Simon Cowell Spills Beans on Future of AGT Season 15 Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

“America’s Got Talent (AGT)” executive producer and longtime judge Simon Cowell recently opened up about the future of the show amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and lockdown rules.

Season 15’s production schedule of AGT came to a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to “People” magazine, Cowell revealed how the series intended to work around the shutdown.

The talent show plans to find a way to keep going until stay-at-home restrictions have been lifted. The show is usually shot in front of an audience but safety guidelines caused that to change.

CHANGING THINGS UP

AGT had to remove their audience altogether. However, a few more auditions were taped before production officially shut down.

Cowell recalled the last in-person production dates stating: "We started to realize that, for obvious reasons, the audience was getting smaller and smaller and smaller.” He explained how they wanted everyone to get their “fair share, and was auditioned well."

AUDITIONING MANY PEOPLE

Cowell, 60, shared how they auditioned as many people as they could. To try and accommodate as many people as possible, AGT also accepted online submissions from people’s homes.

The live shows are set to take place later this summer. Cowell revealed how they’d already worked out how to shoot the live shows with or without an audience or with a limited one.

THE SHOW WILL GO ON

He explained how the show would go on with “finals, and there will be a winner.” However, even though things look bleak, Cowell still had faith in the outbreak ending and things going back to normal.

THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION SHOWS

He commended other shows on how they’d found ways to innovatively continue running. The long-term judge, however, stated that "I don't believe the future is going to be these remote shows.”

AGT’S FIRST EPISODE

He accepted the necessity of such measures for now but shared that he didn’t think this would be an ongoing way of working. Cowell shared how “incredible” the first episode would be.

BEING IN LOCKDOWN

The longtime judge also works on “Britain's Got Talent” and “X-Factor: U.K.” In a recent interview, he revealed that he and his son, Eric, 6, have been coping with the lockdown by going camping in their garden on weekends.

WHAT THE AGT WINNER GETS

He also shared how he’d lost several pounds by sticking to healthy vegan routine while in lockdown with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 42. The winner of AGT will get a $1 million prize and the opportunity to headline a show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A NEW JUDGE

A new judge will be joining the AGT family in the form of “Modern Family's” Sofia Vergara. Season 15 of “America's Got Talent” will premiere on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.