Parents Television Council Urges Advertisers to Drop ‘America’s Got Talent’

Howard Stern’s debut on America’s Got Talent is already over-hyped and now the Parents Television Council is again launching another attack on the polarizing radio host and reality show judge.

Stern officially joined the Judge’s panel for Got Talent in December and right then, the PTC slammed NBC and blasted the decision as “an act of desperation for a failing network.” Stern responded to the group’s complaints in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, who previously was a Talent judge.

“Networks shudder for people like this,” he said at the time. “I guess they get their printer out and they make a letterhead and they start to complain that I’m some sort of weird pervert who is going to convert Americans into some kind of zombie sex fiends.”

PTC has now urged to 91 of the show’s advertisers to boycott of the NBC reality competition over Stern. Major concern of PTC is the controversial and unfiltered language and commentary of Howard Stern. The organization quoted a NSFW remark he made about Season 3 American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.

Stern, the PTC argues, is only qualified at “looking at insecure, naked young women and telling them whether or not they were hot enough to pose for Playboy.”

Stern’s co-judges, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne, defended him last month at NBC’s Summer Press Day,  saying viewers would see a different side of the broadcaster. The seventh season of America’s Got Talent begins at 8 p.m. May 14, with promos putting Stern front and center.

“Yes, he’s edgy and honest, but he’s a very bright, smart man,” said Mandel.

“Nobody gets to that height without knowing what they’re doing. He’s also compassionate, emotional, serious and has good constructive criticism. He’s a good judge.”