Justin Lubin/NBC, Jamie McCarthy/WireImageThe Playboy Club was canceled, so what now?
Talk of Howard Stern coming to prime time, apparently.
The conservative media watchdog Parents Television Council is already up in arms over the very idea of the outspoken radio host joining America's Got Talent as a judge, calling it a move that "smacks of desperation" on NBC's part and would result in the "alienation of millions of viewers."
Well, get in line, PTC, because Stern never lacks for haters—as he so wryly pointed out on his own show today.
First off, he said that there is no deal in place and that he won't comment on negotiation rumors—because negotiations can go "horribly wrong." He does love rumors, though, he added, because it gets "everyone talking about me."
Then the team played a clip of a radio DJ in Orlando saying that people wouldn't watch AGT if Stern came aboard, although having Sharon Osbourne on the show "doesn't make sense," either, the jock says.
Stern called the guy a "dumb f--k."
Which brings us to another criticism of hiring Stern—that NBC would have to bleep every other word he says.
"This woman makes it seem like every other word you say is a curse word," scoffed his loyal No. 2, Robin Quivers.
"That's just f--king not true!" Stern countered, prompting laughs all around.
But you can bet the PTC thinks its true.
"Any short-term buzz from Stern's shock value will result in a longer-term decline as families abandon the show for more suitable programming," said Tim Winter, president of the conservative, family-values-touting media watchdog.
Later in the show, Stern said that former NBC president Grant Tinker, who fired Stern from WNBC 25 years ago, "would be rolling in his grave" if he went back to work for the network—though, to clarify, he is "not the next judge" on America's Got Talent.
Piers Morgan, who's been on AGT for all of its six seasons, announced last week that he was stepping down to focus on his role at CNN.