or


[05/18/06 - 12:00 AM]
Brandy, David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan Named as Judges of NBC's "America's Got Talent" from Simon Cowell and Fremantlemedia

[via press release from NBC]

BRANDY, DAVID HASSELHOFF AND PIERS MORGAN NAMED AS JUDGES OF NBC'S �AMERICA�S GOT TALENT� FROM SIMON COWELL AND FREMANTLEMEDIA

Regis Philbin Hosts New Talent Competition Series Premiering With Two-hour Episode on Wednesday, June 21

BURBANK, Calif. -- May 18, 2006 -- Grammy award-winner and television star Brandy, (�Moesha�) actor, singer and executive producer David Hasselhoff (�Baywatch�), and U.K. television/media personality Piers Morgan have been named as judges for NBC�s upcoming talent competition series �America�s Got Talent� from Simon Cowell (�American Idol�) and FremantleMedia (�American Idol�).

Hosted by television legend Regis Philbin (�Live with Regis and Kelly�), the series will have its two-hour broadcast premiere on Wednesday, June 21 (8-10 p.m. ET). The regular telecast time of �America�s Got Talent� will be Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET; (30-minute results shows will air on Thursdays beginning July 13, 8:30-9 p.m. ET).

�We have three different judges from three different backgrounds,� said Cowell. �Expect the unexpected.�

�I�m looking forward to seeing all the elements and talents of this show come together on one stage. It should make for great television,� added executive producer Ken Warwick.

�Being a fan of reality television, I'm happy to be a part of a show that embraces all of America's diverse talent,� said Brandy. �When I got the call from Simon to be part of "America's Got Talent," I was thrilled because I have always wanted the opportunity to help newcomers with their career the way so many people have helped me.�

"I have a long standing relationship with FremantleMedia Media and Simon Cowell, who is always great fun to work with," said Hasselhoff. It should be a blast, especially now with Regis on board. I'm looking forward to discovering what wild new talent is out there."

"I've chased, interviewed, broken, admired and laughed at celebrities for the last 20 years and the one thing I can safely say from all my experience is that America has produced more great entertainment talent than any other country in the world,� said Morgan. �My sincere hope is that we uncover a genuinely talented new superstar in this show, as well as a few acts that make us all laugh out loud."

Cowell and FremantleMedia will bring the hottest performers from across the country to TV audiences in this new variety series that allows viewers to determine who will walk away with a $1 million cash prize. Hosted by television legend Philbin, "America's Got Talent" features a colorful array of hopeful future stars -- singers, dancers, comedic performers and unique acts of all ages will have a chance to strut and perform in front of Hasselhoff, Brandy and Morgan, who will determine which acts advance to the final rounds where America will vote for the ultimate performer.

At 26, few have reached the luminary stature of Brandy. She is a Grammy Award-winning singer, a major film and television actress, a model, a spokesperson, producer and a Mom. Having sold over 25 million copies of her 4 solo CD's, she has won over 100 awards as a recording artist. Her long-running television show, �Moesha� helped launch the UPN Network where it ran for 6 successful seasons. Additionally, she was the star of �Cinderella� and �Double Platinum,� two of televisions highest rated special programs.

Internationally recognized for both his work in television and music, Hasselhoff shot to fame with his starring role in �Knight Rider,� which garnered him a People�s Choice Award as Most Popular Actor. In 1989, Hasselhoff was cast in the internationally popular series �Baywatch,� of which he eventually became the executive producer. Additionally, he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "The Most Watched TV Star in the World� due to his starring roles on both series. Hasselhoff�s musical career took off in the late 1980s after he recorded the album �Looking for Freedom� at the end of the Cold War. The song became an anthem for the newly united German people and remained at the top of their charts for eight weeks. The album went triple platinum in Europe and Hasselhoff was named �Most Popular and Best Selling Artist of the Year� in Germany. Additionally, he has released six other albums in Europe, which have all gone platinum and gold. He made his theatrical debut in the Broadway musical �Jekyll and Hyde,� and went on to make his West End debut in the hit musical �Chicago.� Hasselfhoff has also appeared in several feature films including, �Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,� and the family favorite, �The Spongebob SquarePants Movie.� He will also star in Adam Sandler�s �Click,� a new feature film to be released next month.

A former editor of the London Daily Mirror, Morgan was arguably the best-known national newspaper editor since his good friend Kelvin MacKenzie edited the Sun in the 1980s. He became editor of the News of the World at the age of 28 - the youngest national newspaper editor for more than 50 years. Two years later, he was recruited to edit the Daily Mirror. During this time, he was responsible for breaking several high-profile stories and also became close friends with Princess Diana. Earlier this month, he launched �First News,� the first weekly newspaper for children that endeavors to educate them on social and political issues in a language they can understand. On television, Morgan served as host for two episodes of �Tabloid Tales� for BBC1 during the show�s 2002/2003 season. Additionally, he hosted a three part series �The Importance of Being Famous,� as well as the one-hour documentary �The Death of Celebrity,� for Channel 4. His latest project �You Can�t Fire Me, I�m Famous� starts airing in the U.K. on June 5. Morgan also created �The Pride of Britain Awards,� in which high profile celebrities and royals honor ordinary citizens for doing extraordinary and/or heroic things.

