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Howard Stern
Howard10
Information
Age 58-61
Sex Male
Occupation Radio and TV Personality, Comedian, Author
Seasons 7, 8, 9, 10

Howard Stern is a radio and television host. Howard replaced Piers Morgan in Season 7 of America's Got Talent. He returned for Season 8Season 9, and Season 10.

Background[]

The self-dubbed King of All Media earned millions of fans---not to mention dollars---channeling his id across the airwaves. Born in Long Island, this gawky nerd didn't look like a star, which made radio a perfect career move.

After trying to conform to the medium's conventions---and failing---Stern took a shot at being "himself" (or a prurient version thereof) and the gamble paid off. When his morning show was syndicated nationally in the mid-'80s, the shock jock became an unstoppable machine. Still, he frequently drew criticism (sometimes from his own long-suffering wife, Alison) as well as FCC fines for outrageous antics like Homeless Hollywood Squares and Butt Bongo. Soon A-list celebrities were clamoring to get on the show, even though Stern would inevitably put them through the wringer. Listeners ate it up in large part because they identified with Stern's shtick as a sexually frustrated married man. In the '90s he branched out into other media, hosting several TV shows; writing an autobiography, Private Parts; starring in the book's film adaptation; writing a second best-selling book, Miss America, and producing various specials and series.

Then in 1999 Stern surprised his fans by announcing that he and his wife of 21 years were splitting. But the show went on and was as popular (and controversial) as ever. In 2004, fed up with the constant battles with censors, Stern announced that he was ditching terrestrial radio for satellite starting in 2006, signing an unprecedented $500 million, five-year deal with Sirius. Off the air, Stern practices Transcendental Meditation and even appeared at a 2008 benefit for the David Lynch Foundation to give a TM testimonial. [1]

Judge Personality[]

The strictest judge of his time (although less so than his predecessor Piers Morgan), Howard often judged based on whether he thinks an act is a Vegas act or not. He usually buzzed acts that had mistakes, seemed boring to himself, or take too long to get into gear (he usually declines the acts afterwards as well). He often used sarcasm after non-talented acts, but would occasionally let acts go on for fun.

Other Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • Favorite Act: Horse
  • First "Yes": William Close
  • First "Buzz": Aoni Jackson
  • First "No": Aoni Jackson
  • Season 10, his fourth season, was his last as a judge.
  • During Howard's tenure on America's Got Talent, the live shows were held in New York, in order to fulfill the accommodation of his radio show commitments.
  • Howard was the only regular judge never to give a Golden Buzzer to a singing act.
  • Golden Buzzers: Dustin's Dojo (9), Freckled Sky (10)
  • Howard had Season 1 contestant Bobby Badfingers as a guest on his radio show in 2006 prior to him being a judge.

External Links[]

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