Parents Television Council Seeks Sponsor Boycott of AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Judge Howard Stern

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Parents Television Council is encouraging 91 sponsors of NBC's reality series AMERICA'S GOT TALENT to boycott the show in support of the group's opposition to the hiring of shock jock Howard Stern as its newest judge. The PTC began to voice its dissatisfaction with Stern's hiring last December, calling the move "an act of desperation for a failing network."

Stern responded to the group's comments in an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan, saying, "Networks shudder for people like this. I guess they get their printer out and they make a letterhead and they start to complain that I'm some sort of weird pervert who is going to convert Americans into some kind of zombie sex fiends."

TMZ posed a letter which the PTC recently sent out to the show's advertisers, urging them to boycott the upcoming season of the popular reality series. In the letter, the organization states that Stern's only qualifications are, "looking at insecure, naked young women and telling them whether or not they were hot enough to pose for Playboy."

Representatives for Stern and NBC have not commented on the recent development.

Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne, fellow judges on the talent competition, defendEd Stern last month. Commented Mandel, "Yes, he's edgy and honest, but he's a very bright, smart man. Nobody gets to that height without knowing what they're doing. He's also compassionate, emotional, serious and has good constructive criticism. He's a good judge."