Gone are the days when a singing or talent competition show will ever have just three judges again. NBC has announced that supermodel and Project Runway host Heidi Klum is being added to the judging panel for America’s Got Talent season 8, where she will sit alongside Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Mel B (who was recently hired to replace Sharon Osbourne).
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Inside sources told TMZ that she was brought on board “in a last minute negotiation and Heidi hopped on a plane to New Orleans … where the show is holding its first audition rounds.” The first day of filming for the new season is today. And according to a photo obtained by TMZ, the lineup order will look like this: Howard, Heidi, Mel B, Howie.
The President of Alternative and Late Night Programming at NBC, Paul Telegdy, said in a press release, “Heidi has an amazing career across multiple media platforms, and has build a brand that is a force in the entertainment business. She has achieved superstardom while balancing being a businesswoman and hard-working mom, bringing a huge amount of experience, discernment and taste to the panel. As we look to develop an act that will get the world’s attention, we and the contestants will benefit from Heidi’s international sensibility and understanding of what works in today’s global entertainment industry.”
“America’s Got some serious Talent! I’m really excited to join the panel of AGT to see it all — from the ridiculous to the fantastic!” Heidi said in a statement. “I love the surprise element of the show and not knowing what we’ll see next and who will wow us. I’m also looking forward to spending time with my fellow judges — Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Mel B!”
The trend now for reality competition shows is to have four judges. The Voice and The X Factor have always followed that format. American Idol tried it out briefly back in seasons 8 and 9, and has revived it for the current season. This marks the first time that AGT will have more than three judges.
While open-call auditions have ended, you can still submit a video audition online.
Are you excited that Heidi Klum is going to be a judge on AGT? Do you think she’ll be entertaining and make for great TV? Or is it pointless to have a fourth judge?
America’s Got Talent returns for season 8 this summer on NBC.
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(Image courtesy of WENN)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
Jeff Dodge, a graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena.
