Howie Mandel hates germs. He credits his phobia to obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety condition that’s affected him for years.
In fact, the TV host’s aversion to germs is so severe, he’s become renowned for refusing to engage in a simple handshake.
Which raises the question: how is it that Howie will be seen shaking his co-hosts’ hands in an upcoming episode of America’s Got Talent?
While plugging season 10 of the competition series on Thursday, the 59-year-old revealed a contestant successfully hypnotized him, allowing him to shake the other panelists’ hands without issue.
“It’s amazing to see I survived it,” Howie said, adding, “Was I taken advantage of?”; See for yourself in the new trailer below.
The question is: did Howie thank the bold hypnotist or send him packing?
The new season of America’s Got Talent premiers on May 26.