October 15 - 21, 2023
celebrityupdate
BY JAY BOBBIN
Simon Cowell OF AMERICA’S GOT TALENT ON NBC Q: Was Simon Cowell one of the original judges on “America’s Got Talent”?
Nicola Walker in “Annika”
A: No, but he still played a major part in the NBC series from the start, since he created it. (He also has been an executive producer of the show from the beginning.) Piers Morgan, Brandy Norwood and David Hasselhoff made up the judging panel for the first season in 2006, with Regis Philbin as the host. At the time, Cowell was intending to make a similar contest for British television, but some complications ultimately held that up and he turned his attention to making a U.S. version. The result was a summer hit for NBC, and it also jump-started the originally planned British edition, which premiered in 2007 and also continues. From there, the concept expanded even more, with versions still being done in Canada, Cambodia, France, India and Spain (among other locations). A judge on the British version from the start, Cowell became an on-air “America’s Got Talent” presence beginning with the 11th season – this year has marked its 18th round – but he wasn’t present for the live episodes during Season 15, due to a back injury. Substitute judges were enlisted initially, but the number of judges then was reduced from four to three in Cowell’s absence, with Howie Mandel (who has been with the show since Season 5), Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara holding forth with those duties. Actually, Klum also missed some of Season 15 due to illness, with Vergara’s fellow “Modern Family” alum Eric Stonestreet filling in for her.
Find out what’s happening in your town! Call 815-223-3200 or visit us online at www.newstrib.com to subscribe today!
NT FILL 2x2_75 010221
Back for a second season on PBS Masterpiece Sunday, Oct. 15, Nicola Walker (“MI-5”) plays the titular detective in “Annika.”
Online or in print, count on us to keep you informed.