Howie Mandel, Mel B & Heidi Klum Returning to AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Alongside Simon Cowell

Howie Mandel, Mel B and Heidi Klum will return as judges to NBC's top-rated summer competition series "America's Got Talent," joining previously announced new judge and "Got Talent" creator Simon Cowell.

Nick Cannon will again assume hosting duties as the show returns to Los Angeles for its live performance and results shows and heads into a milestone second decade on the air.

The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, President of Alternative and Late-Night Programming, NBC Entertainment.

"Howie, Mel and Heidi have an undeniable chemistry together and bring unbridled energy to everything they do," said Telegdy. "We are very excited to bring them back along with Nick Cannon as host, and with the addition of creator Simon Cowell as a judge, the panel just got a little more interesting. We can't wait for the new season to begin."

"Without sounding too arrogant I am going to call us the Fantastic Four," said Cowell. "I like this panel because they are slightly nuts. And now let's find a star."

"It's great to have Howie, Mel, Heidi and Nick back on AGT and to welcome Simon and his unique judging style. This panel knows how to spot great talent and how to have a lot of fun while doing it. It's going to be an entertaining season!" said Trish Kinane, FremantleMedia NORTH AMERICA President of Entertainment Programming and AGT Executive Producer.

Klum and Mel B are returning as judges for their fourth season. Mandel returns for his seventh season.

This past season of "America's Got Talent" on NBC averaged a 2.9 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 12.5 million viewers overall with its Tuesday edition, ranking it the #1 among summer alternative series in total viewers for a 10th consecutive year and delivered its most-watched season in four years.

Auditions for the upcoming season 11 of "America's Got Talent" are currently underway. The hit talent show is making stops in 12 U.S. cities, including Kansas City (Jan. 23), Atlanta (Jan. 30), Los Angeles (Feb. 6), Orlando (Feb. 19) and Dallas (Feb. 27). Full details on the nationwide tour, including additional cities and the ability to audition online now, can be found by visiting www.AGTAuditions.com.

The "Got Talent" format, co-owned by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment globally, holds the Guinness World Record as the most successful reality TV format. The show can be seen in 190 markets worldwide with more than 500 million global viewers since it began airing in 2006. "Britain's Got Talent" is the U.K.'s highest rated entertainment show of the century and in 2009, discovered the global singing sensation, Susan Boyle, who has sold 19 million records to date.

"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia NORTH AMERICA and Syco Entertainment. Simon Cowell, Sam Donnelly, Jason Raff, Trish Kinane and Richard Wallace are the executive producers.