Howard Stern fittingly choose CNN's Piers Morgan, the man he's replacing as "America's Got Talent" judge, for his first interview since announcing his new "AGT" gig on Thursday.
"Well, Piers, I thought it was appropriate that I call you first because, after all, I mean you created work for me," Stern said in a "Piers Morgan Tonight" phone interview on Thursday. "You left 'America's Got Talent' and I became fascinated by this idea of replacing you, although I have to say you were one of the greats. You are definitely one of my — between you and Simon (Cowell), I would say you were the two best judges ever on these type of shows. So big shoes to fill."
And for all those Negative Nellies who fret that Stern will try to turn NBC's family-friendly reality series into his considerably less-PG Sirius XM radio show, the shock jock told Morgan he'll be relatively well-behaved.
Read more: Howard Stern Joins 'America's Got Talent' (Video)
"They start to complain that I’m some sort of weird pervert who’s going to convert Americans into zombie sex fiends, but I can assure you and the rest of America what I’m looking at here is to be a very good judge,” Stern said.
"Whatever you think of me, I’m honest and I give an honest opinion, and really my goal is to find real talent and actually find someone who can become a major superstar."
Check out a video clip of Morgan passing the "AGT" torch to Stern, and Stern promising that even junior contestants will receive his honest opinions:
