Simon Cowell called it his favorite day of filming — and the reason was a 2-year-old rescue pittie mix named Cider. The Dodo documented the encounter on the America’s Got Talent set, where Cider joined Cowell for what became one of the most warmly received segments in the outlet’s Dodo Dream Date series.
Cider’s 165 Days of Waiting Come to an End on Set
Cider arrived on the America’s Got Talent set having spent 165 days in a shelter without a single adoption application filed in her name. At just 2 years old, she had completed training, demonstrated exceptional behavior around both people and other dogs, and was described by shelter staff as sociable and gentle. Despite those qualities, she had gone unselected — a reality Cowell immediately found difficult to accept.
From the moment Cider was introduced, Cowell crouched down and addressed her directly. ‘The first thing I look at when I see a dog for the first time are their eyes,’ he said. ‘And she’s got beautiful kind eyes.’ Within minutes, Cider rolled onto her back in front of Cowell — a behavioral signal of complete trust — a moment he highlighted as one of the most remarkable things about her.
Cowell escorted Cider through the set, beginning at the craft services table, where he made sure she was the first to be treated. He walked her through the judge’s area, introduced her to his work environment, and described the experience of meeting her as comparable to pressing his golden buzzer — a moment he called ‘just brilliant.’
Co-Judges Terry Crews and Heidi Klum Crash the Date
Cider’s day on set attracted more than one admirer. Terry Crews arrived mid-date and immediately won Cider over with considerable enthusiasm, prompting Cowell to note with mock frustration that Crews was ‘stealing his date.’ Crews, who noted he had been married for 46 years and described the encounter as his first date in that span of time, was visibly charmed as Cider climbed toward him. Cowell observed aloud that Cider appeared drawn to Crews’s build, remarking that ‘she likes big arms.’
Heidi Klum also stopped by, noting that Cider’s coloring matched her own hair. Cider responded with equal warmth to Klum, her tail maintaining a near-constant wag throughout the extended encounter. Cowell, watching Cider gravitate toward each new visitor, concluded that ‘a dog can sense if you’re a good person.’
Before the day ended, Cowell presented Cider with a collection of toys, including a large plush shark. Cider selected the shark and engaged with it immediately on camera.
Cowell Addresses Pit Bull Stigma Directly
When the subject of Cider’s breed came up, Cowell did not hesitate. Told that many potential adopters pass over pit bull mixes due to reputation, he responded that he had suspected Cider’s background precisely because no applications had been filed. ‘There is, in my opinion, a false reputation,’ he said. ‘Every pit bull I’ve ever met is everything you want in a dog — loyal, friendly.’ This statement carries weight given Cowell’s public profile: America’s Got Talent consistently draws over 10 million viewers per season, meaning his direct endorsement of pit bull adoptability reached an audience far beyond a single shelter visit.
At the time of filming, Cider had not yet received a single adoption application. The Dodo’s release of this segment — and the visibility of Cowell, Crews, and Klum all advocating for her on camera — represented a significant shift in that trajectory, demonstrating how a single high-profile platform appearance can transform an overlooked shelter animal’s prospects overnight.
