http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/02/24/x-factor-audition-dates-simon-cowell/

Simon Cowell announces 'The X Factor' audition dates, explains how to win $5 million recording contract


The X Factor‘s hunt for the next American idol — who will receive a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music upon his, her, or their crowning— begins next month, Fox has announced. Auditions will start March 27 in Los Angeles. (You can see the list of all six dates below.) The network has also released a video of Simon Cowell explaining his “singing competition with a twist” (embedded below). The show, which premieres in September on Fox, is open to singers and vocal groups of 12 years of age or older. Contestants will be broken down into four categories — young guys, young girls, older singers, and groups. Those who make the finals will be mentored by a judge. More specifics and requirements are found on the show’s website.

In the video, Cowell hints at the added drama of watching people audition in front of an audience of 3,000 or 4,000, and of having people in their 40s or 50s, for whom this really could be their last chance, competing against 14-year-olds. Because thousands of people will be auditioning, Cowell encourages contestants to stand out: “Dress differently, behave differently, dance differently. Don’t copy what other people have done before,” he says. But for $5 million, we assume he’s talking about making a song your own — not making a memorable fool of yourself. Cowell will talk more about the show with Piers Morgan, who announced earlier today on Twitter that he just booked his friend for his CNN show. The interview will be taped next week in LA.

Simon Cowell's 'X Factor' judges list: Paula Abdul, Mariah Carey, and others discussed

LINK




Someday in the not too distant future, radio stations will have nothing to playbecause all the popular artists will be busy judging TV talent shows.

But until then, Simon Cowell’s X Factor has some seats to fill. It’s the next big singing competition series at bat to have flirtations with celebrity vocalists. With American Idol landing Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, and now NBC’s upcoming The Voice tapping Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine, the bar is set fairly high for Cowell’s venture, which debuts this fall.

So far there’s only one judge/coach hired — Cowell himself. But in an interview with Access Hollywood, the Brit mentioned a slew of celebrities that he’s talked to about joining the show (none have been hired):

Paula Abdul — A Simon-Paula reunion makes total sense, though her CBS dancing show Live to Dance was such a flop, it makes us wonder how much of a draw she really is.

Mariah Carey — A name that seems to be floated whenever a talent show is looking for judges.

Jessica Simpson — Some sources say she isn’t a serious candidate.

George Michael — Interesting…

And former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger — But she was just a judge NBC’s well-rated The Sing-Off.

What do you think? Would any of these candidates make you more/less likely to tune in next fall?

Simon Cowell talks 'Idol' with Piers Morgan: 'I personally think it is a better show than last year.'

LINK

The sky is blue. The Ryan Seacrest is orange. And season 10 of American Idol is much better than season 9, Simon Cowell tells Piers Morgan, while throwing on his Captain Obvious cape. In a preview clip for his March 14interview on Piers Morgan Tonight, the former American Idoljudge tells the CNN host: “I personally think it is a better show than last year. I genuinely do. I think what they’ve got is that it feels to me that they’ve got their energy back, that they’re confident, that they’re competitive.” What he means is, we’re no longer forced to watch a veteran judge with senioritis spending the course of a show daydreaming about whether or not he can place a house of cards on his flat top LEGO hair.

In the clip, Cowell also admits that the judge chemistry was off during season 9, when Ellen DeGeneres filled Paula Abdul’s seat on the
panel. “I always think of Idol really as me, Paula, and Randy,”Cowell tells Morgan. “And I think when other people were brought in,
and Paula wasn’t there, it was, to me, like being on a different show… weird atmosphere.” Aw, guys, I’m totally imaging that moment from season 2 when Paula and Simon made out during the finale. I bet if she sees this quote, Paula will start preparing to dangle Simon from her rear-view window. See the preview clip below!

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

THE X FACTOR – Simon Answers Fan Questions!

Simon is considering online auditions for the X Factor US, but he isn’t sure yet.

Read more Q&A at the XFactor Twitter







(YAY, it worked... :getdown: Pssst... Don't get to excited Happy, it's probably a one shot deal...
Now, have to go back to school for the refresher course on posting pixs' )

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Simon Cowell Promises to Announce X Factor Judges’ Panel “Within the Week”By mj On 03/15/2011 ·


Simon Cowell is promising that his yet-as-unamed judges’ panel for his upcoming X Factor US will have “The best judging panel so far”. He promises.

Dude, you have to tell us who they are first. Auditions begin in Los Angeles on March 26. THAT’S NEXT WEEK SIMON.

“I’ve got it in my mind now,” reveals Simon, “I think of who I want this panel to be, and within the week, I think we’re gonna announce it.”

Unless he plans on filling the table with temps, it’s time to step on it!

What does it take to be an X Factor judge? He tells MTV:

“I think you’ve got to put yourself out there and, as a priority, it is about the contestants to begin with. You’ve got to have a sense of humor. You’ve got to work hard because you’re gonna be mentoring the contestants on the final stages of the competition, which basically means you’re going to be responsible for what they sing, what they wear, how they behave,” he explained. “You’re like a manager/producer for up to 10 weeks, and I think it’s important that you have to have people on the panel that have made people into stars as well. And so you’ve got to be different, you’ve got to be original.”

“This has been harder than I thought,” Simon says about casting his show, “You’ve got to negotiate people’s deals, you got to make sure you’ve met as many people as possible, and you got to find the right chemistry.”


http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/632232/simon-cowell-says-the-x-factor-judging-panel-must-put-themselves-out-there.jhtml

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/simon-cowell-picks-first-x-168495

Simon Cowell Picks First 'X Factor' Judge: L.A. Reid




Sources tells THR "it's a done deal."

It was long rumored and now looks like it's come true: Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid will be a judge on Fox's The X Factor.

Sources tells The Hollywood Reporter "it's a done deal." Reid, whose contract with Universal Music is up in December, will get an
early release so that he can take part in Simon Cowell's show, which awards a Sony Music recording contract worth $5 million to the winner. Auditions for The X Factor begin March 27 in Los Angeles. An announcement regarding Reid is to be made this week, according to an insider.

Reid is expected to be one of four judges. It also is believed that he will land a position at Sony Music, which is about to undergo a major management restructuring when current UMG chairman Doug Morris steps in as CEO of Sony Music on July 1.

Reps for Universal Music and Fox, which will air The X Factor this September, would not comment.

When THR interviewed Reid for a February cover story on"The Business of Justin Bieber," the executive insisted rumors of a move to TV were just that. “People think that I went on some campaign or something, I did nothing except my work,” he said.

Asked about his interest in an X Factor judging gig and Reid was vague, telling THR he had not "screen tested" for such a position, but he wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea.

He added, “To each his own. I don't criticize. Whatever works, works. Ithink music on television certainly has a place and it's important. In some ways, TV has become as impactful as radio once was. It's just another way of doing it. You can find music on American Idol,on YouTube, on KIIS-FM or on a mixed tape. The more platforms we have, the better off we are as an industry.”

Cowell previously told Access Hollywood that his former American Idol colleague Paula Abdul, George Michael, former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Mariah Carey also are being considered.

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

FOX Confirms L.A. Reid as X Factor Judge

(Update: Female Judges Could Be Announced Monday)
By mj On 03/18/2011 ·

UPDATE: Simon Cowell tells EW that one or possibly two female judges could be announced Monday. Paula Abdul is still in the mix

“Right now, there’s one person who we have a financial deal with, but now we have some issues over their dates,” he says. While talking about the vibe of The X Factor, he interestingly brought up his former American Idol table-mate Paula Abdul. “I’m not saying that Paula’s definitely got the gig, because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he says, “but part of the fun of Idol when it first started was that it didn’t take itself too seriously.”

On hiring L.A. Reid, Simon says, ““Taking it back to basics, since we were making the point that the whole idea of the show is that we’re trying to find a star, my first thought was, I’ve got to have the No. 1 hit maker in the world on the show…This went to the wire, to be honest with you, because Universal were keen to keep him.”

The rumors have been confirmed. Fox announced today that producer and record exec, L.A. Reid, will join X Factor US as a judge. L.A. Reid just resigned as chairman of Def Jam records yesterday, presumably to take on his new gig.

