It's official: Stern is new 'Talent' judge

After months of negotiations and weeks of publicity, "America's Got Talent" finally has its new judge: Howard Stern.

While the network said the summer hit would be relocated to New York to accommodate Stern's Sirius/XM radio schedule, there was no precise blueprint for how to accommodate the show's Las Vegas portion.

Meanwhile, a prominent TV watchdog organization, the Parents Television Council, sharply criticized the hire, calling NBC "a once-proud broadcaster [that] has lost its way," and Stern "a performer who is synonymous with shock, profanity and obscenity."

An NBC spokeswoman said the network would have no immediate comment on the PTC statement.

Stern is, obviously, a risk -- which may be the whole idea: A veteran radio broadcaster with a long history of FCC skirmishes (and fines) whose halfhearted attempts at a TV career, now limited to an on-demand simulcast, is littered with failed and forgotten efforts.

Nevertheless, he also promises genuine electricity and bluntness on a show that can be extremely predictable. On his radio program Thursday, Stern said his first order of business would be to warn mothers who allow their children to perform that "they've got to be prepared to hear the truth. Don't call me a ---- because your kid has no talent. Putting through these less than talented people has got to stop. I will give an honest opinion."

"Howard is restless," said Tom Taylor, news editor of Chicago-based Radio-info.com. "He believes he has a lot to contribute to show business in general."