Mandel takes Hasselhoff's seat for America's Got Talent

Canadian comedian and game show host Howie Mandel is set to tackle a new TV job: judging the upcoming fifth season of the summertime TV competition America's Got Talent.

NBC, which airs the popular U.S. show, confirmed the new gig for the Canadian comic on Sunday. Mandel will join returning judges Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan.

The Toronto-born, 56-year-old comic also hosts NBC's game show Deal or No Deal and the hidden camera show Howie Do It. In 2009, he released a memoir titled Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me, in which he combined anecdotes from his show business career with stories about his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

U.S. actor Hasselhoff, best known for starring in past TV series such as Knight Rider and Baywatch, announced last week that he was leaving America's Got Talent after four years on the judging panel.

In a statement, he cited the launch of a new program, "which will be announced very shortly," as his reason for his departure.

Based on a British concept by TV talent contest guru Simon Cowell, America's Got Talent pits all manner of acts — including singers, dancers and troupes, comedians, magicians and other variety-type performers — in a general competition.

Ultimately, the winning act receives the top prize of $1 million US.