Reid has had a hand in the careers of artists such as Pink, Avril Lavigne, Mariah Carey, Usher and Justin Bieber. According to Deadline, Enrique Iglesias has been approached to host.

Check out the back-patting quotes!


“I am proud to stand next to my dear friend Simon Cowell, one of the world’s most gifted and charismatic talent magnets,” said Reid in a statement. “THE X FACTOR provides an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring artists of every age and genre to showcase their unique talents. I truly look forward to discovering our next generation of superstars.”

“L.A. was my number one choice to sit alongside me on the show. In my opinion, he is one of the greatest ever music executives and of course a fantastic writer and producer. I am thrilled he has agreed to join the show, and for any artist auditioning, they know they have the chance to meet a true star-maker,” says Simon Cowell.

“L.A. Reid is one of the most celebrated music producers and songwriters of our time and knows exactly what it takes to find and nurture a global superstar,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “Not only does he have an insanely good eye for talent, but he also has the personality and savvy to go toe-to-toe with Simon Cowell, so I can’t wait to see those two music moguls together at THE X FACTOR judges’ table.”

“L.A. Reid’s renowned expertise in recognizing, producing and marketing musical talent is synonymous with some of the most successful recording artists in the history of modern music,” said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. “I am thrilled to have him judging on THE X FACTOR and look forward to seeing him apply his amazing experience and track record in the mentoring of one of our categories.”

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Exclusive: Taylor Momsen to Co-Host Simon Cowell’s ‘X Factor’???

Is Taylor Momsen headed for Simon Cowell’s much-anticipated new show X Factor? Sources connected to the show tell Celebuzz yes!

Celebuzz has learned producers for the show have zeroed in on the 17-year-old Pretty Reckless singer, and want her to take a stab at co-hosting the show. Earlier this week, uber-producer L.A. Reid officially signed on the dotted line to sit at the judge’s table.

We’re told that producers think the often-controversial Momsen is perfect for the spot because she’s “young, hip and edgy” and has just the energy the show is looking for.

Read more at Celeb Buzz

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Rebecca Black’s Biggest Fan – Simon Cowell!

“I love her [and] the fact that she’s gotten so much publicity,” the X Factor creator, 51, told PEOPLE on Friday. “People are so upset about the song, but I think it’s hysterical.”

So how big a fan is Cowell?

“I want to meet her,” he says. “Anyone who can create this much controversy within a week, I want to meet. I love people like that.”

Read more at People

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20475061,00.html
VIA
http://www.mjsbigblog.com


Simon Cowell Wants 'Tension' Between X Factor Judges
By Dahvi Shira

Saturday March 19, 2011 11:00 AM EDT


Simon Cowell is still selecting two judges to accompany him and Antonio "L.A." Reid on X Factor, but regardless of who he chooses, he wants them to stir the pot on the show.

"There should be tension to a point," Cowell tells PEOPLE about his ideal dynamic among the judges. "I liked the Idol panel when we first started. We had different opinions, and I think it's important you have different opinions."

"In life and in music, we all disagree on a lot of different things," Cowell, 51, continues. "The important thing is you've got to feel comfortable about disagreeing with each other."

While Cowell can't speak of the currently unnamed remaining judges – who could reportedly be Paula Abdul or Jessica Simpson – he's already assessing the dynamic between himself and Reid, who was just announced as joining Fox's fall show.

"I've seen the nice side of him and the not-so-nice side," Cowell explains of his co-judge, 54. "He's not someone you want to get on the wrong side of … [but] in life and in music, we all disagree on a lot of different things. I'm not sure that L.A. and me agree on everything, but we're comfortable about that."

Although they occasionally don't see eye to eye on things, Cowell sings Reid's praises.

"I like him, I have a lot of respect for him, and he's great fun," Cowell says, noting that Reid was the only person he had in mind for the gig. "He's really got a great sense of humor. He's going in to do what he does for a living. He makes people stars."

http://www.ew.com

Simon Cowell scoop: The 'X Factor' star talks L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul...and Rebecca Black

by Dave Karger


On the heels of announcement that music mogul Antonio “L.A.” Reid has signed on as a judge on the U.S. version of Fox’s upcoming talent-show series The X Factor, the show’s creator/star Simon Cowell is talking about how the high-profile hiring came about. “Taking it back to basics, since we were making the point that the whole idea of the show is that we’re trying to find a star, my first thought was, I’ve got to have the No. 1 hit maker in the world on the show,” Cowell tells EW. “And L.A. was the obvious choice. This went to the wire, to be honest with you, because Universal were keen to keep him. But once he’d made up his mind he wanted to be on the show, then it all happened quite quickly in the last week.”

Cowell also let slip that one (and perhaps two) of the show’s female judges could be announced on Monday. “Right now, there’s one person who we have a financial deal with, but now we have some issues over their dates,” he says. While talking about the vibe of The X Factor, he interestingly brought up his former American Idol table-mate Paula Abdul. “I’m not saying that Paula’s definitely got the gig, because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he says, “but part of the fun of Idol when it first started was that it didn’t take itself too seriously.”

And of course, we couldn’t let Cowell go without asking if he’s experienced the ear-splitting web sensation that is the video for Rebecca Black’s much-derided “Friday.” Thankfully, he has. “Love it!” says Cowell, who, it should be noted, made a career out of releasing novelty singles by the likes of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the ’90s. “I’ve never seen anything cause so much controversy. I think it’s genius. The fact that everyone’s getting upset about it is hysterical. Any song to do with the weekend annoys you. It reminds me of Saturday Night, do you remember that [1994] song by Whigfield? It’s what we call a ‘hair-dryer song,’ a song girls sing into their hair dryers as they’re getting ready to go out. But the fact that it’s making people so angry is brilliant.”

Check back at EW.com next week for more of our interview with Cowell.

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Idol Headlines for 03/21/11
By mj On 03/21/2011


Simon Cowell will answer your questions about X Factor US in a twitter chat this Tueusday 3/22 at 2pm PST-5pm ET. Message @thexfactorusa with your Q’s #AskSimon.

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Idol Headlines for 03/21/11 – The Evening Edition
By mj On 03/21/2011

Simon Cowell Pays Mariah Carey A Housecall! Exclusive!


Nick Cannon himself told us today that Simon Cowell paid a visit to his house last week to try and woo his wife to join his U.S. version of X Factor.

Nick says Mariah is NOT interested in being a judge on the show, but that she is open to having some other role in the program. What that could be remains to be determined.

Cannon also confirmed to us reports that Cowell told Mariah he reached out to Nicki Minaj about being a judge on the show, a huge opportunity for the rap superstar.

Read more at Perez Hilton : http://perezhilton.com/2011-03-21-simon-cowell-goes-to-mariah-careys-house-to-woo-her

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Simon Cowell Says No Mariah Carey on the X Factor Panel
By mj On 03/21/2011 ·

Perez Hilton broke the news earlier today. Now Simon Cowell confirms it to the LA Times. Mariah Carey will not be a judge on X Factor:

“I can tell you officially that Mariah will not be on the panel, mainly because I think she’s still gonna be pregnant at the time we start filming and she’s gonna need some time off,” well told Show Tracker Monday afternoon during a phone interview. Carey is expecting twins with husband Nick Cannon, the host of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” which Cowell produces.

“She couldn’t start working straight away, and they’re long days,” he added. “But we’re hopeful there will be a role for her — and I’m not sure what yet — on the live shows.”

“She wants to be involved,” Cowell said.

X Factor auditions begin later this week in Los Angeles. So far, Simon and L.A. Reid are confirmed for the judges panel. Two females are expected to be announced soon, with Paula Abdul, Nicki MinajCheryl Cole and in the mix.

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Nigel Lythgoe: “I Don’t Class ‘X Factor’ As a Talent Show”
By mj On 03/22/2011 ·

The endlessly entertaining Nigel Lythgoe is popping off about Simon Cowell again!

Nigel tells the Radio Times:

“You have to choose contestants with talent – unless they have an incredible story to tell. I don’t class The X Factor as a talent show. Look at Jedward and Wagner. They’re on because we love the fun and the circus of it.

“Simon knows what he’s doing – it certainly gives the press something to feed off. But it destroys the integrity of the show.”

