LOS ANGELES: Actor-comic Kenan Thompson will fill in for Simon Cowell on this week's "America's Got Talent" as the music mogul recovers from a complex back surgery.
After singer Kelly Clarkson, Thompson is the latest member of the NBC network to step in for Cowell.
The "Saturday Night Live" star will serve as a guest judge on this Tuesday and Wednesday's live telecasts of the Terry Crews-hosted reality show, alongside fellow judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara, reported Deadline.
Thompson took to Twitter to confirm the news, saying "Literally can not wait!!!! @AGT @nbc."
Apart from "SNL" and comedy competition series "Bring The Funny", Thompson also stars in the upcoming NBC comedy "Kenan" alongside Don Johnson and Chris Redd.
Cowell, who underwent a gruelling five-hour operation following an electric bike accident on August 8, will skip this season's opening live shows.