Executives at a parents' rights group in the U.S. are urging American Idol bosses not to hire Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowell - insisting the shock jock is too controversial for the family-friendly TV show.
Cowell recently announced he will leave the judging panel of the hit singing contest next year (11), and Stern has confirmed he's been in talks to take over.
But the news has infuriated bosses at The Parents Television Council (PTC), who fear Stern's bad boy reputation could be disastrous for the popular talent show.
PTC President Tim Winter says in a statement: "Unless Stern intends to undergo some sort of moth-to-butterfly metamorphosis - though in his case the change would be more like rattlesnake-to-Labrador retriever - adding him to American Idol would spell immediate death for one of the best franchises in American family entertainment."
The organisation has posted a petition on its website, urging worried parents to bombard Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly and American Idol executive producer Simon Fuller with complaints.
Winter adds, "Fox should move immediately to repudiate these rumours and instead commit publicly to keeping American Idol safe for family viewing."