Howie Mandel officially announced on Tuesday that he will return for Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent,” bringing the confirmed judging panel total to two.
Howard Stern—the panel’s other confirmed judge—made his return for a second season on the reality performing competition show official in December.
Season 8 will mark Mandel’s fourth on the show.
Who will fill the third—and presumably last—judges’ chair remains a mystery. Sharon Osbourne, who had been with the show since its second season, left the show following Season 7.
Several names have been linked to the “AGT” judging table in the wake of Osbourne’s departure, including LeAnn Rhimes and Shannen Doherty.
Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent” is currently in the auditions phase, minus the celebrity judges, and will likely premiere in May.
The celebrity judge auditions are slated to begin in March.
Personal Take
As one of the more entertaining “reality” competition shows on TV, “America’s Got Talent” was wise to bring Stern and Mandel back for Season 8.
Mandel’s zaniness and Stern’s honesty and feigned egoism are entertaining and make tuning in each week worthwhile—even though the show is less than forthright about its contestants’ levels of accomplishment.
Host Nick Cannon, who will also be back, rivals “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest as one of the more seemingly personable competition show hosts on TV and is a key component in the show’s appeal.
This viewer is in favor of former “Today” show host Ann Curry becoming the third judge, but given the way NBC—which airs “AGT”—has treated her since pushing her off “Today,” that seems highly unlikely.
Because of all that “America’s Got Talent” has going for it, it will be difficult for the show’s producers to go wrong with whoever winds up rounding out the show’s judging panel.
“America’s Got Talent” airs on KSL 5 in Provo.
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