“In a way, I’m delighted Simon’s left American Idol. He’s given us the opportunity to refurbish it,” he said. “Everyone said that it would be the end. And what’s happened? The ratings are equal to last year’s, we got 30 million votes the other evening, and if we lost 50% of our audience we would still be the number one show.”

Oooh. BURN. Your turn Simon…

Nigel will be commuting to the UK on weekends as the second season of So You Think You Can Dance begins there this weekend.

(Source: Digital Spy)

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Simon Cowell Live Twitter Chat for X Factor USA – 2pm PST-5pm ET. Message @thexfactorusa with your Q’s #AskSimon RT

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Q&A: Simon Cowell on 'The X Factor'
by Randy Cordova - Mar. 21, 2011 04:31 PM
The Arizona Republic


The U.S. version of the British smash "The X Factor" won't even premiere until fall, and already the talent show is making headlines. You can thank show creator Simon Cowell for that, because the Brit knows how to create buzz and make headlines.

For instance, the show offers an astonishing $5 million recording contract to the victor, meaning you probably won't see any Taylor Hicks-style winners. Last week, producer Antonio "L.A." Reid was signed on to judge, and names like Mariah Carey, Paula Abdul and Cheryl Cole (from the U.K. version) have been tossed around for the other two spots on the panel.

Cowell, just as well-spoken as he was in his "American Idol" chair, talked about the show during a call from his California office.

Question: What does Antonio Reid bring to the show?

Answer: Credibility, mainly. I made up my mind from Day 1 if I was going to bring the show over here there had to be somebody from the panel who was a proven hitmaker. Honest to God, there was no second choice. It had to be L.A. from day one.

Q: He is someone who the public may know his name, but they don't know his personality. What's he like?

A. Hopefully the public will like him the same way I like him. When this show started (in England), we never dreamed about putting celebrities in the panel. We wanted people who worked in the industry. We went back to basics with L.A. He's very cool, a real gentleman, but he's somebody who is infectious, and he isn't shy about being on TV.

Q: When "Idol" had celebrity judges, they always seemed to be afraid of saying anything negative.

A: Completely. And to be honest with you, most people you work with are like that. They hate the idea of making unpopular decisions, which makes the whole idea of judging sort of stupid. Then you get someone who is hired to be rude just for the sake of being rude, which is boring. I've sat with L.A. in meetings before. If he doesn't like it, he'll let you know. And if he loves it, my God, you'll know it. It's going to be a real buzz for audiences, because a yes or no from him is really going to mean something.

Q: Does it matter if the remaining judges are British or American?

A: I don't think it matters particularly. You know, a good singer is a good singer.

Q: So is Cheryl Cole still in the running?

A: She's in the running, certainly. Cheryl's a great judge and she did a fantastic job for three years in England. She's incredibly popular and very talented, and I believe the American public would feel the same way about her as they do in England.

Q: Can you say who else is in the running?

A: (Long pause) I'm not going to. I'd probably offend somebody (by leaving them out). If you have been reading the stories, you've probably got the right names.

Q: Why do this show now?

A: If I'm being honest with you, I wanted to do this about three years ago. I'd done "Idol" a long time, and it was very different from "Idol." I thought two shows could exist in the same year. Of all the shows I've had, this was the most fun.

Q: What makes it so much fun?

A: Two things. There aren't many rules attached to it. The upper age limits are higher. Groups are allowed to enter. The younger category is for very young singers. And then, the judges get to do something, because they get a category of singers to look after. You work with them all week long on how they will look and perform. It's kind of doing what I do in my real job. It makes it a fun show to be involved in, and you feel very involved.

Q: Do you genuinely get invested in the contestants you work with?

A: You're always going to favor your own. You get attached to your contestant and you want them to do well. It's kind of humiliating when they don't. And when they win, you feel like you win.

Q: Why do you think there is enough room for this show and "Idol?"

A: Partly because they're on at different times of the year, and then because they are different shows. I have a very good team of people that work with me, and I've always felt confident that Americans would like it. And what's interesting to me is it's from October to December when all the big music comes out. Amazingly, there's never been a show like this on at that time of the year. You'll find, as we did in the U.K., the amount of artists who want to perform on the results show is massively different. Only time will tell, of course.

Q: With last year's "Idol" contestants, the public didn't really seem to take them to heart once the show ended.

A: It just happens on these shows . . . Part of the reason we put up the $5 million is to make a point to anyone out there that we are really serious about this. It's really an indication of how seriously I was taking it. I wanted a better caliber of contestant.

Q: Does that mean we won't see the equivalent to the horrible audition shows?

A: (Chuckling) I wouldn't count on that. There are different definitions of what's horrible. I love people who make interesting TV. The truth is if Lady Gaga had walked into "American Idol" with a lobster on her head, I'm not sure she would have been taken seriously. We've got to be open-minded.

Q: What do you think of "American Idol" now?

A: I watched it up until a couple of weeks ago, because I had to see what it was going to look like. It's very different. They've set out to make a completely different show. It's not the show I would have made, but they seem happy with themselves.

Q: You sound extremely busy with this, and yet you've made enough money where you don't have to work this hard. Why do it?

A: I was thinking about this over the weekend, because it is relentless. It should be fun. I always dreamt when I was a kid about making TV shows. Then when you make them in England, you dream about making them in America. Now I'm doing that, and you have to enjoy it. You do this because you have to do it and you want to win. You do this because you've got a chance of being No. 1. You've been inspired to do and I love this show and I love what it stands for. It really is a dream job.

Q: But say it finishes the season at No. 18. It's a hit, but not a huge hit. Do you stay?

A: No, I don't think so. I don't think the network would want that either. Expectations are high. If we got something wrong on this show and we were in that situation, I think we'd call it a day. I always say to my staff: "You die trying."

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Simon Cowell Twitter Chat!

Simon Cowell took time out from his busy promo schedule to chat with fans on twiiter. You can read the Q&A at @XFactorUSA.

http://twitter.com/TheXFactorUSA#

There’s nothing earth shattering to report other than Simon’s assurance that an announcement will be made very soon about the rest of the on-air cast. Cheryl Cole is still in the mix.

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/03/22/simon-cowell-dishes-on-x-factor-exclusive-interview/

Tue, 22 March 2011 at 6:20 pm
Simon Cowell Dishes on 'X Factor' - Exclusive Interview

Simon Cowell has a keen eye - and ear! - for talent and he’s looking for the next superstar with the highly-anticipated U.S. version of The X Factor.

The Brit entrepreneur, 51, took time out to chat with JustJared.com about the competition, its $5 million prize, the judges, comparisons to American Idol, his favorite artists, and even infamous YouTube sensation Rebecca Black.


JustJared.com’s Exclusive Simon Cowell Interview

JJ: How are you feeling leading up to the show’s big premiere - nervous, anxious, excited?
SC: All three, but you should be. It’s a different feeling from Idol. It’s slightly different if I’m being honest with you. I kind of have a few years doing [The X Factor] in the U.K. and I know the impact it’s had on people and what I’m excited about is that I know what the show is going to look like and I think it’s going to take people by surprise at how different it is to everything else. A talent show is a talent show, but this is a fun show to work on and I’ve been getting the word out because we want as many people to turn up because I want to find a star!

JJ: Why should an aspiring singer audition for The X Factor instead of Idol, The Voice, or America’s Got Talent?
SC: I think when you see the show in terms of the way the show looks and the performances and how they’re produced, the fact that you got people like myself or L.A. Reid mentoring you all the time you’re on the show means you hopefully get better week after week in front of millions of people. So by the competition ends, you got a really good head start. And there’s a massive open mindedness on the show. We showed that with the rules. You have to be at least 12 years old. Apart from that, you can be any age - you could be 100 and turn up for this show. You can be in a vocal group. You can be the next Boyz II Men. You could be the next Glee club. You could be the next Jackson 5. And on this show you walk away with $5 million cash. Not a bad prize, is it? I did that mainly to put pressure on us to find someone good and to say to these people that I’m not just talking about it. I really am willing to put my money where my mouth is. I really believe there is a star sitting out there so I’m ready to give the winner that much cash to prove my point.

