Kenan Thompson sits in Simon Cowell’s chair on America’s Got Talent from 1 September, while Cowell recovers from a procedure described as routine, related to his back.
A large number of headlines have used the word replacement. It is technically defensible and practically misleading, and the difference is the only thing on this page that matters: Cowell has not left the show and is expected back within a few weeks.
Guest judge versus replacement
| Guest judge | Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Days or weeks | Indefinite |
| Original judge | Returns | Does not |
| Announced as | Covering an absence | A change to the panel |
This is the first column. Nothing announced points to the second.
Why this particular confusion recurs. “X replaces Y” is a stronger headline than “X covers for Y for a fortnight”, and it is not false — Thompson genuinely is taking the seat. But readers parse “replacement” as permanent, which is why every one of these stories generates the same question within an hour: is Simon Cowell leaving? The answer here is no, and the reliable test is simple — a permanent judging change is announced by the network as a casting decision, not attached to a medical recovery.
He has done this before
Thompson guest-judged on the show during the 2020 quarterfinals, also while Cowell was recovering from surgery.
That prior stint is genuinely informative. Shows return to people who worked out, and a panel replacement is a harder job than it appears: the guest has to be funny enough to hold a seat built for a specific personality without pretending to be that personality. Being asked back is the endorsement.
Who he is, for anyone outside the SNL audience
Thompson has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2003 — the longest-tenured in the programme’s history. Two decades on a live sketch show is an unusual qualification for a talent-show panel, and a relevant one: the job is reacting, live, to something you have not seen before.
What is actually confirmed
| Confirmed | Thompson guest-judging from 1 September; Cowell absent for recovery |
| Reported | Cowell expected back within a few weeks; procedure described as routine |
| Not announced | Any permanent change to the judging panel |
If that changes, it will be announced as a casting decision and covered as one. Until then the accurate summary is short: a familiar guest, a temporary absence, and a headline doing more work than the facts require.
Kenan Thompson’s appearance as a guest judge on America’s Got Talent from 1 September 2026, covering for Simon Cowell while he recovers from a procedure described in reporting as routine and related to his back, was reported by Deadline, TMZ, American Songwriter, Reality Tea and other outlets in late August 2026. Those reports state that Cowell is not permanently leaving the programme and is expected to return within a few weeks. Thompson previously served as a guest judge during the 2020 quarterfinals while Cowell recovered from surgery, and has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2003, the longest tenure in the programme’s history. No permanent change to the America’s Got Talent judging panel has been announced. Details of any individual’s medical treatment are as characterised in that reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Simon Cowell leaving America’s Got Talent?
No. He is absent while recovering from a procedure described as routine, related to his back, and is expected to return within a few weeks.
When does Kenan Thompson appear?
From 1 September 2026, as a guest judge.
Has he done this before?
Yes. He guest-judged during the 2020 quarterfinals while Cowell was recovering from surgery, so this is a repeat arrangement rather than a new one.
Is he permanently joining the panel?
No. He is covering a temporary absence. Nothing announced indicates a permanent change to the judging line-up.
Who is Kenan Thompson?
A comedian and actor who has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2003, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the programme’s history.
What season is this?
America’s Got Talent season 20.
