Smallscreen FeaturesAmerica’s Got Talent premieres Tuesday, June 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 pm onNBCand promises to be a bigger event than last years. The judges will include Piers Morgan,SharonOsbourneand David Hasselhoff. Jerry Springer will serve as host.Executive producer Simon Cowell shared his thoughts: “This season we embarked on our biggest and most expensive tour yet, with record breaking turn outs.â€â€œFor the first time auditions were held intheatersall across America. The judges, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff were joined by a 2000 strong audience in each city. The audience became the fourth judge, and as you’ll see, they certainly let their views be known,†added Cowell.Monsters and Critics joined a few online journalists and spoke to judge Sharon Osbourne and host Jerry Springer of America’s Got Talent.In the promos we seem to be primed for a Paul Potts moment like Britain’s Got Talent from last year. And I wanted to know if you could confirm that? There’s an opera singer that’s going to be a breakout?Jerry Springer: Well the people - go ahead, Sharon.Sharon Osbourne: We’ve got everything. I mean, why pick on the opera singer? We’ve got everything from magicians to knife swallowers, to dancers, to cloggers - everything.Jerry Springer: Yeah.What is your least favorite variety act that you just think this isn’t going to go very far and then may have surprised you in the end?Sharon Osbourne: Probably jugglers because I personally haven’t seen a juggler that juggles anything else but plates or those clubs, or balls. And I’d like to see them juggle something else.What about you, Jerry?Jerry Springer: Yeah, and there’s - well, I think if you realize what they’re looking for, they’re looking for an act that is, going to be - for example, going to be able to work Vegas and be an act that can sustain an hour, hour and a half show that people month after month are going to be trying to get tickets to.And if it’s - some of these acts just aren’t big enough. It doesn’t mean that they’re not skilled. They could have a phenomenal skill, but that’s not necessarily entertaining in terms of an hour and a half. And so when these acts go out -- and I’m just speaking for myself -- when I see them getting ready to go out, I’m saying to myself oh gosh, they’re not going to survive 15 seconds - not because they’re not skilled, but because it’s not something that could sustain this show.I think that’s an element that the people who try out have to be thinking about.Is there some sort of act that’s kind of taken you and surprised you, by how much you enjoyed it?Sharon Osbourne: Probably the pig that paints. The painting pig.Jerry Springer: Yes.Simon Cowell has mentioned that pig at the NBC summer press day. He said there was a very talented pig.Jerry Springer: Yes, and - yeah. That’s - well that’s - yeah. And then we had an animal act right after that. No, it was - there’s some acts that come out that you, you’re amazed at.Well there’s one - well I don’t want togiveitawaywhat the act is. But there is one that kind of - I think, really did surprise everybody. And no one would have thought - if you just saw what was written down the next act is so and so and he does this, everyone would go boy, let’s get rid of this.Then he’s out there and we’re going oh my god. So there is - I can think of some acts like that, and one in particular. But if I tell you what it is then - since he’s the only one that did that particular thing it wouldn’t be fair.Sharon, you’re such an animal lover. Do you just go nuts when the animals come out and do adorable things?Sharon Osbourne: Oh my gosh. We had some amazing animal acts, but none of them could do anything. They were all like - there were some ladies that just came with these dogs from a rescue and they did nothing and - except eat the treats.And I just thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen.Jerry Springer: Yeah.Â
David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan (sitting) and Jerry Springer at NBC press day - photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
 Do you think Americans had more of a talent pool than the English?Sharon Osbourne: Well there are just more of you here, so yes there’s more talent because there are more people.How attached do you actually get to these contestants - do you have them coming up to you after the show asking you for management or career advice?Jerry Springer: Well I make - let me, Sharon if you don’t mind, let me go first on this. I’m in a different position than the judges are because the judges -- to keep the show absolutely fair -- they do not congregate with the contestants and they keep their distance.Obviously, they pass them in the hall, they’re polite and everything. But that’s - at this point, they’re not to be involved like that. My role is totally different so I am backstage with the contestants quite a bit and their families.And the truth is, I do get invested with them at least emotionally because these are all these are all really nice people who maybe never thought they would ever have a chance at a career inentertainment.But, wherever they live in the states, their friends and family say hey, you’ve really got some talent. Why don’t you try out? And they’re really hopeful and their families are there pulling for them.Just being a normal person you can’t help but really root for them and cheer them on. And when something - when it doesn’t go their way and their dream seems smashed for the moment, yeah, a good hug sometimes help and so yeah, I do feel a bit personally invested in them.Sharon Osbourne: Well the one thing is that we can always be objective because we don’t get emotionally involved with the contestants because we’re not allowed to speak to them.We’re not allowed to have any contact with them. And in that way, your heart doesn’t lead your head.Jerry Springer: Which is why I could never be a judge. I’d always say aw come on, put them through, put them through. Read more: 'America's Got Talent' interview with Jerry Springer and Sharon Osbourne - Monsters and Critics -http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/features/article_1411582.php/Americas_Got_Talent_interview_with_Jerry_Springer_and_Sharon_Osbourne?page=1#ixzz0BrxL8JM3
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