JJ: I know you have to be tight-lipped on the other judges, but who would you love to see join L.A. Reid at the judges table?
SC: You have to have people you like, otherwise it’s a nightmare. Got to work with people you trust. At the same time, they got to be fun. You’re looking for a lot out of one person. I always take my time on these decision because if you make the wrong decision quickly, you’ll find out on the first day it doesn’t work and, I’ve been there, it’s horrific. We’ve had a lot of people contacting us. Sometimes on a daily basis and we’ve got to meet everybody. Now L.A. is on board so I’ve got to let him in on the decision process as well because he’s got to be happy. But I think we’re getting close and if it turns out with what I think it’s going to be, then I’m really happy.

JJ: What kind of dynamic are you looking for between the judges?
SC: [Laughs] They’ve got to be like a little army! I mean they have got a job to do. Everybody forgets that with judges. Everybody thinks they’re just there to be rude or to cry. There’s an actual role! You’ve got to have the ability to spot somebody who may have done a great audition and work out what kind of artist they should be if they haven’t done that themselves and what you can do to help them while they’re on the show to become a better artist and that’s part of The X Factor format - that the judges do work with the talent on a weekly basis as a mentor. If you get L.A., for example, as your mentor and you’re an aspiring singer, I mean, this is a guy who’s had more hits than anyone else in the world and he’s going to work with you on a one on one basis, that’s going to mean a lot to any artist on the show and I’d like to think that I can do the same.

JJ: So who’s your favorite recording artist right now?
SC: I think the three who are really on top of their game right now are Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Adele. All different. And you can’t anytime exclude Beyonce because she’s such a star and you have to include Justin Bieber for what he’s done to make pop music certainly interesting to a whole new generation, which is really, really important. You have to otherwise people get out of the habit of buying music and he’s made music for that generation exciting again and he’s a smart kid along with Willow Smith. I love Katy Perry because she’s a fantastic entertainer and I hope this show reflects that new level of artist. I think it’s really important we do that.

JJ: The show will no doubt be keeping you busy, but are there any other projects you’re working on or would love to work on?
SC: We have a TV company that’s always developing new formats and all the shows I’m on are developed internally. We have a new, big, big concept game show that’s launching in the U.K. in September, which we’re about to announce and I’m almost certain it will come to America very shortly. But that’s what I love doing. Developing and producing the shows [is what I] enjoy more than anything else.

JJ: You mentioned the Glee cast. What are your thoughts on the show?
SC:: I love it! I absolutely love what these guys have done. If you’d said to me three years ago there would be a glee-inspired show that would have this effect on modern culture, I wouldn’t have believed it. I think the guy who put it together is a genius. I think the cast is fantastic and I love the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously because music can sometimes get so dull and boring. I mean the fact that everyone’s getting upset about this “Friday” song of the moment is hilarious! It’s a song! Who cares!

JJ: Are you a fan of Rebecca Black?
SC: I think she’s genius! She’s got all of America up in arms. That’s fantastic. I want this show to reflect all the craziness that’s going on in the moment but not to be afraid of it. And let’s not forget $5 million to the winner. Very important! I’ve been on these shows before and you have two people standing there at the finale and they’re both thinking, ‘It doesn’t matter if I lose because I’m still going to get a recording contract.’ Well, this time it actually is important because it’s $5 million!

————–

Catch Simon on The X Factor when it premieres this Fall!

FYI: Los Angeles auditions will be taking place on March 27 at the L.A. Sports Arena. Registration begins on March 26. Check out Fox.com for more information and to see the other audition cities!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/22/simon-cowell-talks-x-factor_n_839210.html

Simon Cowell Talks 'X Factor' Judges, Susan Boyle And Rebecca Black
First Posted: 03/22/11 02:40 PM Updated: 03/22/11 05:34 PM

Breathlessly waiting to find out just who will take the judges' chairs on "The X Factor"? Following all the rumors? Good. All of them are true.

The Huffington Post spoke to the "American Idol" alum and executive producer of the British import singing competition, "The X Factor." Scheduled to begin its run this fall, the rumor mill is burning up over who is going to join him on the show. Already, record exec LA Reid, whom Cowell raves about, is signed up; rumors have also had old friend Paula Abdul, rapper Nicki Minaj and Jessica Simpson joining up, as well.

Each rumor, Cowell says, is leaked by his company after he meets with the candidates, so if you've heard it, chances are there's at least been a meeting. It'll take a lot to sit in that judge's chair, Cowell says, and there's a lot at stake: a $5 million prize. With age limits and genre limitations more or less out the window, it's a wide open competition, something Cowell believes will bring the next big thing to the public's attention.

Q: You haven't announced the judges beyond LA Reid, but when you're deciding on the judges, are you going for celebrity or are you going for someone who can maybe make a more honest assessment and help find the best star?

Cowell: First of all, you've got to trust the people you're working with, and actually you've got to like the people, because you're going to be working with them for a long time. It's a difficult process because you want to have people who have different views, you want to have people on there who are fun to watch, people who aren't afraid to argue with me or stand up for the contestants. So you're trying to find everything, really. And what's made this process a long, drawn out process is that a lot of people were keen to be on the show. So it makes the decision that much harder.

Normally in the past, certainly on the shows we've done in the UK, we've kind of got the balance right. I was never interested in signing celebrities just for the sake of it, because I think that in the case of someone like LA Reid, even though a lot of people won't know who he is, he is actually a fascinating guy and I think a lot of people will like the fact that they're discovering him on the show.

Q: You had some people who maybe weren't huge celebrities when they went to judge American Idol, so do you think your judges will become celebrities in their own right once they're on the show?

Cowell: Yeah, I think someone like LA in particular. I've known the guy a long time, and every time I was in his company, I always found him fascinating and interesting, and I just liked spending time with him because he's very knowledgable, and he just has a lot of charisma and I think America will find him interesting. So I was never a fan of thinking, I need to hire celebrities to bring in an audience, I wanted to put together a group of people who as a whole, people would want to watch, week after week.

Q: You said a lot of people were keen to be on the show. Who was interested?

Cowell: Mostly the names that are out there. The media have got it because our company leaks any information -- if we meet anybody, the whole world knows about it. But I don't have a problem with that. It's been an interesting process, and one of the things that you have to take in account is that on this show, you are mentoring contestants at the end, when you're choosing their material, what they're going to wear, which choreographer they're going to work with, and that takes up an awful amount of time and energy, and you've got to have that commitment. So you've got to take that into account as well. But at the end of the day, you trust your gut feeling to put together a panel that's going to work, and the most important thing is, people will decide, once they watch the show, whether we've made the right decision or the wrong decision.

Q: You're not only deciding judges; these judges are going to be awarding a $5 million contract. Why do you think your show will be able to beat out other shows to find the best talent? Will it be because of the judges? What about your show will be able to find the next big star?

Cowell: I think it's partly, you get the word out, what are you looking for, why you're going to be different, what are you offering people when they win the competition and that's why we put the $5 million up early to really say to people look, we really are taking this process seriously. And this is from a record company point of view, that what we want to find at the end is someone who can be a legitimate star in their own right and sell records all over the world. I actually believe that it's possible, but you've got to find people who wouldn't normally enter these type of shows, who've worked out themselves the kind of artist they want to be, and actually what they need more than anything else is exposure.

Q: Well what about someone like Susan Boyle in the UK -- you probably wouldn't have seen her on "American Idol," and I know you're opening the floodgates for someone maybe someone like that here. Do you think America would have voted for or fallen in love with someone like that initially?

Cowell: 100%. I was in Los Angeles when the show opened in the UK, so I was watching it from an American perspective, and most of the instant pickup was actually from the American media and they were really responsible for turning her into a star. That story, I mean, it resonates anywhere around the world. It's a good old fashioned, good luck story, and it was one of the reasons why we were determined there was never going to be an upper age limit on this show. Because the charts today reflect all different types of ages, genres of music, and you've got to be as open minded as possible.

Q: In your ideal world, what kind of artist would you land?

Cowell: Well you want somebody who doesn't really exist at the moment. Because there's no point in trying to find the next Lady Gaga, it won't be as good, and the same applies to Justin Bieber or Katy Perry or Adele. You want to find someone like a Carrie Underwood or a Liona Lewis, when they walk onto your show, you go, apart from the fact that I think you're going to win, you're going to have a career.

