America’s Got Talent season 21 has a very noticeable empty chair. Simon Cowell is sitting out the live episodes and the finale while he recovers from routine back surgery, a procedure connected to injuries from his 2020 electric-bike accident. In his place, the show has rolled out a guest-judge rotation, with Heidi Klum returning for the Sept. 8 episode, Kenan Thompson taking a turn, and KSI grabbing the seat for the finale.
His fellow judges are feeling the loss. Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show on Sept. 22 and opened up about what filming is like without him. Mandel put it simply: this is Simon’s boat, and it feels like they’ve set sail without the captain. Mel B and Vergara agreed the panel isn’t quite the same without the franchise’s central figure at the table.
The show must go on, and it has, with fresh faces bringing new energy to the panel all season. Still, Cowell isn’t just a judge. He’s the executive producer and the face of the whole franchise, and fans are already debating whether an AGT finale without him will feel complete. So we want to know: does AGT still work without Simon Cowell, or is the captain’s chair permanently his? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.