Howard Stern calls Twitter followers for New Year

Howard Stern made surprise phone calls to several of his Twitter fans to celebrate the New Year.

The newest America's Got Talent judge posted on the social networking website that he and wife Beth Stern wanted to spend their New Year's Eve talking to his loyal followers.

"Beth and I are drunk dialing. What's your phone number?" he jokingly tweeted.

Stern apparently discussed ailing pets, video games and spending the holiday alone with a few of his fans over the course of the night.

After a few hours making personal calls, Stern resigned for the evening by writing: "Just made my last call. Going to bed. Wishing everyone a happy new year. If u get a call after this... it's not me."

Several of those who were called by Stern expressed their enthusiasm on Twitter, including one fan who wrote: "OMG! It was like the best thing ever! I started crying after we hung up!"

In December, Stern was announced as Piers Morgan's replacement on the new season of America's Got Talent.

He will be joined on the judging panel by Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne and a fourth expert when the show returns to NBC this summer.

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