The Parents Television Council is up in arms over rumors that Howard Stern may replace Simon Cowell on American Idol next year.
"Fox's American Idol is one of the few family-friendly programs left on broadcast TV," the group says in a statement, before slamming the network for "considering filling the show with someone who is known primarily for crude profanity and explicit sex talk."
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The Parents Television Council — which has also protested sexy scenes on Gossip Girl — is urging parents to sign a petition to keep Stern, 56, off the reality hit.
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They point out some of Stern's most controversial comments: "[This is] the same Howard Stern who said of the gunmen at the school massacre in Columbine, ‘Did those kids try to have sex with any of the good-looking girls?…If you're going to kill yourself and kill all the kids, why wouldn't you have some sex?'"
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They also quote Stern speaking graphically about Fantasia, the Season 3 winner, before asking parents to "protect America's children and grandchildren from being exposed to this kind of language every week on American Idol, it is absolutely vital that you TELL FOX NOT TO HIRE HOWARD STERN!"
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In an UsMagazine.com poll, more than 80 percent of readers voted that Stern wouldn't be a good fit. Judge Kara DioGuardi agreed, telling reporters Wednesday, "I don't know that he has a musical background. I think that if you're gonna replace Simon, you have to have that background."
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