‘America’s Got Talent’: Spice Girl Mel B to Replace Sharon Osbourne
America’s Got Talent has found Sharon Osbourne’s replacement.
The NBC talent show has signed Spice Girl Mel B (aka Melanie Brown and Scary Spice) to join Howard Stern and Howie Mandel on the judges panel. The news comes mere weeks before the show’s audition rounds begin, with the ratings magnet set to return in the summer.
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The 37-year-old singer has small-screen experience, having judged the Australian version of The X Factor in 2011. She also served as co-host of Dancing With the Stars Down Under and has appeared as a guest judge on The X Factor U.K. and Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model, among other shows. She also starred in her own reality show, Mel B: It’s a Scary World, on Style Network in 2010.
Like most reality fare, America’s Got Talent suffered during summer 2012 — sliding roughly 10 percent in the key demo despite the $15 million addition of Stern. Still, it fared better than CBS’ Big Brother, its fellow off-season heavyweight, and outdrew all nonsports programs during most weeks of its run.
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Osbourne announced her departure from the talent show in August, claiming that NBC fired her son Jack Osbourne from its competition entry Stars Earn Stripes after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. NBC refuted that claim.
Season eight of America’s Got Talent premieres May 28.
Michael O’Connell contributed to this report.
