NBC reveals the identities of its 'America's Got Talent' judges

NBC has announced that Brandy, David Hasselhoff, and Piers Morgan will serve as the three-person judging panel for America's Got Talent, the network's new Simon Cowell-created reality talent competition that will premiere on Wednesday, June 21 at 8PM ET/PT with a special two-hour broadcast.


Produced by Cowell's SYCO TV production company and FremantleMedia, the producers of American Idol, America’s Got Talent will be hosted by Regis Philbin and feature performers of any kind competing to win a $1,000,000 cash prize. After its June 21 debut, America’s Got Talent will air Wednesdays at 9PM ET/PT. Once its elimination rounds begin, a half-show results show will begin airing Thursday, July 13 at 8:30 PM ET/PT.

"We have three different judges from three different backgrounds," said Cowell. "Expect the unexpected." Naturally, all three judges says they are excited to be part of the show.

"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, a Grammy Award-winner and former Moesha star who also starred in Diary Presents: Brandy -- Special Delivery, a 2002 MTV reality series that documented her pregnancy. "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."

"It should be a blast, especially now with Regis on board," added Hasselhoff, the former Knight Rider and Baywatch star who has also released seven platinum and gold albums in Europe.


With Cowell himself unable to appear on the series due to a Fox exclusivity clause in his Idol contract, Morgan, a former editor of the London Daily Mirror newspaper, will fill the show's British judge slot. "I've chased, interviewed, broken, admired and laughed at celebrities for the last twenty 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," he joked.