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America’s Got Talent will premiere its new season at the end of the month on NBC, and this season will feature Simon Cowell on the judging panel. He is the man behind the series, but now he wants to return to his spot on the judge’s table. He knows that spot well after American Idol and X Factor.

Cowell was an unknown factor when American Idol premiered 15 years ago, and he knows he has changed a lot since then. Fans of the tough British judge will see a softer side to Cowell when America’s Got Talent premieres. He learned a lot from his time on American Idol. He said the following, according to TV Insider:

“Sometimes when I watch those American Idol clips, I do actually think I was just miserable! I felt I was almost becoming a parody of myself, and it was embarrassing. Now I find the bad acts just funny. I’m still the same person, but you’ll see me liking a lot more people.”

America’s Got Talent is the show Cowell always wanted to be on, according to Paul Telegdy, NBC’s president of alternative and late-night programming. He said the following:

“He loves variety, animals and the absurd. He’s a 21st-century entertainment impresario and a bit of a P.T. Barnum.”

Cowell’s fans will see him on America’s Got Talent starting May 31. Check out a pair of photos form the season premiere below. Are you excited for the return of this series? Tell us what you think.

Pictured: (l-r) Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell– (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

Ron Batzdorff/NBC