Simon Cowell Says ‘America’s Got Talent’ Live Shows Won’t Be At Dolby Theatre This Year

Season 15 of America’s Got Talent is underway with the auditions round currently airing on TV but many fans are wondering how the show will move forward once that round is complete.

With COVID-19 forcing many TV productions to shut down, AGT cut their auditions short, filming just seven episodes in total. Executive Producer/Judge Simon Cowell spoke with Entertainment Tonight and revealed that the show will not be having their live shows at the iconic Dolby Theatre this year.

“I mean, I don’t think we’re gonna be at the Dolby Theatre with 3,000 people,” he said. “I don’t think that is gonna happen this year, so we’ve come up with about three different creative ideas about how we can make the live shows work but not feel as if scale and everything else connected with the show is lost.”

Cowell went on to say that he is not ruling out the idea of filming the live shows in a smaller studio or even with a more spread out crowd, saying in these times the acts will need the support more than ever.

“It will look different but I think if we go with the plan I personally love, it will look different, but it will still give every act the opportunity to shine as they normally do in the finals because I am aware particularly this year, you know, anyone who makes the top 10 because it can change their lives,” he said. “They’re gonna need this more than ever, so whatever we’re gonna need to do, we will get to the end of the finals this year. There will be a winner and we’ll make sure no one’s compromised, you know, through the process.”

Meanwhile, LA County has allowed the reopening of film and TV productions. Deadline is reporting that the show is planning to shoot its Judge Cuts round at the end of June with some modifications. NBC says they are planning to run the entire season without having a break and confirmed what Cowell told Entertainment Tonight, that they are looking at several different options for the live shows rounds.

“We’re looking at a lot of different options because it’s hard to envision a room full of people packing into the Dolby Theater,” Jenny Groom, NBC’s EVP, Alternative Programming & Development said.

What do you think about Cowell’s plans for live shows? Let me know in the comments below!

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.