired from the Peacock network's radio division in 1985 after repeated clashes with management. "I say I won't make it through the first show -- what do you think?"
The King of All Media made it through with flying colors however -- showing his chops as a judge after years of discourse about shows such as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars on his radio show -- with well-spoken assessments of the contestants and what they brought to the table.
After the dance troupe Light Wire Theater took the stage, Howard delivered a touching soliloquy to the hard-working performers.
"We are the greatest country in the world," he said. "We have the most creative people. You're everything that makes America great. I applaud your originality, and I thank you for li