During the "America's Got Talent " auditions in New York City, Howard Stern learned some difficult lessons about his new role. A keen judge of talent, Stern tried to be fair and impartial to all the contestants, but there were times when that simply wasn't enough.
Sharon Osbourne is caught between a Howie and a Howard.
If the second week of "America's Got Talent" showed anything, it's that Howie Mandel and Howard Stern are going to disagree, especially over acts with noticeable talent. The Flyte Cru, an acrobatic troupe, performed dangerous basketball maneuvers that wowed the audience.
Mandel, on the other hand, thought they weren't original enough. "This is something that I've seen before. I don't think they were that original. I don't think they were that slick, so I am going to say 'No'," he explained.
Saying that he goes to basketball games on occasion, Stern thought the Flyte Cru was a step above, so he was willing to give them a second chance. Osbourne broke the tie and sent the guys on their way to Las Vegas.
Children don't get a free pass from Howard Stern.
Jason Cordero, a young pianist, had the stage presence and talent to earn a unanimous vote from the judges. Mir Money, a 7-year-old rapper, also had personality, but he lacked real singing ability. Stern was quick on the buzzer followed by Sharon Osbourne.
"You're a very nice young man. No one likes hitting the 'X' on a seven-year-old," Stern explained. "You are very brave to get up there at seven years old."
At this point, Mir Money started to tear up, prompting Stern to head to the stage to comfort him. Despite a sympathy vote from the shock jock, Mir Money is not advancing to the next round.
"This job is too tough for me. I really don't want to do it anymore," Stern said, visibly shaken by the child's tears.
One contestant takes one or two for the team.
Arguably, the most impressive New York City audition came from the Olate Dogs, a father and son team of animal trainers. Their dogs twirled in circles, formed a conga line, and even jumped rope. Animal acts can be a hard sell on "America's Got Talent," but Richard Olate and his son received an enthusiastic invitation to Vegas from the judges.
A man who goes by the name of Horse had every man cringing with his act, however. Horse's talent, as it turns out, is to endure kicks and other abuse to his groin. At one point, he stripped down to his underwear and held cinderblocks in his lap while his assistants smashed them to pieces with a sledge hammer.
"At first I said to myself that he's got to be wearing a cup. Clearly, you are not wearing a cup," Stern said. To prove that his friends were not taking it easy on him, Stern invited host Nick Cannon to come over and land a few kicks on Horse.
The shock and awe of this act helped send Horse to the next round.
