Simon Cowell News

Thank you, Simon Cowell!

We've been saying for weeks that David Archuleta may have a great voice, but he has the personality of a desk chair. The guy puts on the same, strained performance week after week.

Cowell, meanwhile, made his similar opinion known during a recent interview with Blender. When told that his interviewer bears a resemblance to Archuleta, Cowell replied:

"I would think you have a bit more personality than he does."

As for his pick to win this season's American Idol crown, Simon also took the side we've been supporting all season:

"Probably David Cook," he said. "I think he's done more to deserve it over the eleven weeks. He's taken more risks, he's done things with certain songs that have been more interesting. If I'm gonna base it on who has done the best performances over the live shows, David Cook deserves to win."

Simon Cowell was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly following last Tuesday night's performances. Here's some of what our favorite judge had to say:

How do you feel the show is going this season?
It's interesting. I think the audience are much more savvy than I've seen them in previous years, and much less forgiving, which I'm happy about. I've got a feeling this year something strange could happen, particularly after what happened with David Cook last night. Because, I've got to tell you, watching it back, this performance he did on "Billie Jean," in my opinion, was in a different league to anything we've heard on the season so far.

Chin up, David Cook. Simon Cowell thinks you're the one to beat. So do we.

It was so much better, [chuckles] he kind of made some of the other performances seem ridiculous. But I'm glad! He was smart — I know where he got the arrangement of the song from, but that doesn't really matter. He was brilliant! And I was concerned three or four weeks ago that this was just going to be a coronation for David Archuleta and it's just a question of who comes [in] second. I'm not so sure anymore.

And, you know, with Jason Castro last night — there's a guy who thinks he's just sailing along, and I thought it was a bad performance. You give somebody like him a kick up the ass, let's see what he can deliver now. But I thought it was, um, an interesting night last night.

To be sure. Some very odd song choices.
And very clever song choices. That "God Bless the U.S.A." [sung by Kristy Lee Cook] — smart girl. Gotta tell you [laughing] when your back's against the wall, she knew what she was doing. I thought that was very smart. I'll be amazed if she gets booted out on the back of that [song].

Simon Cowell took time away from judging season seven contestants such as Jason Castro to pose for a picture with Ellen DeGeneres and her girlfriend Portia de Rossi at Elton John's 16th annual AIDS Foundation Oscar party.

We wonder how the American Idol judge critiqued the event...

Breaking American Idol news: Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are having an affair! Sort of!

Simon Cowell recently talked to The Los Angeles Times about the upcoming season of American Idol, as well as his possible exist date from the show.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Q: Tell us about the level of talent this year.
A: I think personally it’s one of the strongest years we’ve had in a long, long time. It’s younger. I think the talent is more current. They’re more interesting people. So I go into this season a lot more optimistic than I went in certainly last year.

I mean, Paula and Randy went on the record last year saying the bar has been raised and all that nonsense and it’s going to be one of the best years. I didn’t go along with that. I didn’t believe it. But I will go on record this year saying it’s one of the strongest lineups we’ve had.

Q: You made references to this year’s contestants being more interesting people. How is that the same or different than talented people and in the audition process how do you look for interesting as opposed to necessarily the talented?
A: I am making these comparisons to a lot of artists that you see on the Internet now who are kind of doing their own thing. And they have a certain quirkiness and they have their own style. Rather than just a ton of talented puppets for want of a better word. These people just look more current, sound more current.

They’re definitely individuals. And I think three or four of the contestants we’ve got this year all would get recording contracts without "Idol." I think they’re that good. It feels more fresh than I’ve seen before and definitely more memorable.
Q: Do you have an exit date in mind and can the show go on without you?
A: Nothing is gonna last forever. I think the exit date will be determined by the public, who eventually are going to get sick to death of you if they haven’t already. I always in my mind thought I’d go up until the end of my contract, which would be two more seasons after this one. Nine years is probably enough to inflict on anyone.

Can the show exist without me? Absolutely. It would probably get better.

Simon Cowell is back to advising Britney Spears.

"It's never too late," says Cowell, who has shown support for Spears in the past. "I think she's the most searched artist on the Internet at the moment, so she has a head start."

Heck, as a producer, Simon is even willing to step in and personally lend a hand.

"I genuinely think that if I sat down with Britney and, No. 1, remind her of all the good things in her life – which are her kids, her money, her success, everything – I'd try to give her a sense of perspective. And then I'd take her out of where she's living at the moment and ask her to go and live with her family – and live normally – for six months."

As Cowell so logically put it: "If you live normally and do normal things, you'll suddenly find that the paparazzi aren't camped outside your front door every day. Most importantly, just give her a sense of perspective, because it looks to me at the moment that she's out of control and she needs to have someone in her life who she's going to listen to."

Finally, Cowell added: "She's welcome to call me anytime."

In a candid interview with London's Daily Mail, Simon Cowell revealed the following interesting facts and responses:

He's vain!
"To be honest with you, I can't think of one person who is on TV who isn't vain. It's the nature of the beast. If you are on TV then you have a vanity, for sure. Just admit it! Why not?”

He's had Botox!
“Yes, I've had Botox, but not in an obsessive way. Then again, every guy I know who works in the city has had it now."

He's not gay!
"If I was [gay], why hide it? It's not as if the music business would be an odd place for a gay man to work. And anyway, if I was trying to hide the fact that I was gay, I would be off playing rugby every Saturday, wouldn't I?"

He doesn't want kids!
"I love kids - at least when they are old enough to talk. But my own? No. I'm terrified of the responsibility. Where would they fit in? I have to be able to fly to Los Angeles at a minute's notice."

He doesn't want to get married!
"People think there is something suspect about Terri and me. Why? Just because I don't want to get married?"

Remember a few weeks ago when the American Idol judges said they'd love to help Britney Spears?

We thought it was a kind gesture. But apparently Britney did not.

According to Star Magazine, the absolute train wreck responded to such reports by saying: "What a joke!  They help me? I invented what they do!"

Spears then vowed never to work with any of the judges again, ripping each one, by saying:

• Paula Abdul is a "has-been freak."
• Simon Cowell is a "creepy Eurotrash guy who's mean and dated."
• Randy Jackson is a "lame, cookie-cutter producer."

We can't say for sure whether Britney uttered these words or not - but would you put anything past her at this point?

There wasn't much doubt that Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest were not the antagonists they often pretend to be on America Idol.

But any shadow of it should now be erased after these two celebrities were caught playing together in a pool in Miami. Aren't they adorable?

Might Britney Spears appear on American Idol next year?

Probably not. But the judges are fans of the pop star/train wreck.

"We have decided we can bring Britney back," Simon Cowell said in offering to help Spears's career. "We are serious. We plan to buy her underpants, get her bigger shorts to perform in and get her away from her stupid friends."

Paula Abdul said:, "We always have time for Britney. We love her."

Finally, Randy Jackson added: "We'd love to take care of you, Spears! We will make you a superstar again!"