Susan Boyle, interestingly, what this show did to change her life -- she told 20 million records in two years, and it's all because she entered a show like this and people supported her. So it can lead to fantastic things, providing you are open minded and as many people turn up as possible, and you've given yourself half a chance. Because if everyone's useless or they're boring, we don't have a show.

Q: You just named a number of pop stars; would it be okay if you ended up with someone who is more of a rapper or rocker, or a totally different genre?

Cowell: Sure. And again, that's part of the reason why we put LA on the panel. Because when LA was running his labels in the US, he had to deal with a lot of different types of music. He's very opened minded, he's got great, broad taste. And I think most of the people I've ever worked with on these shows, regardless of whether you're into rap, country, whatever, if you're good, you know.

And interestingly, in the auditions, and I've done this deliberately, I've put the auditions into arenas where I've got 3 or 4,000 people sitting behind me. And they help you make that decision as well. When someone is good, you feel it instantly. It really does help you with the judging process.

Q: So you think that the public definitely knows best.

Cowell: Of course! They're the people who buy records. Our job is to be a filter, and to hopefully recognize someone who may not have got it all together, either chosen the wrong song, don't look right, or haven't worked out the kind of artist they want to be. But at the end of the day, you have to trust the public on this.

Q: That was kind of the crux of your argument in that debate you had with Elton John, where you said look, we're helping people who haven't had that opportunity, and this is what the public wants. Is it okay that you don't go through the whole dusty clubs and that type of thing?

Cowell: Well, I think you're going to see this I think with a lot of the older contestants coming on the show -- it's not for want of trying. Anyone who wants to be successful, normally, will try all different routes. What's happened with our shows is we've given some people, and Susan Boyle is a great example, a second or final chance. And there's room for everyone in the charts right now. With what Apple has done to the music industry, you have a very, very big chart, which changes on an hourly basis. So, there's no overcrowding. Anyone who's good has now got a chance to sell records. So the fact that you're begrudging anyone the chance to better their lives is ridiculous.

Q: Right, and why go through the tough times if you don't have to?

Cowell: Well, that's the world we live in at the moment. You look at Rebecca Black, three weeks ago no one's heard of her, now she's one of the most famous people in America. That's the world we live in now.

Q: What are your thoughts on her? Are people bullying her? Do you think she's a legitimate talent, do you think it's legitimate fame?

Cowell: I wish her all the success in the world, this girl. She hasn't done anything wrong. She posted her song on the internet, people reacted to it very quickly, they either liked it or hated it, but for her, I'd call that a high class problem. I mean, she's going to be at a hundred million views by the end of the week. That's the world you live in now, people have got opinions. And I think when you're in a situation where you polarize people, I think sometimes, that's when you become huge.

Q: As someone who has an eye for talent, in this internet age, do you think things like that are sustainable, or is it just ride that wave while you can?

Cowell: I think it works for both sides. You look at someone like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, who definitely, the internet definitely helped them in terms of the kind of artist they are. And then in contrast, you see someone like Adele, who is just kind of a timeless artist, who could have worked 20 years ago, 30 years ago, and it works today, because she's quality. And this is my point -- there is so much open mindedness and so much room for different types of artists at the moment, that this is a healthy time to be making a show like this, and that's the reason why we took away as many rules as possible to sort of reflect what's happening in the world today. And to not be sort of snippy about any type of genre of music. If you're good, you've got the public behind you, good luck to you and enjoy the $5 million bucks.

Q: They certainly will do that.

Cowell: In a way it's going to be funny. I said this to somebody yesterday, often on these shows, particularly on the final, you have people saying we don't care if we win or lose, it's about taking part, but when you've got $5 million, it matters.

Q: Do you ever believe it, when people say that?

Cowell: Never! Absolutely never in a million years. It's like when people, when you have the close ups at the Oscars, and it's not them and they're pretending to be happy, inside, they're dying!

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Simon Cowell's "The X Factor" Would Love To Find "Another Carrie Underwood"
By: Matt Bjorke
Last Updated: March 22, 2011 2:03 PM

Over the first nine seasons of American Idol, America grew to love and hate Simon Cowell for his brutally honest opinions about the people auditioning and performing on American Idol. All the while this was going on, Simon moved on from England’s Pop Idol to start a new show of his own, called The X Factor. Massively successful in the UK and in other countries around the world, when Idol’s season nine was finished Simon made a deal with Fox Television to bring The X Factor over to the United States and debut it in the fall of this year. With auditions about the start next week, we were able to talk with Simon via phone about The X Factor along with what makes the show unique and different along with country’s impact on similar shows and more. Now, on with the interview:

Matt Bjorke: What separates The X Factor from Idol or other shows looking to discover singing talent?

Simon Cowell: I decided to put the show on then (this coming fall) and I thought about it carefully, knowing there was gonna be a lot of shows like it this year; but I was convinced, based on the success of the show throughout the world, that people would like the show. I also had great feedback from Americans who had seen the show and asked me if I was going to bring it to America but the main thing that separates the show from all the other shows is that there are really no rules to this show. The lower age limit is 12; it’s open to vocal groups and there’s open-mindedness as to the kind of artist that we would want to win. I think from the minute that it starts, the auditions take place in arenas, where you’ve got three to four thousand people sitting behind us and they can sing to a backing track, with a piano or a capella. It’s a very, very different experience.

Matt: So it’s kinda like the America’s Got Talent show that way, with the audience there?

Simon: Yeah, and Got Talent is one of my shows [that I produce], so once we did auditions with an audience, we couldn’t go back from that. So what we’ve done with X Factor is that we’ve sort of supersized the whole process and moved the auditions into Arenas instead of theaters.

Matt: Why does it seem like country music has helped to give past Idols sustainable careers, maybe more so than other genres?

Simon: Well, it was interesting. With Carrie Underwood, from the first day she came into the audition. It was honestly like everybody else was in black in white and this girl was in full color. She was the absolute total package. She looked the part, she sounded the part, and most of all, she knew who she wanted to be. So I was really one of the first to support her and I would love to find somebody like another Carrie Underwood. But what we look for on this show, all these shows is to find somebody who’s unique. So if we find a country singer through the process, I’ll be thrilled.

Matt: What is it about country music that you think makes it more open to accepting artists from programs like Idol and The X Factor?

Simon: I don’t know if it’s specific to country music. I like to think we try to be as broad-minded as possible. And we try to put together a panel who know what they’re talking about and can spot talent regardless of age or style of music. But, you get a good country singer on the show, they always get a very loyal following and do well on these shows.

Matt: Yeah and you see that happening on the show this season with a kid named Scotty. He’s who he is and knows what he wants to be, true to himself.

Simon: That’s 100% right. I always say that to artists, you gotta know who you are. We don’t want somebody who does six things quite well, just stick to what you’re best at doing and show what kind of artist you can be.

Matt: What made L.A. Reid the right man to be the first announced judge, in addition to you?

Simon: Well, the show has to reflect on what’s happening on the charts today. And L.A. has been, particularly the last 12 months; I would classify him as the most-successful record executive in the world right now. His track-record speaks for itself and he’s also a great producer-writer and he was really, really keen to be a part of this show. To be a part of something different and he’s not afraid to share his opinion with that, he knows what he’s talking about. He’s not there to be popular or unpopular; he’s just got massive amounts of experience and with me launching this show in America, I had to have someone like him on the panel to help guide me through the process.

Matt: I would think that’s a must; that’s what I loved about your judging on Idol. You didn’t sugar-coat anything and further people’s delusional attitudes towards their dream. I know I can’t sing and wouldn’t want to be told I’m great when I’m not…

Simon: I 100% agree with you and I think that in a way you’re insulting your audience because if they hear something terrible and you hear them saying to that person, “you’ve got a great opportunity” when you know they haven’t. I mean it’s ridiculous.

Matt: Well, Simon thanks for talking with us and I’m sure our audience will not only enjoy watching the show but some of them will be willing to come out to the auditions…

Simon: Well, thank you very much, indeed and spread the word, Matt. All country singers really are welcome. Just be prepared and come up with a song we’ve never heard before and you’ve got a shot.