"America's Got Talent" is produced by Cowell's SYCO TV production company and FremantleMedia. Cowell, Warwick and Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol") are the executive producers. Jason Raff (�Three Wishes�) and Charles Boyd �American Idol�) are the co-executive producers.

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is on the leading edge of global broadcast production, developing some of television's most innovative and watched new programming. Based in Santa Monica and with offices in New York, FMNA is known for producing such genre-bending shows as the musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (Fox). In 2005, FremantleMedia programs garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including six for �American Idol.� Other credits include "The Price Is Right" (CBS), the longest-running game show in television history, the daily syndicated game show �Family Feud,� the comedy game show "Distraction" (Comedy Central) and the hit lifestyle show "How Clean Is Your House?" (Lifetime). FMNA is currently producing "American Inventor" for ABC and "Game Show Marathon" for CBS and "America�s Got Talent" for NBC.

FMNA is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with production operations in more than 25 countries. FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. With interests in 34 television channels and 30 radio stations in 11 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company Bertelsmann AG. For further information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com.





  [may 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· AMERICAN INVENTOR (ABC)
· AMERICA'S GOT TALENT (NBC)
· DISTRACTION (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· GAMESHOW MARATHON (CBS)
· HOW CLEAN IS YOUR HOUSE? (LIFETIME)





[03/13/26 - 02:41 PM]
HBO Original Series "Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness" Debuts June 26
President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. ...But then Larry David called.

[03/13/26 - 01:45 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
"20/20" saw week-to-week gains in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[03/13/26 - 11:00 AM]
Production Begins on the Final Season of "Mayor of Kingstown" for Paramount+
David Morse will join season five as a series regular playing Russell Hardy, a seasoned FBI agent sent to Kingstown.

[03/13/26 - 10:37 AM]
Bravo's "Married to Medicine" Two-Part Reunion Begins Sunday, March 22 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen sits down with Dr. Jackie Walters, Dr. Simone Whitmore, Dr. Contessa Metcalfe, Toya Bush Harris, Quad Webb, Dr. Mimi Sanders as well as friends Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Angel Love Davis and Brandi Milton to unpack the season's biggest moments filled with emotional revelations and shocking confrontations.

[03/13/26 - 09:36 AM]
Peacock Renews "Love Island USA" for Season Eight and Announces Premiere Dates for Upcoming Slate
"Love Island USA" returns Tuesday, June 2; while "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" is back Wednesday, April 15.

[03/13/26 - 09:02 AM]
Video: Key Art & Trailer Debut - Hulu's "Love Overboard"
The series premieres Thursday, March 26 with all nine episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[03/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
History's "The Food That Built America" Returns for Season 7 on April 19
The series explores the origin stories of America's most inspiring - and sometimes ruthless - food pioneers, visionaries, and entrepreneurs who revolutionized the culinary landscape, and created groundbreaking products that became the biggest household names in history.

[03/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A bride has a feeling that something horrifying will happen at her wedding - and the closer to the altar she gets, the worse it becomes.

[03/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Hot Out the Oven - Hulu's "Pizza Movie" Trailer & Key Art
A shy college student and his reckless roommate set out on a simple mission to grab pizza, but after a strange dose of a mind-bending experimental drug, they're thrust into a chaotic night of absurd encounters, wild hallucinations, and unexpected revelations that could change their lives forever.

[03/13/26 - 07:13 AM]
FOX Sports, Imagine Documentaries & Delirio Films Announce "Summer of '94" Premiering May 23 on FOX
The film highlights the wild journey of the 1994 USMNT, a unique group of players led by an unlikely coach who endured a grueling two-year training camp, with no professional league and no roadmap, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever modern World Cup hosted on American soil.

[03/13/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Temptation Island" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Four couples at a crossroads test their bond by splitting up and sharing a villa with alluring singles looking for love in this steamy reality series.

[03/12/26 - 09:01 PM]
"The Vampire Lestat" Set to Debut Sunday, June 7 on AMC and AMC+
Plus: Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) is back pleasing fledglings and fans worldwide with the debut of "All Fall Down," the second official rock single from the series.

[03/12/26 - 03:18 PM]
FOX Sports Scores All-Time High Team USA World Baseball Classic Viewership
3,171,000 viewers on average watched the four Team USA World Baseball Classic Pool play games across FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes.

[03/12/26 - 03:01 PM]
CBS Midseason Premiere Week Tops Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 7-Day Multiplatform Viewership
The network scored three of the top four and 12 of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition.

[03/12/26 - 01:02 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for Season Eight of "FBI True"
All 10 episodes of the new season will be available to stream at launch on on Tuesday, March 31.