Kenan Thompson is the latest star who has been tapped to fill in for Simon Cowell as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.”
The “Saturday Night Live” cast member will temporarily take over for Cowell, who underwent back surgery over the weekend of Aug. 10 following a bike accident. Sources close to “AGT” say there is no word yet as to when Cowell will return to his hosting seat. Last week, Kelly Clarkson was the one to temporarily take Cowell’s position.
Thompson will join this season’s regular judging panel of Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara, and host Terry Crews for Tuesday and Wednesday’s live telecasts. The news comes only a couple weeks after he received yet another Emmy nomination in the supporting actor in a comedy series for his work on “SNL.”
27 PHOTOSKenan Thompson through his careerSee GalleryKenan Thompson through his career
Actor Kel Mitchell and actor Kenan Thompson attend the ‘Good Burger’ Hollywood Premiere on July 19, 1997 at Paramount Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
Kenan Thompson during MTV Nickelodeon’s John Leguizamo in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
(Original Caption) Keenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell from the group ‘Keenan and Kel’ with an award. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
PASADENA,CA – FEBRUARY 14:Actor Kenan Thompson and actor Kel Mitchell attend the 30th Annual NAACP Image Awards on February 14, 1999 at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd/WireImage) 
Kenan Thompson during Maxim “SNO” Party Hosted by January Cover Girl Michelle Branch at Marque in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for Maxim)
Kenan Thompson at the 40/40 Club in New York City, New York (Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage)
Students from St. Michael’s School in Newark meet Kenan Thompson and Andrew Shue as part of Do Something’s canned food drive held at Planet Hollywood, New York City. (Photo by Brian ZAK/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Kenan Thompson during Kenan Thompson and Tyrese Visit MTV’s “TRL” – December 21, 2004 at MTV Studios in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 8 — Aired 12/10/2005 — Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson as Sharif Omar Mohammed during “Weekend Update” on December 10, 2005(Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 10 — Aired 01/14/2006 — Pictured: (l-r) Amy Poehler as Kayleesha Kang, Kenan Thompson as D.J. Dynasty Handbag, Rachel Dratch as Tiara Zee during “Deep House Dish” skit on January 14, 2005(Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 8 — Aired 12/09/2006 — Pictured: (l-r) Maya Rudolph as Trudy Plains, Kenan Thompson as Mason Lemmings during “Buyer Beware” skit on December 9, 2006(Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 7 — Aired 12/2/2006 — Pictured: Kenan Thompson as Dr. Albert Edwards during “Nancy Grace” skit on December 2, 2006(Photo by Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Actor Kenan Thompson attends the 2007 mtvU Woodie Awards at the Roseland Ballroom on November 8, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/FilmMagic)
MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 31:Keenan Thompson and Jaslene Gonzalezattends New Year’s Eve celebration at Gansevoort South on December 31, 2008 in Miami Beach, Florida.(Photo by Gustavo Caballero/WireImage for Dan Klores Communications) 
NEW YORK CITY, NY – NOVEMBER 19: Kenan Thompson attends THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2009 Museum Gala at The American Museum of Natural History on November 19, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by JOE SCHILDHORN/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Melissa McCarthy” Episode 1654 — Pictured: (l-r) Melissa McCarthy, Kenan Thompson — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Drake” Episode 1652 — Pictured: Kenan Thompson as Sway during the “Hip Hop Classics: Before They Were Stars” sketch on January 18, 2014 — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 1611 “Channing Tatum” — Pictured: (l-r) Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, Channing Tatum, Jay Pharoah, Kenan Thompson — Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Martin Short” Episode 1630 — Pictured: (l-r) Bill Hader, Cecily Strong, Vanessa Bayer, Carrie Brownstein, Samuel L. Jackson, Kenan Thompson — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 1649 — Pictured: (l-r) Paul Rudd, Keenan Thompson — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Amy Adams” Episode 1672 — Pictured: Kenan Thompson as Cuba Gooding, Jr. during the “A Very Cuban Christmas” skit on December 20, 2014 — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Tina Fey and Amy Poehler” Episode 1692 — Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey and Kenan Thompson as Bill Cosby during the “Special Offer” sketch on December 19, 2015 — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Tina Fey and Amy Poehler” Episode 1692 — Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey, Kenan Thompson, and Amy Poehler on December 15, 2015 — (Photo by: Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “John Cena” Episode 1713 — Pictured: Kenan Thompson as Tay-Tay Dubbs during the “Talent Competition” sketch on December 10, 2016 — (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
TODAY — Pictured: Keenan Thompson on Monday, November 5, 2018 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — “Emma Stone” Episode 1764 — Pictured: Kenan Thompson as Dwayne during the “Ladies Room” sketch on Saturday, April 13, 2019 — (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 14: Saturday Night Live Comedian Kenan Thompson is sighted at Caroline’s Comedy Club on April 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images)Up Next
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Cowell was hospitalized on Aug. 8 after a bike accident at his home in Malibu. According to a statement from his reps, he was testing out a new electric bicycle in the courtyard of his home when he fell. He was in surgery for five hours but is now said to be recovering.
He put out his own statement last Sunday, thanking fans for the outpouring of support he has received. He also thanked the doctors and nurses at the hospital, calling them “Some of the nicest people I have ever met.”
Thompson is set to deepen his ties with NBC through the upcoming comedy series “Kenan,” which is slated to premiere sometime midseason. The show centers on a recently widowed host of Atlanta’s number 2 morning show (Thompson), who struggles to balance his job and his young daughters despite all the “help” he gets from his father-in-law (Don Johnson) and his brother/assistant/manager/house guest (Chris Redd). Thompson has recent experience in the guest judging domain, having the joined “The Masked Singer” panel of judges for a couple episodes last year.
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