David Hasselhoff pointed to pal Simon Cowell's persuasiveness as the reason he decided to sign on as a judge on "America's Got Talent," a new NBC reality show produced by the "American Idol" guru.
"He called me up and said, `Would you do this?' And I said, `I don't want to be a judge!' And he said, `Come on, it's fun! You're funny!'"
And, shrugged Hasselhoff, "Because it's Simon, I did it."
The 53-year-old actor-singer, who played lifeguard Mitch Buchannon on "Baywatch" for 11 years, is one of three judges, along with singer Brandy and British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan. The show, an "Idol"-like talent contest hosted by Regis Philbin, arrives Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT.
The series features a wide variety of acts, from singers to magicians to pet tricks. The winner, chosen by viewers, will receive a prize of $1 million.
While judging the contestants at auditions, Hasselhoff told The Associated Press on Monday, he was "sweet" at first, but now demands talent and doesn't "give anybody a break anymore."
He even gave a thumbs-down to an elderly woman who was "trying to call the birds."
"I laughed so hard I had to go under the table," he recalled. "I was crying, I put my hand up on the (elimination buzzer).
"I said, `Darling, the birds aren't calling.'"
Has Hasselhoff, who was in the "Idol" audience and openly wept when Taylor Hicks won last month, turned into the cantankerous Cowell?
"No, I'm just me," he said. "I just came on the show and I said I'm going to have fun. And I'm not going to try to be witty, I'm not going to do anything, I'm just going to have fun."
Hasselhoff's latest big-screen credit, he described, is the role of Adam Sandler's "eccentric, over-the-top boss" in the comedy "Click," which opens Friday.
I THINK IT'S EXTREAMLY RUDE TO CUT PEOPLE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THEY'RE ACT. THESE PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELLED AND PRACTICED TO PERFORM. AS A VIEWER I WOULD RATHER WATCH SOME POOR ACTS THEN LISTEN TO RUDE FEEDBACK FROM PIERCE! SIMON STEP IN AND GET CONTROL OF THESE GUYS!
I agree with the other comment, Please let them finish their act!!!
It sucks when you interupt after 5 seconds into the act!. Please Simon Cowell do something!!!.
i saw the show once, i havent watched it again- most of the people did not impress me. i loved the pirates and donkey caught in a love triangle, it was the most confusing thing i've ever seen!!
i was wondering if bianca has a web page to keep up with her lasting tallents even after show.shes going to be one of our greatest singers and performers and you all made it happen for her, i love your show and what it opens up for our great country of u,s. I am allso an artiest of paintting but it would be very borring for you if i were on your stage to perform a painting. thats why its left as the fine arts i guess.It sometimes gets borring my self. anyhow enough talking about myself, if she has a web page for her fans,I and my family would love to become part of her great long living fans thank you for bringing great tv back to our living rooms. i
I am so upset that the judge asked the magic act people if they were deaf or dumb. My daughter just happens to be deaf in her right ear and really takes offense to it when a new coach or teacher asks that. My american scholar daughter is the best point guard in our county. So, the problem isn't with the act its the judge. WE should ask him is he evil or just plain mean. He is welcome to not like the act he should have said it wasn't for him but to attach the contestants that way was ugly !
I fully agree with the previous writer. The other tallents did their tallent with few variations. For example, the men who tap danced tapped BUT wore different outfits, the woman who sang changed her song and outfit BUT she still sang, the magician did magic BUT did different tricks. And the change artists did their quick changes BUT used different clothes. Their tallent is a quick change of clothes. That's their tallent which they did very well. The judge was not only mean but cruel in his comments. And, he had to say one more mean cruel comment when the tallent left the stage they said they were next going to England, he said, 'I'm glad I'm staying here.' He went beyond critique of the tallent to being cruel and for that reason I feel he MUST be removed from the program and replaced with one who will be helpful yet honest, not cruel.