As shock-jock Howard Stern put it, last night he lost his virginity (as a judge) on America's Got Talent.

Surprising many critics, Stern was less shocking and more sympathetic;  equal parts  self-effacing and self-aggrandizing.

All his years on the radio seem to have honed his ability to evaluate talent. On his first episode, Stern seemed a good judge of talent and was not only willing to hit his buzzer (he admitted he liked the feeling of power) but to even get onstage and hug a crying contestant.

Stern also had great chemistry with fellow America's Got Talent judges Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.

Color me pleasantly surprised and cautiously optimistic.

What about you? Did you watch the AGT premiere? What did you think of Howard Stern as a judge? Do you miss Piers Morgan?

Photo © NBC.

TMZ announced today that Disney actor and singer Demi Lovato has signed on to become an X Factor judge.

This January, producers announced that neither Paula Abdul nor Nicole Scherzinger were invited back as X Factor judges.

That left only Simon Cowell and music producer Antonio "L.A." Reid as judges on X Factor which is based on Cowell's hit U.K. series.

Last week E! News announced that pop star Britney Spears would be coming on as an X Factor judge, having signed a one-year, $15 million contract.

What do you think of the new X Factor judges? Who would you rather see as a judge on the Fox singing competition?

Photo of Britney Spears © Max Morse/Getty Images.

Suddenly America's Next Top Model British Invasion went from the top five contestants down to the final three, when two girls were sent home at once.

Top Model Cycle 18 has seen seven former contestants of Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model going up against seven novice American models. The final six (four Brits and two Americans) then traveled to Macau--an island near Hong Kong.

After telling one model to pack her bags, Tyra was surprised when Alisha--the episode's other bottom-two model--said she wouldn't be staying, either.

Alisha, is a 20-year-old model from South London, England who was a runner up on Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model's Cycle 6. On the American version, Alisha had been the first called out twice, including for the Hello Kitty photoshoot.

Saying that she "would rather walk away to get my spirit back," Alisha also said she didn't want to rob Eboni a chance to stay in the competition any longer.

But Tyra quickly made it clear that Eboni would get no second chances: "So you can leave--but Eboni is leaving with you."

Do you think Eboni should have gotten another week in the competition? Which of the three finalists (2 Brits and 1 American) do you want to see win America's Next Top Model British Invasion?

Photo © CW.

This week The Voice crowned its Season Two winner.

Spoiler: it wasn't Tony Lucca.

Lucca, the former Mouseketeer who also starred on the short-lived TV drama Malibu Shores, put out eight albums and had songs featured on shows like Friday Night Lights; has been a fan favorite on the second season of The Voice.

But he surprised Voice judge Christina Aguilera and viewers alike when he chose to cover Jay-Z's "99 Problems."

Lucca gave the rap song a rocker spin and the b-word was beeped out, but Aguilera said the lyrics were still "derogatory" towards women.

Voice judge Adam Levine--who is Lucca's coach--insisted that the "b" was just referring to "life getting at you, things bringing you down. It's everything."

The b-word, which is best defined as a female dog, has been leveled against women for decades, and seems especially reserved for women who take on positions of power.  So, it's little consolation when Levine suggests the term is really about everything else (other than women) that gets a man down.

Why is it that the negative elements of life are best described like pushy broads? Why does the music industry continue to support the use of lyrics that are offensive to women? Why would a "family friendly" NBC show like The Voice allow/encourage a contestant to pick a song that has to be censored?

In the end it's hard to say if using the b-word cost Lucca the win--after all, the real winner is entirely deserving of the title, record contract and $100,000.  Still, I'd like to think it played a part in Lucca's downfall. I'd like to think that viewers sent a strong message that they don't appreciate lyrics that denigrate women.

What do you think? Am I wrong?

Photo © NBC.