If you’re interested in auditioning for The X Factor, you can audition starting this coming Sunday, March 27 2011 in Los Angeles at the L.A. Sports Arena. Following Auditions will take place on Thursday, April 7 in Miami, FL; Thursday, April 14 in Newark, NJ; Wednesday April 20 in Seattle Washington; Wednesday April 27 in Chicago, IL; and Dallas, TX will round out the auditions on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

The show is searching for undiscovered talent 12 years old or over – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are willing to brave the panel for a chance to win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music. Interested solo artists and vocal groups should sign up now for audition information at www.fox.com/theXfactor or call toll-free 855-345-5678.

The back and forth with those two has already started. Love it!

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Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid Talk X Factor with Ryan Seacrest (Plus Interview Roundup!)By mj On 03/23/2011 ·

Simon Cowell is doing a TON of press for X Factor this week. The latest is an interview with Ryan Seacrest on the Idol host’s radio show this morning. Newly announced X Factor judge, LA Reid also joined him for the chat.

Unbelievably, Simon says he’s still not ready to announce the rest of the on-air cast (auditions begin Sunday in LA. Who will sit on the panel?). Ryan kids Simon about the “5 million dollar prize”. Ryan insists the prize will be 5M minus recoupment. Simon says, “read the fine print!”

Ryan sounds like one of our posters.

http://ryan.kiisfm.com/main.html

For more Simon goodness, check out a fan chat (read the tweets) Simon conducted on twitter where Simon assures Chezza fans that Cheryl Cole is still in the X Factor mix.

In this interview posted at Huffington Post, Simon admits that all the “reports” about possible cast members came from his people. He also explains why he chose L.A. Reid for the show.

Simon talks country music and finding another Carrie Underwood with Roughstock.

And in an interview with Just Jared, Simon explains the difference between Idol, The Voice and X Factor

Simon Cowell – Why L.A. Reid


[youtube][/youtube]

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Simon Cowell Tells 'X Factor' Hopefuls to Stay Away From Jason Mraz, Remains Coy on Other HostsBy Dave Steinfeld Posted Mar 23rd 2011 02:16PM

Even if you've been making a concerted effort to avoid pop culture, you know who Simon Cowell is. Such is the level of Cowell's fame and influence in the entertainment industry.

A native of the UK and veteran of the music business, Cowell first became familiar to American audiences in the summer of 2002 when the reality TV series 'American Idol' premiered. A spin-off of England's similar series 'Pop Idol,' the object of the show was to find the best unsigned singer in America. From the start, it seemed as if nearly as much attention was paid to the judges -- Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson -- as to the singers themselves. Their interaction with each other could be funny and Cowell's disaffected tone and sarcastic comments in particular left viewers glued to their seats. Love him or hate him, Cowell was a huge part of 'Idol''s success. And what a success it was! Idol became the first TV series to hit No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings for six consecutive seasons -- surpassing both 'All in the Family' and 'The Cosby Show'. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and David Cook are among the stars it has produced.

After nine seasons on 'American Idol', Cowell left the show in 2010, eager for new challenges. To that end, he is bringing his popular UK series 'The X Factor' to America later this year. Similar to 'Idol' in its theme, 'The X Factor' will premiere on Fox in September -- but auditions will be held in six American cities beginning this Sunday in Los Angeles. Cowell -- whose net worth is already said to be somewhere around $200 million -- will serve not only as executive producer of the series but also as one of the judges. In the meantime, rumors have been flying about who the other judges might be, with Mariah Carey's name recently mentioned as one of the possibilities.

PopEater recently caught up with Cowell to discuss his old and new projects -- and we were surprised at how gracious he was!

'X Factor' premieres in America this September and we've been hearing a lot of things on this end. The latest is that L.A. Reid will definitely be a judge [on the show], that Mariah won't be a judge and that Nicole Scherzinger may be hosting. How much of that is actually true?

Nothing is confirmed right now other than L.A. Reid. Mariah I met a couple of weeks ago because she wants a role on the live shows, and that's still to be discussed. We've had a lot of conversations with Nicole about the show -- and other shows, actually -- [but] it's too early to confirm.

We saw a video in which you say that one of the songs people who audition for 'X Factor' should not sing is the Jason Mraz tune. We're assuming you mean 'I'm Yours.' Tell us why they shouldn't sing that one and if there are any other tunes they should definitely avoid.

Watch Jason Mraz's 'I'm Yours' Video


Well, it's not because I don't like the song. I do like the song and I love Jason. The problem is that everybody always does it identically to the original. It has a very long intro and nobody ever tries to change it up. It is the most annoying audition song in the world -- because you can't change it! Normally, as soon as I hear the opening bars of 'I'm Yours,' I just [say] "You know what? Choose something else 'cause I know what this is gonna sound like."

It's the same thing with 'At Last' by Etta James. I mean, we hear that so many times and, again, it's always identical to the original. It drives you nuts after awhile.

Switching gears, a little over a year ago you spearheaded a really nice project for the relief effort in Haiti -- the all-star single of 'Everybody Hurts.' People have said that it seemed like everybody really came together and that no one tried to out sing anyone else. What was your experience like on that project?

I was actually asked by the Prime Minister of [England]. I got a call from him to say, "Could we put a record together quickly?" I said yes. We had so little time -- I mean, it was my team that did most of the work, getting everyone to appear on the record. It was interesting because a lot of people did knock us back, but everybody who did appear on it, you genuinely felt that they cared. It was a really fantastic experience. [People were] very polite, turned up on time, made themselves available. It was a real pleasure to work on for that reason. And it did raise a lot of money.

We also wanted to ask you how the UK and US pop markets differ from each other as far as the audiences go. Is one more fickle than the other?

It's interesting you ask that question because I'm finding more and more that they're getting much closer now. I was having this conversation with Will.i.am a couple of nights ago and he was telling me the importance now of the UK as a gateway into Europe. He was using himself as an example [because] he was able to break in the UK before he properly broke in America. This didn't happen years ago.

You see the same thing happening in reverse now with Adele. You know, she's had a lot of success in Europe and now she's breaking big-time in America. I think things like iTunes have brought the world closer together because we can hear each others' music much quicker now.

You spent nine years at 'American Idol.' Was there one singer in that period that you felt should have won that didn't?

I'll tell you who I was disappointed didn't get into the finals -- really disappointed -- was Tamyra Gray. I was really looking forward that year to a Kelly Clarkson/Tamyra Gray final. It could have been one of the best ever because they were both brilliant singers. On the night, anybody could have won, to be honest with you. I mean, I love Kelly -- she's one of my favorite artists -- but that was the one time I was really gutted.


'The X Factor' Audition Dates
Los Angeles 3/27
Miami 4/07
Newark 4/14
Seattle 4/20
Chicago 4/27
Dallas 5/26

Watch 'The X Factor' Promotional Video - "X-Factor" US Promo, (Coming fall 2011)

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Simon Cowell Wanted to Meet Elizabeth Taylor

“I was literally only a week ago talking to someone about who we would like to meet, and I said Elizabeth Taylor,” Cowell said. “Everyone who met her said she’s an absolute star. They just don’t make them like her anymore. She’s everything I used to love about old Hollywood, the epitome of a star.”

As for his judging panel on the upcoming “X Factor,” Cowell isn’t sure if there will be four judges or not. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Honest to god. What I do know — and I’m feeling more confident about now — is I’m determined to put together a panel who I like, who are fun to work with and know what they are talking about. I’m not playing the whole, ‘You got a celebrity, I’ve got to find a bigger celebrity!’ because you just end up with boring people.”

Tune in to "Extra" on Thursday for more of Cowell's interview!

Thanks Heidi!

Nicki Minaj -- No Deal for 'X Factor'



3/24/2011 12:20 AM PDT by TMZ Staff

---

Don't plan on seeing Nicki Minaj at the judges table on "X Factor" -- TMZ has learned the rapper will NOT be taking a gig on the show.



Rumors of Minaj's participation on the show have been spreading like wildfire ... with Simon Cowell himself
fanning the flames ... but sources connected to Minaj tell us she won't
be a judge on the show ... adding, "There's nothing going on with [X
Factor]."

Earlier this week, Cowell told reporters that many of
the names rumored to be in talks with the show were most likely leaked
from his own company in an effort to stir up interest in the show.

