‘America’s Got Talent’ Judges Miss Simon Cowell Amid Surgery Recovery: ‘We’ve Set Sail Without the Captain’

Simon Cowell may be missing from the America’s Got Talent judges’ table, but the show must go on — and his fellow judges say they’re doing their best to keep things moving while he recovers.

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday (Sept.

22), the AGT panel opened up about what it’s been like filming without Cowell, who has been recovering from a routine back surgery.

He has been absent from the show’s season 21 live episodes thus far.

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“The show must go on.” Cowell’s absence has been noticeable throughout the season’s live shows.

As previously reported by Billboard , the longtime judge and AGT executive producer stepped away in August to undergo back surgery related to injuries he sustained in a 2020 electric-bike accident.

According to Entertainment Weekly , his representative had described the procedure as routine and said Cowell would return after a few weeks.

His fellow judges, though, say the empty seat he leaves is more than just having one fewer person at the table.

“I miss him,” Howie Mendel said.

“It’s not the same.” When Hudson asked what Mendel misses most about Cowell, he joked that he missed having someone around who would tell him when he was wrong.

“I’m only comfortable with somebody telling me I’m wrong,” he laughed.

“I love him.” Mandel took the sentiment a step further, comparing Cowell’s absence to sailing without the person normally steering the ship.

“This is his boat, and I feel like we’ve set sail without the captain,” he said.