• by David Goetzl , July 23, 2007

As NBC announced it would place its new reality entry "The Singing Bee" on its fall schedule, the network also said it was casting a third season of the show's lead-in, "America's Got Talent," for summer 2008.

So far this summer, "AGT," with new host Jerry Springer, is performing even better--almost 10%--than its premiere season last summer when it had a 3.8 in the 18-to-49 demo and a 12 share. For the second summer in a row, it's the fifth-highest-rated series.

NBC announced this week that it would place karaoke-style competition "The Singing Bee"--which had a boffo debut and remains the highest-rated series this summer after only two episodes--on its fall schedule. It was originally scheduled for the late fall, then moved up to gain momentum on a similar Fox series.

Last year, "AGT" posted a 3.5 average and a 10 share in the key demo, trailing "So You Think You Can Dance" (two editions), "Hell's Kitchen" and NBC's "Last Comic Standing." Through July 15, it again trails the two Fox shows, "Dance" and "Kitchen." This fall, "The Biggest Loser" will replace "Talent" as the lead-in for "Singing Bee."

"America's Got Talent," an outgrowth of "American Idol," is from the same producers, but will feature performers in other areas in addition to singing. It also has a new judge this year--Sharon Osbourne--in addition to Springer.

Would NBC consider airing "AGT" during the season, possibly as a midseason fill-in for series that flop? Not likely. An NBC official wrote in an e-mail that it's a summer show and plans call for it to remain so.