Simon Cowell went on to share that there were only "seven minutes of this pilot" that were "just about watchable," and that was enough for him with the right amount of spin when NBC called. The former American Idol judge recalled:

Simon Cowell and Sofía Vergara are back for another season of America's Got Talent on NBC, but this is no ordinary season; this is the landmark 20th season of the talent competition.

The milestone Season 20 of America’s Got Talent is underway, and the premiere kicked off with a batch of impressive auditions (and a few not so impressive ones). This season saw the return of Mel B. to the judges’ table, joining Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel.

America’s Got Talent’s highly-anticipated Season 20 officially arrived on the 2025 TV schedule on Tuesday. But before each act can hit the stage, they have to go through a rigorous casting process to get there.

Howie Mandel exclusively tells PEOPLE what he says to Simon Cowell after every golden buzzer on 'America's Got Talent.' The two have been judges together since season 11 of the show.

Why is Heidi Klum not a judge on "America's Got Talent" this season? Here's the reason why she left the show ahead of Season 20 and who’s replacing her on the panel.

Even after 19 seasons of hosting "America's Got Talent," Simon Cowell's biggest fear is not dissimilar from the concerns of a producer getting a freshman show up and running: "What if no one shows up?