Before this week began, I hadn’t seen “Britain’s Got Talent” or “America’s Got Talent.”

Sure, I’d seen the old Susan Boyle clips that have been kicking around the web, but that was the extent to it. I wasn’t interested in a talent show outside of the American Idol/X-Factor vein.

But what a difference a week makes!

I started watching “America’s Got Talent” on Monday when the new season premiered and now I get it. I get why people watch these non-singing, non-dancing talent acts. They’re fascinating. The judges, Howard Stern, Sharon Osborne and Howie Mandel, provide an honest (and often hilarious) critique. And Nick Cannon is absolutely fantastic as a host, in that very British style of Ant and Dec (talking to the camera, narrating behind the scenes).

If you haen’t seen it, and are wondering what the fuss is all about, you can watch the season premiere online.