Howard Stern has replaced outgoing judge Piers Morgan on the hit NBC summer reality competition ‘America’s Got Talent,’ the Huffington Post is reporting. Stern made the announcement on his Sirius radio show, confirming the news that he signed an official contract to appear on the upcoming seventh season.

After Morgan decided to leave ‘America’s Got Talent’ this year, the sixth season, to focus on his CNN show ‘Piers Morgan Tonight,’ NBC raced to find a replacement as controversial a judge as he was. Of his hiring, Stern said “I’m going to be Piers on steroids. It’s going to be a no-nonsense judge…I’m going to go there as a serious judge…I am very excited.”

Stern added on his radio show that the “goofy acts” are in for a surprise. “This nonsense of (fellow judges) Howie (Mandel) and Sharon (Osbourne) putting through less than talented people has got to stop. Under my administration there will be no Frank Sinatra impersonators winning for the year.”

Stern is already making headlines for reportedly asking for a $20 million payout. Of his hiring, Paul Teledgy, president of alternative and late night programming at NBC, released a statement saying the radio host’s “larger-than-life personality will bring a thrilling new dynamic to ‘America’s Got Talent.’ He’s a proven innovator and his track record in broadcasting is truly remarkable. (Howard) is very passionate about this show.”

Written by: Karen Benardello