"America's Got Talent" is going to be down a bloke come summer.
Piers Morgan, the only judge remaining from the show's first season, announced today on CNN that he's leaving the hit NBC competition after six years on the job.
"Well, members of the Academy, I'm available!" he quipped, referencing the suddenly vacant post left by Eddie Murphy, who pulled out as host of the upcoming Oscars after scandal-plagued Brett Ratner resigned as producer.
"My schedule just cleared a bit," Morgan continued, "because I can exclusively reveal that I'm leaving 'America's Got Talent' ... I've loved every single second but discovered that juggling, to my surprise, really is a bit more difficult than I thought.
"So," the "Piers Morgan Tonight" host added, "I'm going to focus on what's going to be a huge year here at CNN, with the upcoming election. I'd like to thank NBC, Fremantle and my great friend Simon Cowell for giving me such a wonderful opportunity on that amazing show. And I want to congratulate Sharon, Howie and Nick, who will doubtless be very relieved to learn they no longer have to work with me."
Taking a similarly self-deprecating route was fellow judge Howie Mandel, who tweeted, "I guess I'm more annoying than I thought. I'll miss you @piersmorgan."
Cheerio, mate!
Who do you think would make a good replacement for Piers on "America's Got Talent"? Share your thoughts on the !