Simon Cowell's status for the "America's Got Talent" Season 21 finale remains unconfirmed, and even his fellow judges say they're in the dark. With the finale airing Tuesday, September 22, and Wednesday, September 23, host Terry Crews and judges Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Mel B told TV Insider they still don't know whether Cowell will be back at the judges' table.
Cowell has been absent from the live shows since late August while recovering from a routine back surgery, part of ongoing back issues connected to a serious electric bike accident in 2020. Guest judges, including Kenan Thompson and Heidi Klum, have filled in during his recovery. NBC has said the procedure was not an emergency, and there's no indication Cowell's absence is anything beyond a planned recovery.
Crews described the empty seat as "a big space" and "a giant hole," but emphasized the cast is focused on carrying the show the way Cowell would want. Mel B said the absence has affected Vergara most, joking it's "because she sits next to him," and added the judges signed him a card during his recovery.
For his part, Crews framed the show's continuation as loyalty to Cowell's own creation. AGT began as Cowell's British format in 2005, and Crews said the goal now is simple: keep things running until he's ready to return, whether that's for the finale or later.
Crews, who has spoken openly for years about how his Christian faith helped restore his marriage after a public addiction struggle, has often credited that same faith with shaping how he leads on set - treating the AGT cast, he's said, like family looking out for one another.
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