By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Simon Cowell was shockingly nice in the opening episode of "America's Got Talent" as a judge. It's as if Paula Abdul (now judging "So You Think You Can Dance: Next Generation") infected him!

To a cutesy six-year-old stand-up comic: “I think America is going to fall in love with you. I’ve got a feeling about that."

To a dude with his dancing dog: “I actually think the dog likes dancing!”

To clairvoyants, who pull off an impressive display: “You have magic powers!”

To an acapella group, he is "relatively" rough: "I thought the first half of the song was okay, then you picked it up in the middle... it was sensational."

Simon couldn't even bring the daggers out for a joke act - a Spice Girls drag group that couldn't dance particularly well. Or sing.

He opted for sarcasm in front of Mel B: "Can I be honest? In my opinion, that was better than the original." He Xed them, then gave them a yes, anyway.

The producers did purposely plant such a dumb act (a dude jumping into a plastic pool full of shaving cream) that Simon does walk out in "disgust" after saying it was the "worst thing I've ever seen on 'America's Got Talent.' "

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Carrie Underwood shows off her incredible bod on the cover of Us magazine.

Behold:

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Credit: Rodney Ho

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Credit: Rodney Ho

The effusive story notes that she "defies the laws of physiques." It notes her exercise regime includes heavy metal (Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold) on Spotify while doing pull-ups and squats six times a week in her touring gym. "I feel much better now at 33 than I did when I was 20 because I take better care of myself,' she said.

Breakfast is her biggest meal while dinner is exclusively protein and veggies. She also tries to stay vegan but will eat a good dessert with butter.

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Justin Guarini got to do some new Diet Dr. Pepper commericals as "Lil Sweet."(He debuted the character last year.) Some folks compare it a bit to Prince. 

And Constantine Maroulis does a soap goof with Brooke Shields for La-Z Boy:

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres