As "America's Got Talent" (AGT) embarks on its 20th season, premiering on May 27, 2025, Simon Cowell, the show's creator and long-time judge, has been reflecting on the near-misses that almost prevented the beloved talent competition from ever gracing our screens.
Cowell revealed that selling the concept of "America's Got Talent" was surprisingly difficult. He initially developed "Britain's Got Talent," but production was halted due to a dispute with the planned host. This led him to shift his focus to the American version, but the journey was far from smooth.
"It was a very difficult show to sell actually, to be honest with you," Cowell confessed. The pilot episode was, in his own words, "dreadful, I mean really, really bad. So, it was dead." He even offered the show to Mike Darnell at Fox three times, but was turned down each time.
However, a lucky break came when NBC expressed interest after seeing a short highlights reel. "I went, 'Amazing, I've got a highlights reel.' And I showed them seven minutes, and they went, 'Oh yeah, we want it.' And they bought it, and I'm like, 'Thank god,'" Cowell recalled. Despite securing a deal with NBC, the challenges continued. Just days before filming was set to begin in the UK, the network pulled out. Cowell, determined to see his vision come to life, offered to pay for the production himself. Eventually, the network reversed their decision and funded the show.
Cowell's passion for talent competitions stemmed from his childhood. He has expressed that bringing unique talents to a wider audience is a dream realized. Even after two decades with the show, Cowell still enjoys being part of it. "So for the time being, I've kind of mapped out my next few years doing this, and I think I'd miss it. I really would, I'm not going to lie," Cowell stated. He added that while the long days can be tiring, watching the finished product and seeing the brilliance of the show makes it all worthwhile.
Season 20 sees the return of judges Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. Mel B is also making a comeback to the judging panel after a six-season hiatus, replacing Heidi Klum. Terry Crews is back as host for his seventh consecutive season.
This season brings a twist to the Golden Buzzer feature. Each judge now has the opportunity to award two Golden Buzzers, sending two acts directly to the live shows. Terry Crews also gets two Golden Buzzers to use.
Cowell also teased that viewers will get a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes this season. There will be more focus on the contestants' experiences and the audience's perspective, offering a more immersive viewing experience. "We have [traditionally] shown about two-thirds of what really happens on the day. There's an awful lot of stuff going on behind the scenes — what a contestant is going through, what it's like to be in the audience — which you don't see. I don't even see," he explained.
