Simon Cowell might have long forgotten America’s Got Talent if not for a last-minute strategy that showed up. Before the show, he had been linked with one of the biggest talent shows in the world, but America’s Got Talent was a turning point in his career. As the show celebrates its 20th season, Simon is reflecting on the decision that made the series take off despite a rough start.

The simple idea of AGT was to bring together a diverse range of talent, including comedians, dancers, magicians, and singers, on one stage, judged by a panel with Simon at its center. But at the time, convincing executives was not easy. His attempts to sell the concept were unfruitful, and even the pilot episode could not catch anyone’s attention.

The fib that got told that launched Simon Cowell’s career on ‘

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