Simon Cowell joins "America's Got Talent" as a judge
Simon Cowell is returning to the judge's seat. Nope -- he's not judging the final season of "American Idol." The reality TV competition mastermind has signed on as a judge of "America's Got Talent."
Cowell announced Thursday he will join the panel for season 11 next summer, stepping in for departing judge Howard Stern.
The move makes sense as Cowell is the creator of the "Got Talent" franchise, which began its American run in 2006 with with David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood and Piers Morgan as judges. In its latest iteration Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel were on board, alongside Stern. It's unclear who will sit next to Cowell, but Nick Cannon is expected to continue his stint as host.
During a visit to the "Today" show Thursday, Cowell, 56, said "it was the network's decision" to have him host, but he added, "I kept sort of popping my head up, saying: 'You know, if you are looking for a very good-looking British judge who could sort of fit on this show, I know someone!'"
"Simon knows this format better than anyone and he's been producing the show with us since the beginning, so we're thrilled to have him to step in front of the camera and take his rightful place at the head of the judges' panel," said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, in a statement. "We welcome him to the on-screen NBC family."
Cowell left "American Idol" in 2010 to serve as a judge on the U.S. version of "The X Factor."
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