I’ve always shoved “America’s Got Talent” into that pool of reality shows that includes things such as “Nashville Star” and “The Bachelor.”

Not as heinous as, say, “Celebrity Circus” or “ The Baby Borrowers,” but Shows I Would Watch Only If My Other Choices Were The NBA Finals Or Larry King.

So last night, given the choices, I tuned into part of the season three premiere of NBC’s “Talent.”

I will admit that my embarrassing obsession with “Celebrity Apprentice” this spring turned me into a Piers Morgan fan. I knew he was the Simon Cowell of the “America’s Got Talent” (handy, as the two are friends and Cowell created the show). But his ruthless pursuit of that bottom-feeder known as Omarosa combined with nasty-tinged shrewdness and a British accent that makes everything sound cooler confirmed my membership in the Piers fan club.

<<< Piers Morgan

Granted, I’ve always loved Sharon Osborne and find David Hasselhoff (hereby referred to as “The Hoff”) a continually watchable buffoon, but my interest in jugglers and square dancers hovers around the level of cleaning the litter box.

So imagine my surprise when I flipped over from yes, the NBA Finals (hooray, Boston!), caught the last half of 4-year-old Kaitlyn Maher’s incredibly sweet (if a little, uh, pitchy) take on “Somewhere Out There” and found myself teary-eyed while watching the mini-Celine stare big-eyed as the judges poured on the plaudits (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/video/index.shtml#mea=266081).

I don’t even like kids – but this one is cute to the point that I actually want to watch the show now and see if her tiny dream gets shattered when that male Britney Spears impersonator or that fabulous opera singer Neal Boyd beats her to the finals.

Of course you expected Sharon, with her maternal instincts, to ratchet her voice to that level she uses to talk to her Pomeranians when praising Kaitlyn. And The Hoff, well, he’s going to drag out the drama to keep the camera on him as long as possible, so his long-winded congratulations to the kid were expected.

But when Piers, my brother in jaded-ness, looked misty when telling the little girl that she was easily the best 4-year-old contestant the show has ever had (she’s also the youngest ever), I felt that same tug at my heart that occurs whenever Simon Cowell rolls his eyes and tells an “American Idol” contestant “you have just invented a new form of torture.”

Now, I am hooked.

Posted by Melissa Ruggieri in • Entertainment • Television
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