Can Heidi Klum Rescue `America's Got Talent’? Not This Reality Competition Season
Can Heidi Klum rescue “America’s Got Talent?” German supermodel Heidi Klum, who rescued her son from drowning in a Hawaiian riptide a few months ago, is coming to America to resuscitate the NBC television competition “America’s Got Talent.” Heidi Klum's AGM debut won the night, but is losing the reality competition war.
Heidi Klum’s “America’s Got Talent” gig sees the statuesque blonde, who has gone from the runway to entrepreneur to reality TV host, move out of her usual expertise in fashion to judge entertainment. This week, Heidi Klum joined Spice Girl Mel B., comedian Howie Mandel and radio host Howard Stern on the judging panel for the eighth season of “America’s Got Talent.”
Heidi Klum, who is called “The Body" for her towering figure, moved out of modeling to host Lifetime's fashion series "Project Runway" and "Germany's Next Top Model." Klum has her own fashion empire which sells jewelry, clothing and fragrances.
Klum’s appointment as judge on the show underscores how much the reality singing competition landscape is changing. Televised talent contests are failing all over TV. Klum wants to share her experience and the business strategies that helped her get where she is now, but it didn’t bump up the ratings for the premiere for “America’s Got Talent” last Tuesday. “America’s Got Talent” saw its lowest ratings for a season opener. It dropped 16% among Adults 18-49 from last year’s Season 7 premiere, even though it was still the most watched program of the night.
“The Voice,” “America’s Got Talent’s” main competitor, also took a beating this week. “The Voice” fell 6% from its live original at 9 PM last week to hit a Tuesday results show low. NBC still won night in terms of ratings, but it is going to be an uphill battle. Even the original reality talent competition, “American Idol” finished its season with its worst ratings yet. It looks like talent shows are fighting a war that has already lost. No matter who is sitting on the panels.