Howard Stern Is the Real Star of ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Even Though He’s Just a Judge

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...got-talent-even-though-he-s-just-a-judge.html

Howard Stern Is the Real Star of ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Even Though He’s Just a Judge

Apr 13, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
In his debut as the newest judge on America’s Got Talent (Howie Mandel, we hardly knew ye), the much-mellowed shock jock owned the audience as the night’s real winner, writes Jake Heller, who got an exclusive look at the show.
They took the day off work, hopped in a brand new silver Honda Accord, cranked the radio, and drove more than 200 miles from Boston to New York City. Both left their wives behind, one of whom is eight months pregnant.
Yesterday morning, Paul Gimelberg and Avi Singh traveled to a taping of America’s Got Talent—a program they had never seen—to watch the talent show’s new judge, Howard Stern, “take over.” (Avi Singh isn’t his real name—he told his pregnant wife that he was going to a conference for work, so would like to remain anonymous.)
“Even if he says that it’s not going to be The Howard Stern Show,” Gimelberg said, “it’s going to be The Howard Stern Show.”
They listened to Stern’s radio show, known for its lewd content, the entire trip.
“Got to get pumped, man!” said Gimelberg, 29, who has listened to Stern since he was 11.
Outside the Manhattan Center Studios on 34th Street, next to a line of passengers waiting to catch a discount Bolt Bus to Philadelphia, a mass of people stretched back two avenue blocks, shuffling, sitting, or sipping free Snapple as they anticipated their entrance into the taping.
Scott Goldman, 56, bald, and pot-bellied, was first in line. “It’s going to be great tonight,” he said with a voice so hoarse it sounded like he had just been hooked up to a respirator of cigarette smoke. “I’ve been listening to him [Stern] since 1989.”
“This is going to put it [America’s Got Talent] through the roof,” added Pat Holdren, 60, who was waiting in line with her 44-year-old daughter, Sherry Pinamonti, and her granddaughters, 18-year-old Ashley and 16-year-old Melina Pinamonti—all Stern fans. “He’s charismatic, very intelligent, very charming,” Holdren said.

Howard Stern signs autographs for fans outside Ed Sullivan Theater before an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in New York on Feb. 1, 2012. , HRC / WENN.com
Sherry used to hate Stern—“because he was a misogynist”—but has come around to liking him. “He doesn’t have to be like that anymore,” she said. “People who don’t like him are going to see him on the show and they’re going to like him.”
Stern will bring legitimate star power to the judges’ table of America’s Got Talent, which until now has struggled to compete with other reality talent competitions like American Idol. The acerbic radio host is the latest in a string of established entertainers who have chosen to judge reality television; he doesn’t need the money and he doesn’t need the attention, but just happens to be a big fan of the show, which begins its new season May 14 on NBC.
Not two years ago, such seats were reserved for B-list celebrities or brash British men. But now, superstars like Steven Tyler and Christina Aguilera proudly pontificate after listening to singing performances on Idol and NBC’s new hit The Voice. Even Stevie Wonder is rumored to be a judge on a new reality singing show.
Is Stern ruining his reputation by taking a reality show judging gig? “I don’t think he is,” said 28-year-old Harrison Fox, who watched America’s Got Talent every week last summer and also happens to be a huge Howard Stern fan. “His whole thing is honesty.”
“I think he’s just doing it for his own enjoyment,” Fox continued, before adding: “I’m sure the money’s OK, too.”
Stern is replacing Piers Morgan—“a total a--hole, a real buttoned-up British guy,” according to Gimelberg—on a three-judge panel that also includes Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne.
As the crowd grew eager and impatient outside—one man with slicked-back hair and sunglasses yelled “Harry Potter! Holy shit!” at a bespectacled passerby, to much laughter—America’s Got Talent producers searched the crowd for people who didn’t like Howard Stern. They wanted “before and after” interviews.
“It’s impossible to find them,” one muttered to himself.
From the moment he was introduced to a raucous standing ovation last night, the lanky radio host took over this season’s first New York taping of America’s Got Talent.
To chants of “Howard! Howard!” Stern emerged from backstage wearing black jeans, a black leather jacket, a black scarf, sunglasses, and a smile that said, “This is my show now.”
“I’m the voice of honesty,” Howard Stern told the crowd. “I almost went into a coma here.”
He was controlled, calculated, and had the crowd at his fingertips. And he knew it: “This audience is thinking exactly what I’m saying,” Stern would tell one contestant.

Can you really be considered a "star" when you are judging a competition of jugglers and guys that can stick light bulbs up thier ass? Howie should be recognized as being a "star" for having a highly entertaining show on a daily basis...not for being a Hampton kiss-ass who now judges women that can wrap their thighs around their back and sing Ave Maria.

They're two giddy Howard Stern fans. How is this a news item?

I love when someone wants to be anonymous, so they don't reveal their name, but instead give information that will allow people to figure out who they are.

Lets face it, Howard has the it factor big time. Only a few in all of history have it...

I don't think he cares whether some random person on the internet thinks he's a star or not. He's busy retrieving all the money NBC shoveled up his ass.

He's got enough money the NBC payday means little. He's busy enjoying a popularity resurgence of his name.

And actually Howard cares about what every random person on the internet, and otherwise, says about him. He has very thin skin when it comes to criticism or praise. Why do you think he quit reading this place?