Howard Stern Says He's Leaving America's Got Talent After 4 Years

Will Simon Cowell replace him on the NBC reality competition series?

By Chris Harnick Jun 24, 2015 7:49 PMTags
America's Got TalentNBC

The show must go on, just without Howard Stern. The shock-jock turned reality judge is leaving America's Got Talent after four years.

"I'm going through my own career evaluation right now…In all seriousness, I've told you, I'm just too f--king busy…something's got to give," Stern said on his radio show. "NBC's already asked me what my intentions are for next year, whether or not I'd come back, I kind of have told them I think this is my last season. Not I think, this is my last season."

Stern said he's spoken to NBC and it was a hard conversation to have. Without Stern, he said the show will move production to Los Angeles.

Robin Quivers pressed Stern and asked, "So this is your last season?" and Stern responded, "I think it's fair to say. I don't want to hang them up. Yeah, it's my last season."

Stern joined the show in 2011, replacing Piers Morgan. He currently sits alongside Heidi Klum, Mel B. and Howie Mandel with Nick Cannon as host.

Stern's contract with Sirius XM is set to expire in January and the host said he has to think through resigning to determine what's best for him. "I have been made an offer in television that excites me," he said. "Excites me to no end. I think it would be a great opportunity, but I can't do America's Got Talent, the radio show and this television opportunity.

"I've been on there for four years. It's been fun. This year is the 10th anniversary, I think that's enough," explained. "And Simon Cowell wants it anyway…I know what's going on behind the scenes. I have friends at Sony, and he would be good at it."

NBC declined to comment on Stern's plans to exit the series.

America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)