Simon Cowell Temporary Replacement

America’s Got Talent just got a jolt of SNL energy. With Season 21 deep into the live quarterfinals, Simon Cowell is stepping away from the judges’ table for a short stretch. NBC and the show’s official channels have confirmed that Kenan Thompson will sit in first.

If you watched the August 25 live episode, you already saw the empty chair. Host Terry Crews addressed it on air. The operation could not be postponed. It is not an emergency. Cowell is expected back in a few weeks.

Why Cowell Is Missing the Live Shows

Cowell, 66, is recovering from a routine back procedure tied to injuries from his 2020 electric-bike accident. A representative told Entertainment Weekly that medical details remain private, but the surgery is routine and he will return soon.

He has dealt with follow-up operations since that crash, which forced him off parts of both AGT and Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. This time the timing lands in the middle of the live quarterfinals, when America is voting and Golden Buzzers still matter.

The current Season 21 panel is Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Cowell, with Terry Crews hosting. For the most recent performance and results nights, the three remaining judges carried the table without a fourth voice.

source: Wikimedia Commons / UKinUSA (Greater Together LA 2026)

Kenan Thompson Is First in the Chair

On August 28 the official AGT Instagram account posted the news: “A comedy legend is taking over the Judges’ table! Kenan Thompson is joining AGT as a guest Judge!” He appears Tuesday, September 1 at 8/7c on NBC for Quarterfinals Round 3.

Thompson, 48, is the longest-tenured Saturday Night Live cast member and a familiar AGT face. He guest-judged in 2020 after Cowell’s original injury, sitting with Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and then-judge Heidi Klum. That earlier stint already proved he can work the buzzers and the banter.

This time he joins Mandel, Vergara, and Mel B. The show has said additional guest judges will be announced for later weeks. No other names are confirmed yet. Thompson’s run for September 1 is the only date locked in.

source: Wikimedia Commons / Adweek (NBC Upfront 2019)

The live season keeps moving. After September 1 and the September 2 results show, another quarterfinal arrives September 8. Semifinals begin September 15. The $1 million winner is scheduled for September 23.

Want a recap of the current live-show energy before Thompson arrives? Watch recent quarterfinal performances here: America’s Got Talent 2026 Quarter Final 1 highlights

Who do you want to see in that fourth chair after Kenan? Drop your pick in the comments, hit like if you are team Thompson for the Golden Buzzer, and subscribe so you do not miss the next guest-judge reveal.

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#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #SimonCowell #KenanThompson #AGT2026

Sources

NBC / AGT official Instagram announcement (Aug. 28, 2026); Entertainment Weekly statement from Cowell’s representative; NBC Insider; People; Deadline; TV Insider; Wikipedia season 21 page (judges and schedule).