America’s Got Talent season 2 returns with a new host in the form of Jerry Springer, known for his tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show and as a former contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 3.

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Springer talked about the show and his sentiments on taking over Regis Philbin’s hosting job.

"There's a lot of diversity… Clearly there are a lot of singers, but boy, there's a whole bunch of other stuff too, from magicians to ventriloquists to jugglers... Some amazing acts frankly. I haven't seen television like this since the old variety shows. That does seem to be the magic of this show. This really is the old-time Ed Sullivan variety show, or when I was a kid, it was The Ted Mack Amateur Hour... It's really kind of neat because we don't have that on television anymore. So this really is a pure variety show and you get all kinds of acts and community involvement," Springer has revealed.

The 63-year old actor has acquired the America’s Got Talent hosting gig after his stint on Dancing with the Stars, replacing Philbin, who served as the host during season one. "You know Regis is the best there ever was at this business so I'm not even going to pretend I can fill his shoes," Springer has said. "It would be insulting to him and foolish of me. I'm going to be what I can be as best I can be. But it's going to be me it's not Regis. I would never pretend to have his competence."

Having already participated in the America’s Got Talent’s second season audition screening, Springer has admitted that he was overwhelmed by the skills flaunted by the contestants. "There are a couple of singing groups that are really good... That are funny and good," Springer has added. "There's also some totally crazy acts that are weird but good. I'm involved with one magic act, and I don't know how the guy did it. I really feel like I'm Ed Sullivan. I'm bringing out these acts, you go from this great singer to all of a sudden a guy juggling plates, there are animal acts and there are fire acts... And I don't know that there's anything like it on television now."

-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: RealityTV World

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