Simon Cowell’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ replacement announced as he recovers from surgery
Comedian Kenan Thompson was announced as Simon Cowell’s temporary replacement on the forthcoming “America’s Got Talent” episode as the latter recovers from back surgery.
“A comedy legend is taking over the Judges’ table!” the NBC competition series announced via Instagram Saturday alongside a photo of the “Saturday Night Live” star.
“Kenan Thompson is joining AGT as a guest Judge! 🎉.”
Thompson, 48, will appear on Season 21 of the reality series alongside fellow judges Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B on Tuesday.
It’s unclear whether the actor will appear in the following five remaining episodes of “AGT,” or if other surprise judges will step in.
Thompson has been a cast member of “SNL” since 2003. He’s also played the role of Dexter Reed in the 1997 comedy “Good Burger” and starred in the late ’90s TV series “Kenan & Kel.”
The actor previously stepped in as a guest judge in 2020 when Cowell, 66, broke his back during an electric bike accident.
Earlier this month, Fox News reported that Cowell would miss a few weeks of “AGT” to undergo and recover from the procedure that would address his ongoing back issues.
At the time of the “American Idol” alum’s accident, he was out with his longtime partner, Lauren Silverman, 49, and their now-12-year-old son, Eric.
Cowell was riding his bike in a courtyard in Malibu, California, when he fell and landed on his back, resulting in “massive amounts of pain.”
“When he fell off the bike. he landed right on his back, which broke in a number of places,” an insider told us in 2020.
He was then transported to a hospital, where he underwent a six-hour surgery and had a metal rod placed in his back.
The horrific 2020 accident led Cowell to miss a majority of Season 15 of “AGT.”
Reflecting on the incident during a 2021 interview with People, he said, “I’ve got to be honest with you, it wasn’t that bad actually breaking your back.”
“I mean it wasn’t great for 3 to 4 weeks but after that you get through it,” Cowell added.
Cowell also suffered another e-bike injury in 2022, leading to a broken arm.
“AGT” airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
