Interview with 'America's Got Talent' host Nick Cannon

New host of NBC's "America's Got Talent" Nick Cannon is not afraid to pick a few favorites and also has a U.S. city tour coming up. Full interview after the jump.

I had the privilege of speaking with Nick Cannon yesterday and I actually use "privilege" unironically because he was incredibly nice and personable. Right now he is promoting a new study sponsored by Axe's new Sensitive Shower Gel.

They've determined the most Sensitive Guy cities and the worst Sensitive Guy cities, using criteria such as date-friendly restaurants, cultural centers/events and concentration of sports bars. All the details can be found here and you also register your email to find out what events are coming to your area.

The question I got from a lot of my readers is that you have been excellent as the new "America's Got Talent" host, so will you be back for another season?
If they have me back, I would love to be back. I'm having the time of my life on that show.

What are your plans once "America's Got Talent" wraps in a few weeks?
Well, I run a whole television network, TeenNick, then my record label and my stand up career and I gotta be a great husband too. [laughs]

Speaking of being a great husband, earlier in the season your wife, the excellent diva Ms. Mariah Carey, performed on the show. Were the two of you a package deal? Did she sign on for the show after you were hosting?
That is so funny, I've heard all the rumors that in order for me to get the job Mariah had to say she'd come perform. Like she helped me get the job. I've heard all of those rumors but none of that stuff is true. What actually happened is she had a hit single out and we got the #1 show on TV so it's the only destination for someone to perform in front of that big of an audience during the summer. She's a huge fan of the show and they were looking for people and I kinda came up with the idea originally to debut her video on NBC and once that relationship got together, they were like, "Do you think she would come perform?" and I was like, "Why not? Let's figure it out!"

Do you have any favorite acts this season? 
Favorite acts... I'm a huge fan of all the young people who come on the show. I love the Eriam Sisters, I love Eric & Rickie. I was a huge fan of The Pixies. Just to see those young people with so much talent come on stage and amaze everyone. Voices of Glory too, the young girl Nadia has an amazing voice, so those are the groups I kind-of lean towards.

Do you get to interact with them much offstage?
Well, what's really cool is you see there are all these amazing performers and they're so poised on stage but when you see them off-stage them are just kids, just being regular nine year-olds.

Are there any acts that left that you really wish were still around?
Like I said The Pixies, I loved The Pixies. Those girls were fun and tremendously talented. And Charles DeWayne. That one kinda tripped me. Charles DeWayne was great.

Let's talk about your Sensitive Guy/Sensitive City study. Can you tell me a little bit about that?
Axe Shower Gel recognizes that I'm in touch with my sensitive side. People always wonder how I get all these beautiful women to talk to me cause I'm no Brad Pitt, nothing like that, but I've always had really good luck with women so I think they recognize that. I'm in touch with my sensitive side. I love sending flowers and writing love notes and there's nothing wrong with that. You end up winning in the end when you're in touch with your sensitive side.

[Ed's note: I happen to think Nick Cannon is pretty darn good-looking but did not point that out to him for fear of looking like a creepy lech.]

Were there any surprises for you on the list of sensitive/insensitive cities?
You know, you always hear about the Southern Hospitality and how the men in the south are all gentlemen to women but they tested the lowest for men with sensitivity. That was a little shocking.  Nashville was the worst and that's country music, you'd think they'd be in touch with their sensitive sides.

What are you doing with those results going forward, how are you involved?
I'm the spokesperson for just letting everybody know that it's okay to be sensitive. That's my main thing. Before we went through and got all the results and now it's getting the word out. I DJ and stuff, so I'll DJ a hot party and swanky type event, make sure the swag is together. I'm on this whole new elegant movement of trying to bring it back to the Frank Sinatra days, the Sammy Davis days. Those dudes were real sensitive and elegant. Every city we go to we try to throw an event that people can get dressed up for, get their fly on.

It's funny you say that because we all thought you looked very Sammy Davis Jr. last night on the results show. 
Oh yeah, I'm gonna keep bringing it on the show. I hope my title is the best dressed man on television. Seacrest gave me that title and I gotta live up to it.

Thanks so much for speaking with me today! Have fun on your Axe tour.
Thank you. Have a great day.

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Related Links
Susan Boyle may visit AGT
Nick Cannon visits Conan O'Brien
America's Got Talent recaps