Searching for an American Susan Boyle with Piers Morgan of America’s Got Talent
by Troy Rogers
After striking a nerve with fans of America's Got Talent as the outspoken but level-headed panel judge next to Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff, former London Daily Mirror editor, Piers Morgan, took a break from the talent pool to join a slew of his peers at the business table in front of Donald Trump on Celebrity Apprentice.

A crafty, smart, and perceptive entertainment business mind from the UK, who also serves as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, Piers Morgan walked away with the title of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice in 2008.

With America's Got Talent about to make its fourth season debut on NBC on June 23 at 8pm, the U.S. version of the popular talent show received an unlikely boost in popularity thanks to the amazing singing talents of Scotland's Susan Boyle. With some of America's best unknown talents about to take to the America's Got Talent stage, we hopped off our 10-feet high Deadbolt unicycle long enough to join a conference call to get the season four scoop from Piers Morgan.

THE DEADBOLT: After going through the whirlwind that was Susan Boyle, will that affect the way that you look at the American talent?

PIERS MORGAN: Well, what is very exciting about the American show this year is that from the moment Susan Boyle exploded onto the world’s radar, and from the time that show was aired in Britain, I noticed on the America’s Got Talent audition trail that we were getting so many thousands more people turning up to audition.

So that had a very big effect on the quality of the auditions, and as a result we chose the Top 40 last week in Vegas.

It is by far the most talented collection of acts we ever had on the show. And do I think there’s a Susan Boyle act in there that could have the same kind of effect on the world? Yeah. I think there [are] two or three that, depending on how they go down with the American public, could be really, really big acts. So I’m very excited. And again, the Susan Boyle phenomenon has pulled through into the American show.

THE DEADBOLT: What’s it like having Nick Cannon on the show this season?

MORGAN: Oh, Nick is fantastic. I mean, I loved Regis, I loved Jerry after him. Nick’s very different. Obviously a younger guy, he’s very dynamic. He’s very handling, you know?

I didn’t know much about him before, but I’ve certainly learned that he is very quick-witted, he’s very funny, very warm, he loves the show, and I think he’s had a lot of fun. And I think he’ll bring a whole new vibe to it, which we haven’t had before, which is always good. When a show is into its fourth season, you want to shake things up a bit and I think Nick does that really well.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you ever have any time these days to hang out with Trump?

MORGAN: Yeah, I love to. Whenever I’m in New York I always see him and we always have great fun. He calls me "Champ," which I really like. It makes me feel like Lennox Lewis or Muhammad Ali or something. So I really like him. And I get these letters through the post in London and it’ll be some cutting about me.

You know, some clipping from The New York Post or something and it’ll have a message from Donald on it saying, "I always knew you were a winner, my champ," and it’s really nice. He’s become someone I consider a friend and a bit of a mentor and I learned a lot from working on that show. It was terrific.

-- Troy Rogers

 

 

 

There is 1 comment
Caroline
June 21, 2009 - 15:50
Subject: Susan Boyle, as usual.

Piers,
I am ever so happy. Why? Because you seem to be a very humble and decent person (except for trying to seduce Susan, but then you had to find a means to show her your body, so all is forgiven - that was probably part of the dream). It's so nice to hear you openly say that Susan Boyle has influenced your auditions in a positive manner.That definitely proves that you people are not proud and arrogant but quite down to earth. Yesterday I posted a comment whilst on your official homepage and I tried to offer a solid and simple explanation why she sometimes behaves a bit strangely, that's what happens when people are refined to cats all the lives. I was trying to say that human beings formely treated her so wickedly and the only warm, breathing, humane consolation she had after a bad or a good day was her cat. So even in moments of fame she needs her best friend's company i.e Pebbles who's been comforting her for years, that's a psychological explanation. Please do read my very long comment and let her have her cat along with her since you, who she so dearly loves, can't be around. I think you kind of heal her soul with that soft expression in your eyes. She feels she has nothing to fear when she looks at you - and you meet up to all these expectations by saying she needs protection. That is very kind and very pleasing.Don't stop being patient with Susan because she is God sent.
I am proud of the way you don't just forget what she did for bgt - you open honesty is incredible.
All the best and don't forget to keep your two promises. You haven't kissed her as yet because as far as I know she kissed you: That is not the same. You kiss will make a proud and then off course she might rant again - let's hope it gives her more strength. Then the diner, perhaps the rest might not be for our eyes to see. She's quite sane, but it takes time to shake of bad experiences and fears.Thanks again for your warm words.
Caroline

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