A powerful parents organization is furious with NBC for hiring Howard Stern on "America's Got Talent" -- claiming the move is an "act of desperation for a flailing network."

The Parents Television Council has released a statement to TMZ ... claiming primetime TV is no place for Howard Stern ... "a performer who is synonymous with shock, profanity and obscenity."

The PTC says, "The once-proud broadcast network has lost its way and has made it clear it holds no concern whatsoever for children and families."

The group adds, "Not coincidentally, in just over three weeks the network will be standing before the United States Supreme Court arguing for the right to use the F-word at any time of the day, even in front of children."

Dare we say ... we told you so.  Howard Stern just signed on with "America's Got Talent."

The King of All Media will replace Piers Morgan, much to the chagrin of those folks at the Parents Television Council, which felt he was too raunchy for primetime.

And producers wanted Stern so bad, they've even agreed to move 'AGT' to NYC -- so Howard can continue working on his radio show.

Fact is ... as we've been saying, Stern is a smart dude who knows his audience and when he should push the limits.

Bottom line -- AGT could become the biggest show on TV.


6:32 AM PST -- Howie Mandel is fired up about his new co-star ... telling TMZ, "I couldn't be happier. As my Mom always says, you can never have enough Howies."

Ain't nothin' wrong with a little XXX in the workplace -- at least according to the upstanding people at YouPorn ... who tell us, whoever visited their site at "America's Got Talent" is welcome back anytime.



As we previously reported, "America's Got Talent" recently aired a TV spot -- which accidentally displayed the YouPorn logo while showing footage of someone's browser history.

But according to a rep for YouPorn, this kind of thing happens more often than you'd think -- because the website gets over 12 million hits PER DAY.
 
The rep adds, "We'd like to thank our friend at NBC for visiting us, and we hope he comes again ..."

Ah, the porn world -- where everything is a double entendre.

"America's Got Talent" just accidentally aired an advertisement for hardcore porn -- all because some dumbass forgot to clear his or her (but probably his) browser history.


The promo aired during last Wednesday's episode -- and if you freeze the video just right, you can see YouPorn.com show up as the person types in YouTube.com. 

According to our computer experts, the only way YouPorn would have shown up was if someone using the computer had visited the site in the past.

Looks like AGT is a fun place to work.

Howie Mandel played a horrifying game of chicken recently -- literally stepping INSIDE a giant robotic hen ... and experiencing what we can only guess was some kind of exorcism.



It was all for a new episode of "America's Got Talent" -- Howie and his crew rode around inside the over-sized farm bird, all while Howie had a little too much fun with the chicken's built-in PA system ... seriously, it sounds like he's squawking demons out of his soul.



We're told the "Talent" crew rented out the Hen-a-tron -- its actual name -- for several hours ... and Howie had a blast. The power of poultry compels you.

Former "America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley believes a homeless person snuck into a ritzy L.A. hotel and killed his wife last year ... and now Joe is suing the hotel for wrongful death.



According to his lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Finley claims his wife's death could have been prevented if the hotel would have done a better job of keeping out transients.

As TMZ first reported, Joe was questioned by cops after his wife's body was discovered in the staircase of the hotel back in October.

Cops have not officially identified the killer -- and the investigation is still open -- but in his lawsuit, Joe seems pretty confident a transient was responsible for the death.

In the docs, Joe claims the Biltmore was aware that there had been several recent disturbances inside the hotel by "transients and other uninvited third parties" ... including assaults and theft ... but the hotel failed to take proper security measures to keep their guests safe.

Joe claims there were several items in the staircase that suggest homeless people were even living in the building the night his wife was killed ... the items included, "Filthy clothing ... bottles full of urine ... and dirty blankets."

Joe is suing for unspecified damages. So far, no comment from the Biltmore.

Joe's lawyer, Sean Macias, tells us, "The tragic death of Laura Finely was preventable and The Biltmore failed to provide basic security measures and precautions."

Macias adds, "There has been prior serious criminal incidents at the hotel. They were understaffed with security and they had construction on first and second floors where uninvited transients and third parties were staying."

"America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley's wife was found hours after her death ... in fact on the 911 call -- obtained by TMZ -- a hotel employee says the body was already in rigor mortis.



As we previously reported, Laura Finley's body was found last month in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.A -- where her husband Joe was auditioning for "America's Got Talent."

According to law enforcement sources, the investigation is still ongoing.

Joe Finley's "I didn't kill my wife" defense isn't flying with the victim's family -- TMZ has learned the "America's Got Talent" contestant's in-laws now suspect Joe was involved in the "murder" of Laura Finley.


One of Laura's close relatives tells us ... many family members believe Joe's "whole story is BS" ... adding, "There are too many gaping holes in his story for it to be true.”

As we previously reported, Joe told police Laura left their L.A. hotel room around 3:00 AM Saturday morning to get ice ... and never returned. Laura's body was found in a stairwell at the hotel around 8:00 AM ... while Joe was auditioning for "AGT," apparently unaware of his wife's fate.

The relative goes on to say, “The family knows Laura was murdered and that Joe was the last to see her. They're having a hard time believing that he went so long under those circumstances without being concerned about her whereabouts”

As for a motive -- we're told many family members say Laura had threatened to leave Joe after a pretty heated argument a few months before her death. They're also upset that Joe waited until Monday night to contact Laura's family.

Laura's family is so "disgusted" with the situation, they plan on holding their own "separate" memorial for her in the near future ... without Joe.

Joe Finley's family members are rallying behind the "America's Got Talent" contestant -- telling TMZ they "do NOT believe Joe" would ever murder his wife.



Several members of Joe's family have already contacted each other about the tragic death of Laura Finley -- and one rep for the group tells us, "We do not believe Joe would have done this ... but neither do we believe [Laura] accidentally died."

As we previously reported, Laura's body was found at the bottom of a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday morning ... Joe was named a person of interest in the investigation.

But the rep tells us, "Joe and Laura had a relationship that many would admire. They were together for over 30 years ... We stand behind Joe 100%."

Joe has denied any involvement in his wife's death.

Terry Fator, the puppeteer who signed a 10-year, $100 million contract with The Mirage in Las Vegas after winning "America's Got Talent," has just agreed to pay his ex-manager a huge amount of money ... TMZ has learned.



John McEntee, who claims he guided Fator's career after "Talent" and snagged him the plum Mirage job, was going after the puppet master, alleging he's owed 20% on the $100 mil, plus 20% of other gigs as well. 

Our sources say Fator and McEntee just reached a settlement.  McEntee will get his commission for the first 5 years of the Mirage deal -- which means McEntee just pocketed $10 mil. 

In a joint statement, Fator and McEntee tell TMZ they're happy to bury the hatchet.  And Factor gives McEntee props, saying, "I appreciate John's work on my behalf following my "America's Got Talent' win in 2007, including his contributions that were instrumental in bringing my show to the Mirage."

"America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley insists his wife's death was "not an accident" -- telling TMZ, "Somebody threw her off that railing."



Joe tells us he last saw his wife Laura Finley at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles at 3:00 AM Saturday morning ... after the two popped the drug ecstasy.

Laura was pronounced dead at 8:25 AM.

Joe was named a person of interest in the death -- but tells TMZ he did not murder his wife adding,  "100% this was not an accident."

Joe says cops told him that someone went to the front desk and requested a key to their room at around 1:30 AM, an hour and a half before Finley claims he last saw his wife.