“America's Got Talent” May Be Courting Howard Stern

Following the announcement that Piers Morgan was leaving the show, the search has begun in earnest for a replacement judge

America may have talent, but does it have thick enough skin to take on Howard Stern?

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that, according to an anonymous source, NBC is rumored to be "in talks" with the controversial radio host to take over for the departing Piers Morgan as judge of the reality competition "America's Got Talent." Morgan announced earlier this week that he was leaving so that he could focus more time on his CNN talk show, "Piers Morgan Tonight."

Stern, who recently re-upped his contract with Sirius XM satellite radio despite having gotten into a legal tangle with the company over stock bonuses, is rumored to be in line to receive $15 million a year to take a seat next to judges Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.

The producers are said to even be mulling a move from Los Angeles to New York, where Stern is based.

Nothing official has been revealed, and neither party have commented on the speculation.

Just recently, Stern's radio show made headlines when he interviewed "Tower Heist" director and former Oscar producer Brett Ratner. The explicit nature of the interview played a large part in Ratner's resignation from the Academy Award telecast production team.

Selected Reading: TheWrap, Wall Street Journal, Access Hollywood

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