Tyra Banks is stepping in as host of America’s Got Talent, veteran AGT judge Howie Mandel made the announcement on social media. This marks Banks’ return to reality series hosting after a long stint on America’s Next Top Model, which she also co-created. She replaces long-time AGT host Nick Cannon.
The news seems like a bit of a surprise since her name really wasn’t brought up when replacements were being mulled over. Marlon Wayans seemed to be the top contender but it was reported that negotiations broke down between Wayans and the network.
Cannon recently quit the series via an emotional post last month, in which he announced that he was leaving after allegedly being threatened with termination by NBC over an AGT- and NBC-related racial joke in his new Showtime stand-up special. Cannon hosted the show for 8 seasons. When NBC made AGT’s Season 12 renewal last August, the network announced that judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B. and Howie Mandel all would be returning in 2017.
AGT is coming off one of its highest-rated seasons in years with the show’s creator/executive producer Simon Cowell as new judge on the show and it’s typically the highest rated series in the 18-49 demo when it airs during the summer.
