Simon Cowell attended NBC's summer press day along with Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel for America's Got Talent.
Simon remembered longing to judge on the show he created for a long while. Talking to the press: "I was kind of hoping one of them would hurt themselves. … Bad enough that I would have to go, 'I'm here,' " he said with a laugh. "I was offered to do it five years ago, but I couldn’t do it."
Although Simon acknowledged there have been "some bad days" in addition to the good ones as a judge on America's Got Talent thus far — "there was one day where I thought I lost the will to live," he joked — he said the good days, and the strong talent, made up for it.
"Of course it's worth it," he said. "When you're there, when you discover a star … you'll never forget that moment."
Simon also joked his son would be on the panel in 3-4 years time.
Simon took a moment to praise his colleagues onstage and behind the scenes. "I was the new boy in town, and these guys without me have done an amazing job," he said.
"They have been so much fun to work with and actually so good at what they do, along with the production team who have kept this show running for so many years."
The new season of America's Got Talent premieres May 31 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
