Kenan Thompson Fills In For Simon Cowell Again

Kenan Thompson is set to return to the America's Got Talent judging panel for the Quarterfinals 3 episode, scheduled for September 1. He will be temporarily replacing Simon Cowell, the show's creator and executive producer, who is currently sidelined to recover from back surgery.

This is not the first time Thompson has stepped in for Cowell. In August 2020, the "Saturday Night Live" veteran also served as a guest judge during the live quarterfinals. This was following Cowell's serious e-bike accident in August 2020, which resulted in a complex spinal injury and a lengthy rehabilitation period.

During his previous guest appearance in 2020, Thompson sat alongside judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. He shared his sentiment at the time, stating, "This is incredible. Seize the moment, if you have nerves turn those nerves into superpowers." He was the second guest judge to fill in for Cowell that year, following Kelly Clarkson.

The show officially announced Thompson's upcoming appearance on Instagram, highlighting his status as a "comedy legend" taking over the judges' table. For the current week's live quarterfinals, the judging panel has consisted solely of Klum, Mandel, and Vergara.