Think of it as “American Idol” on steroids. Or maybe “The Gong Show 2006.”
At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Simon Cowell rolls out his newest reality show venture, “America’s Got Talent.” In this one, people take a shot at fame regardless of what they consider their talent. Previews of the two-hour NBC premiere promise not just singers and dancers but ventriloquists, mimes and contortionists.
“You absolutely have no idea as to who’s coming up next,” said Cowell, who won’t appear on camera.
Regis Philbin is the show’s host, while judges are David Hasselhoff of “Baywatch” fame, the singer Brandy, and, in what it is beyond safe to assume will be the Simon Cowell role, Piers Morgan, a former British newspaper editor.
In fact, Morgan may end up making Cowell look like a pussycat–he made his name editing tabloids such as the Daily Mirror, where he went up against the royal family regularly, as well as supermodel Naomi Campbell, who successfully sued the tab for invading her privacy.