'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' PREMIERE PUSHED UP ONE WEEK TO TUESDAY, JUNE 17

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' PREMIERE PUSHED UP ONE WEEK TO TUESDAY, JUNE 17

BURBANK � March 31, 2008 � NBC's hit summer series "America's Got Talent," from "American Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television, will now premiere Tuesday, June 17 (9-11p.m. ET) moving up one week from its previously announced premiere date.

Following the June 17 premiere, another two-hour episode will air Tuesday, June 24 as well as Tuesday, July 1 (9-11 p.m. ET) and then subsequently follow with hour-long episodes beginning July 8 (9-10 p.m. ET). The series will take a brief hiatus during the Summer Olympics and return August 26 (performance episodes) and "results shows" will begin starting August 27 (8-9 p.m. ET).

"America's Got Talent" is currently crisscrossing America hitting Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York as part of a nationwide search for the hottest performers in the country to compete in the blockbuster reality show's third season.

A colorful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists of all ages strut and perform on stage in front of celebrity judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne. New this season, thousands of people have been invited to attend the audition tapings at some of the largest theaters in the country, where they will judge the acts along with the show's judges, giving America a voice right from the beginning of the competition.

Terry Fator, a ventriloquist from Dallas, Texas achieved the dream of a lifetime last August when he was crowned the second season champion. Not only did he win the $1,000,000 grand prize, but his dream to headline on the Las Vegas strip came true when he signed a 2008 contract with the Las Vegas Hilton in a deal worth more than $1.5 million.

"America's Got Talent," hosted by Jerry Springer, was last year's #1 summer series in total viewers, averaging 11.4 million persons. The finale on August 21 garnered 4.2 rating/12 share in adults 18-49 and 13.9 million viewers overall � a new series record in total viewers, with a 16 percent increase over its finale the year before.

"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Televison. Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol"), Jason Raff, James Sunderland and Georgie Hurford-Jones are executive producers.