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Simon Cowell Calls American Idol Different Without Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul

“I miss her, of course I miss her,” Simon Cowell recently told interviewers. The judge is still smarting from the departure of from American Idol. The reality show has been scrambling ever since to fill her place with random guest judges. There’s no word on what they’re going to do to fill the gap - or if they will - when the show begins in January.

“It’s like comparing a carrot to a banana,” Cowell says of the judging table without Paula, calling the show “different” now that she’s gone.

Though Abdul has been absent from the auditions, there is still some reason to believe she might be returning for the stage-singing rounds of the show.

(Make sure to check out our other American Idol 9 posts.)

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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Katy Perry Talks About Judging American Idol


If Simon Cowell was bothered at all by Paula Abdul’s departure, he might feel better when Katy Perry comes to town. In an interview with E! News, the future guest judge claims she is a fan of the critic.

Perry, who isn’t planning to bring a “build them up, Buttercup” approach to the show, predicts she and Cowell might form a nice bond. “I might become a little bit of a buddy with Simon. Because whenever I watch that show, as much as he’s an a**hole, he is a very truthful, honest a**hole.”

Click to continue reading Katy Perry Talks About Judging American Idol

Read More | E! Online

Simon Cowell Blown Away by X-Factor Auditioner

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, Gossip,

Simon Cowell

Who’s got the tuneful chops to get the biggest compliment notoriously cruel has ever uttered? It certainly didn’t happen on American Idol, where the judge is often put-out and aggravated during audition rounds. On a recent episode of the UK version of the show, The X-Factor, Cowell offered the most praise he’s ever given on TV.

“That was single-handedly the best first audition I have ever heard,” the judge told Danyl Johnson, 27. The singer stepped out on the stage to give a rollicking rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends,” impressing panel and audience members alike.

It was so good, in fact, that Cowell was actually moved into giving a standing ovation. “He could be one of the best contestants we’ve ever had,” Cowell said of Johnson.

You can currently watch the video of Johnson’s audition on .

Read More | Popeater

Victoria Beckham Excited Over ‘American Idol’ Gig

Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol,

Victoria Beckham at the Denver 'Idol' auditionsWe weren’t kidding when we reported earlier that American Idol must go on, and Victoria Beckham is surprisingly not kidding when it comes to her excitement over her involvement with the show.

“When I got the phone call, I just couldn’t believe it. I feel like I got the best job that there is. I’m still grinning from ear to ear,” Paula Abdul‘s replacement admitted on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show.

Grinning? Victoria? And here I was expecting a female version of Simon Cowell!

“I’m going to try hard to pout and not shatter the illusion that I’m a moody cow, but I don’t know if I can - I’m just so happy,” she said.

I’m not sure if I can take any more of these Posh Spice revelations.

(Make sure to check out our other American Idol 9 posts.)

Read More | Daily Mail

The Show Must Go On: Idol Continues Without Abdul

Victoria BeckhamPosh Spice, a.k.a. Victoria Beckham, joined Kara, Simon and Randy today for auditions in Denver, Colorado. “We gotta try and make it work, man,” said Randy Jackson of doing the show without it’s original female judge.

Kara DioGuardi said she’s “completely shocked” and that ’s absence is “such a loss for the show and the contestants.”

Apparently, Posh and Simon Cowell already have a history together - Cowell turned down the Spice Girls. “I think he’s great,” a smiling told reporters.

Read More | E! Online

Is Paula Abdul Really Leaving American Idol?

Paula AbdulSimon Cowell has made it clear many times over that he doesn’t want to do American Idol without , and her ongoing and up-and-down contract negotiations with the show have been well-publicized. So…is she really, really leaving, or is this just another tactic to get more money?

are surfacing that Abdul is still very much a part of the Idol auditions this year, and many believe that rumors of her departure are just another tool to get what she wants from producers.

Click to continue reading Is Paula Abdul Really Leaving American Idol?

Read More | Vote for the Worst

Flashback: Simon Cowell in the 1980s


In the 2000s, Simon Cowell became known for barking out insults to reality singing contenders on . But way back in the 1980s, he was known for a different sort of barking altogether.

Think that the show’s toughest judge will still have room for rebuke after this video goes viral? You can’t see his face, but from his voice you can tell that this ill-suited grown man is actually polished , delivering an utterly horrific performance as Wonderdog in 1982 on a show called Top of the Pops.

Read More | Vote for the Worst

Ryan Seacrest’s Historic Paycheck

Ryan Seacrest American Idol isn’t letting it’s sandy-haired host go anywhere…not for the next 3 years, at least. has finished his contract negotiations and is now the highest-paid host in the history of all reality TV.

Not bad for someone who’s very best catchphrase is “Seacrest out.” Ryan went up from $5 million a season to a staggering $45 million, signing onto the reality powerhouse until 2012. As an added perk, Seacrest’s production company (imaginatively named Ryan Seacrest Productions) will claim more power in the 19 Entertainment family. Seacrest will be working more with Idol creator Simon Fuller as a result.

Click to continue reading Ryan Seacrest’s Historic Paycheck

Read More | E! Online

Ryan Seacrest’s Salary on the Rise

American Idol

American Idol’s is currently negotiating his contract, which could come with a pay hike that promotes him to one of the highest-paid hosting gigs in TV. Simon Cowell was the first to ink a deal for the ninth season of the show, with remaining regular cast members still in talks with FOX, Fremantle and 19 Entertainment.

The three companies jointly produce Idol (this helps explain why Idol has three times more promotion and product placement per episode than some shows see in an entire season), and Seacrest is getting further into the fold all the time. Reportedly, the reality TV mogul is working on a new series with 19 Entertainment and American Idol creator Simon Fuller. This could be the which has been Twittered about recently…or, it could be any one of the other umpteen TV gigs Seacrest has in the works. 

Click to continue reading Ryan Seacrest’s Salary on the Rise

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Paula Abdul Confirmed to American Idol

Paula Abdul has been invited to be a part of American Idol for “the duration of the show, however long it lasts.” Though her contract for Season 9 isn’t official, the former pop princess says the #1 reality show is something she’ll always “want to be a part of.”

recently got a huge pay hike from Idol, proving that he, too, will be returning for one more season at least.

Read More | Perez Hilton

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