Simon Cowell will be temporarily replaced on America's Got Talent's judging panel as he undergoes back surgery.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
America's Got Talent announced Kenan's upcoming appearance on Friday, August 28 via Instagram.
"A comedy legend is taking over the Judges' table! Kenan Thompson is joining AGT as a guest Judge! Don't miss his guest appearance Tuesday, September 1 at 8/7c on @NBC," AGT captioned a photo of the All That star.
Kenan, 48, will join Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Melanie "Mel B" Brown at the judges' table for Tuesday night's live quarterfinals show.
The appearance will mark Kenan's second time filling in for Simon on America's Got Talent.
Kenan previously served as a guest judge in August 2020 after Simon broke his back in an electric-bike accident at his Malibu home and was forced to miss several AGT live shows.
During that stint, Kenan filled out the judging panel with Howie, Sofia and then-judge Heidi Klum.
Kenan's return comes as Simon, 66, once again takes a temporary break from his America's Got Talent judging duties due to his back.
Simon is expected to miss a couple weeks of America's Got Talent while undergoing the procedure, according to People.
A representative for the former The X Factor judge also told Entertainment Weekly that the surgery is a "routine" procedure and Simon is expected to return to the show in a few weeks.
Simon's absence was already noticeable during America's Got Talent's August 25 live show, when his chair was left empty next to the other judges.
America's Got Talent has yet to announce an exact date for Simon's return.
FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
When Simon injured his back in Summer 2020, he underwent a five-hour surgery that reportedly included multiple spinal fusions and the insertion of a metal rod in his back.
Simon's recovery kept him away from the America's Got Talent judges' table for the remainder of Season 15.
Kenan, meanwhile, has plenty of experience with NBC and live television.
The comedian joined Saturday Night Live in 2003 and is the longest-tenured cast member in the sketch-comedy show's history, according to the magazine.
Kenan will join America's Got Talent at a pivotal point in the Season 21 competition.
The September 1 broadcast will feature 11 more acts competing in the third round of quarterfinals, with a Golden Buzzer sending one act directly to the finals.
The results will then be revealed during America's Got Talent's broadcast on Wednesday, September 2.
America's Got Talent currently airs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on NBC.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