Jessica Simpson and Paula Abdul were among the rumored candidates for the judge's positions ... but so far, no word on where they stand with the show.

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Simon Cowell Dishes On Possible ‘X Factor’ Judges & L.A. Reid

“I’ve always kept [Paula] in the mix. Ever since she left ‘Idol,’ it was never the same show,” he told Neil. “The minute we started working together, we just had the weird relationship where we’d be arguing one second and then really really close. And interestingly, with Paula, even though there’s this wacky side to her, I always thought she had good taste in music.”


Read more at : http://www.accesshollywood.com/simon-cowell-praises-new-x-factor-judge-la-reid-says-paula-abdul-still-in-the-running-for-judges-seat_article_45626?__source=rss|rss2|american-idol

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Simon Cowell's 'X Factor' has high expectations
By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY


LOS ANGELES — Simon Cowell is enjoying a déjà vu moment. "We were here 10 years ago with a show no one knew about, and I remember thinking, 'This is fun because you don't know what's going to happen.' And it's like the same feeling all over again."

What happened then, for those who've been living in a monastery, was American Idol, the dominant television hit of the past decade. What's happening now is The X Factor, Cowell's new singing competition, which opens a series of nationwide auditions at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on Sunday.

Of course, there is one big difference. In 2002, few Americans knew of Idol's predecessor, England's Pop Idol. Fewer knew its tart-tongued judge, English record executive Cowell. Expectations were low for the summer fill-in show.

That's hardly the case for X Factor, which is a huge hit in the United Kingdom, and Cowell, who is now a household name. People have been waiting more than a year for the arrival of the new singing competition, which premieres this fall on Idol's network, Fox.

Cowell acknowledges the high expectations with a frankness familiar to anyone who has seen him on Idol. "You're under constant pressure all the time. Anyone who says they're not is either a liar or an idiot."

As an interview is about to begin, Cowell jumps up from his chair and walks across the room to greet a reporter. He is gracious and friendly, not at all the harsh arbiter known to millions of TV viewers. After a year away from U.S. television, he has a vitality that many thought was missing during his last, much criticized season of Idol. That long gaze, which some attributed to boredom, has been replaced by a mischievous glint. "I've really enjoyed coming back. It's such a buzz," he says with a smile.

Cowell, 51 is here in early March preparing for the show, speaking to Fox affiliates, talking to potential judges and hosts, and doing interviews to promote Sunday's auditions, with the hope that a big crowd will help build early momentum.

Unlike on Idol, where Cowell was just a judge, albeit a highly paid one, he is the creator and an executive producer of X Factor as well as a judge. This is his baby.

That's one reason why Atlanta Journal-Constitution blogger Rodney Ho, one of those who sensed a loss of interest on Cowell's part last year on Idol, expects a more energized version in the fall. "I am certain Simon will put his heart and soul into X Factor."

Judges and mentors

Like Idol, X Factor is a singing competition, but Cowell and others say it is a different show that won't seem like a facsimile. There are structural differences: X Factor will have four judges, not three, and they will serve as mentors, shepherding performers through the contest and competing against other judges to see their singers win.

Fox has announced hit producer Antonio "L.A." Reid as one of the judges. Many other high-profile names have been rumored for those spots. Cowell will only say he has been talking to many people and won't confirm any names, although he's enjoying the speculation and accompanying publicity. For the host position, Cowell says he's leaning toward having two because of the job's demands.

After preliminary auditions such as Sunday's gathering, contestants' first appearance before the show's judges will take place in front of large audiences. In early seasons of X Factor in England, the judges conducted auditions alone with the singer. Cowell found that atmosphere sterile and decided to move the performances to an arena before thousands of onlookers.

"On that first day, there was a lot of pressure. Is this a mistake? Is it going to work?" he says. "This schoolteacher came out, a guy named Danyl Johnson, and sang a song, and that's when I saw the difference between the old way and the new way. This guy turned from singer to performer. Three thousand people were on their feet, he kicked into almost a second gear midway through the performance. It was like his first concert. It was not like anything I had experienced before. And watching as a viewer, you were seeing a completely different experience."

Age ranges are broader than Idol's 15-to-28 span. X Factor singers can be as young as 12, and there is no upper limit. (No age cap opened the door for Susan Boyle on another Cowell-produced show, Britain's Got Talent.) Groups are eligible, too. "There's a massive gap in the market now for a boy band, a girl band, a family group like the Jacksons. If you're not in a band, put a band together," Cowell says.

And, of course, there's the prize: a $5 million record deal.

The crazy factor

On a broader level, the performances will be more of a spectacle. X Factor and Idol "live in two separate worlds. (X Factor) plays like a big, huge variety show, almost like a Grammy performance. ... It's smoke and set pieces and dancers and costumes," Fox reality chief Mike Darnell says. "Because of that, even if they're not fantastic singers, because we have old and young and vocal groups, they can still be entertaining."

Cowell, noted for quickly dismissing bizarre performers on Idol, says X Factor will be open to anything, no matter how crazy. "I'll be lenient," he jokes. "Literally, the rules are off now. You can be as outrageous and as different as you want to be, and we'll encourage it."

A look at popular acts encourages a broader range of performers, he says. "Look around you as to who's successful at the moment. You look at Lady Gaga. Look at Willow Smith. Look at Justin Bieber. Look at Glee."

Cowell says he doesn't court controversy with the show, a frequent topic in England's tabloids, but acknowledges that "it sort of follows us — or follows me."

That reflects his philosophy: Don't be boring.

"It's warts and all. Never censor it. Allow the audience to see what you've seen. Some of it's quite painful, controversial, but I've never had a problem with that," he says. "The only thing I ever worried about is that everybody shows up, they're well-behaved and quite good — and you have no show. Life isn't boring, and people aren't boring."

He wants to make that message clear to auditioners. "It's a $5 million audition. Do something we haven't seen before. Don't do a Lionel Richie song or a Stevie Wonder song like them. Do something that's going to make you stand out."

Darnell expects X Factor to perform well, although he won't make predictions, especially about whether it could equal or surpass its huge U.K. audience share or Idol's big ratings.

Among advertisers, X Factor has the most buzz of any potential fall show, a combination of Cowell's involvement and the long, anticipatory buildup since the show was announced in January 2010, says Jason Maltby of media services agency Mindshare. He says it can be a success without drawing Idol numbers (24.7 million viewers average).

"I think it would be dangerous to expect it to do as well as AmericanIdol does. American Idol is by far the No. 1 show on broadcast television," he says. "Idol was born 10 years ago when it was easier in a fragmented world to build a mass audience."

That Idol's ratings haven't fallen precipitously after what many consider a disappointing Season 9 bodes well for X Factor, Maltby says. "That signals there's still an appetite with the American viewing audience for these competition-style programs."

People will tune in to X Factor because they want to know what Cowell has been up to, says MJ Santilli, who writes about Idol and X Factor at MJ's Big Blog (mjsbigblog.com). She describes X Factor as "a lot bigger and a lot glossier but also a lot cheesier" and wonders whether Idol has tried to pre-empt it by involving top record producers with the singers and showing off more highly produced numbers.

"I've never thought of Simon as an artistic person, but he definitely knows how to give people what they want. He's got the pulse of the masses," she says.

Divided audience?

However, some wonder whether having two such shows in the same TV season will dampen interest. One reason Idol runs just once a year has been to avoid overexposure.

"You have to wonder if Simon is secretly rooting for Idol to collapse this spring, so that it would in some ways help X Factor. The fact that the show seems to be working right now reasonably well makes you think that that cannot possibly help him," Ho says. "There's always the calculation, when you're watching TV, are you going to commit the time and energy for another TV show? If you're already committed to American Idol or Dancing With the Stars, it's hard to break another reality show into that mix."

Cowell says he doesn't see Idol as competition because the shows don't run at the same time of year. He has seen only a bit of the show this year and doesn't see that much difference, other than "probably a bit more crying."

"I think they've done a good job on (Idol) this year. They've all worked harder. It's a good format," he says.

Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe likes the lack of an age cap on X Factor and wishes the show well. He thinks interest can be maintained in the two shows over the course of the year. "It's a very similar format to Idol, and Idol is hugely successful this year. I see no reason why that wouldn't carry on into the autumn season of X Factor."

If Factor and Idol in the same TV year is not enough, add a slew of new music-oriented contests, including NBC's The Voice (April 26, 9 ET/PT), CMT's Next Superstar (April 8, 9 ET/PT; executive produced by Lythgoe), Bravo's Platinum Hit (summer; with ex-Idol judge Kara DioGuardi) and an ABC summer series that follows the Karaoke World Championships USA. That doesn't count existing shows, such as NBC's popular America's Got Talent, another Cowell production.

Darnell says he's not worried because X Factor has something the other new shows don't: Cowell. "He's the biggest star in the genre. I know there's other singing shows coming, but I personally would never ever go into one of these shows unless I had Simon," he says. "Ultimately, X Factor is a great format, but he's the star."

Cowell's ready for the ride. "I've suddenly become excited again. It's like going on a roller coaster. You're kind of scared, but you think you're going to have a good time, as well."

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Simon Cowell Looking For ‘Unusual People’ At ‘X Factor’ Auditions

“I love unusual people. I always say, you’ve got to embrace the madness,” Cowell laughed. “I like that we’re going to be very open-minded. I think we’re going to have good enough people on this panel that we’re not gonna miss out on anyone who’s got potential.”

“We want someone who’s gonna sell all over the world,” he continued. “You look at what’s happened over the last couple of years, I think originality is key and you’ve got to be different to what’s out there already … I would say on this show, we’re much more open to people being ‘out there’ and anything goes, basically.”

Watch the video at: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660577/simon-cowell-looking-unusual-people-at-x-factor-auditions.jhtml

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Simon-Cowell-XFactor-1031052.aspx


Simon Cowell: Ready to Take on The X Factor
Mar 24, 2011 12:17 PM ET
by William Keck

American Idol and America's Got Talent had best be on guard. Auditions for Simon Cowell's new singing competition, The X Factor, kick off March 27 in Los Angeles, paving the way for the Fox series' fall 2011 premiere. While continuing the search for his co-hosts and third judge (to join him and Island Def Jam music producer Antonio "L.A." Reid), the charmer spoke to TV Guide Magazine from across the pond.

TV Guide Magazine: What is your biggest worry about launching this hit U.K. show in America?
Cowell: You just don't know until you start filming whether the contestants are going to be good, interesting and different. It's impossible to predict. I've luckily had more good years than bad when you get that special Carrie Underwood or Susan Boyle moment. My biggest fear is that everybody's hopeless and boring.

TV Guide Magazine: That's up to you judges. What's the hold up in finalizing the panel and hosts?
Cowell: First of all, nobody can agree; secondly, you've got to meet as many people as possible; and thirdly, I'm famous for not making my mind up until the last possible second. You've got to imagine working with these people for the next few months... People you genuinely think you're going to like. We were spoiled for a while on Idol when we had Paula, Randy and Ryan. We genuinely became friends, and you want the same thing to happen again.

TV Guide Magazine: And you know most of us can tell with whom you get along... and with whom you don't.
Cowell: I totally agree. You can tell whether there's a real chemistry, and if you don't like each other or there's tension, you see that bouncing off the screen. I've been in that situation before when you don't quite fit and I want to avoid that happening.

TV Guide Magazine: Is part of Simon Cowell's X factor that he tells it as it is?
Cowell: I think so. There's no point lying to the people. I like things to be unpredictable, controversial and funny. You want people to talk and get excited.

TV Guide Magazine: How long have you known L.A. Reid?
Cowell: I met him approximately fifteen years ago when he'd launched Pink for the first time. He put on a show and got every single person in the room to believe this person was a star. The way he presented her with his passion drew me to him and was a big part of why I chose him to be on the show. A "yes" or "no" from L.A. Reid should really mean something to the contestants.

TV Guide Magazine: What's he like?
Cowell: I remember the first time I went to his office in New York and was impressed by his taste. He has an old fashioned way about him, where he's very polite and charming. The enthusiasm from him when I played music for him really meant something to me at the time.

TV Guide Magazine: Now we just need some female energy.
Cowell: Oh God, yes. The idea is to have a guy and a girl hosting the show, because funny enough I like working on shows with two hosts.

TV Guide Magazine: Of course that Seacrest/Dunkleman pairing wasn't exactly legendary that first season of American Idol.
Cowell: (Laughs) Well, it was entertaining. I've got to tell you, watching the two of them kill each other on stage was all part of the entertainment. I was always a fan of the two of them, and the fact that they were so uncomfortable together was fantastic.

TV Guide Magazine: We're hearing former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger is a near lock for one of those hosts.
Cowell: Yeah, I want her to do it, but we've got to get the deal done and find someone she has chemistry with. But I absolutely adore her. She was fantastic on the U.K. X Factor and I'm hopeful it will happen.

TV Guide Magazine: What is Nicole's X factor?
Cowell: She's gorgeous and ruthlessly ambitious and doesn't arrive with a massive entourage. Everyone adores her.

TV Guide Magazine: The other hot rumor is that former Girls Aloud singer and British X Factor judge Cheryl Cole will fill that third judge's chair, but Fox had concerns about Americans struggling to understand her thick English accent.
Cowell: We may do it like Singin' In the Rain, where we've got an American speaking behind a wall if she gets the gig. Cheryl's not confirmed but is in the mix. Someone else [Cowell declined to specify] came into the fray this week who wasn't there a week ago, so now I've got to meet them.

TV Guide Magazine: During your last season on Idol, you clearly seemed disinterested. Can we expect to see a re-energized Simon when The X Factor debuts in the fall?
Cowell: For sure. I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't in the mood for doing it. The problem with the last year was that because I'd announced I was going, there was just a weird feeling with everyone. Weird energy. If you're getting paid to do a job, you've got to be professional, but to be honest my mind was somewhere else. Right now, though, I feel completely re-energized, enthusiastic and hopeful! We're going to work flat-out to make the best possible show we can.

TV Guide Magazine: Give us one scoop on what we're actually going to see when the shows start airing.
Cowell: I've done this a long time and have learned you never, ever tell your competition what you're going to do in advance, A) because they're going to rip it off, and B) because I haven't got a clue.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/simon_cowell_1.html

Simon Cowell on The X Factor and the Only Contestant He Knows From This Season's Idol
3/25/11/2:15PM

American Idol seems to be doing just fine without Simon Cowell: J.Lo's gorgeous, Tyler's quirky, and Randy's actually expanded his vocabulary beyond "dawg." But face it: You miss Mr. Crankypants. Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer for Cowell's return. This weekend marks the beginning of auditions for The X Factor, the show that replaced Idol in the U.K. years ago and finally makes its way to America this fall. Vulture caught up with Cowell yesterday and found him relaxed, chatty, and ready to get back in the game of creating musical superstars. We got his take on everything from the current Idol; what went wrong last season; and what he thinks of NBC's clone, The Voice. We even got him to weigh in on Rebecca Black's next career move.

We'll soon have American Idol, The Voice, and The X Factor. Does America really have that much talent?
A hundred million percent, yes. I wouldn't have made this show unless I thought there was enough talent waiting to be discovered in America. I wouldn't have put the $5 million on the table. I wouldn't have made the bet.

I've talked to industry insiders who say NBC is rushing The Voice onto the air next month for one reason: to get ahead of X Factor. Annoying? Or is all fair in TV?
For sure. You can't stop somebody from doing this. If they want to do it, good luck to them. Every time I hear something like this, I put the phone down and I try harder. I've been in this situation for years in England. We've had so much competition; everyone's tried to have a pop at us. Our shows have remained popular because they are good shows, but they also rely on one thing and one thing only: the contestants.

Having you on the show makes a difference, too, no?
It's a combination of everything. But no matter how good we are as a panel, if you just get a ton of dull people who look and sound like everyone else, there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. One thing's for sure: The X Factor is going to attract a lot more contestants than The Voice. There's no doubt about that. So we've got a slight advantage to begin with.

Idol is such a lovefest now. Ever tempted to throw a shoe at the TV?
If I was on the show, I don't think I'd necessarily be on the same page as the other three. Having said that, they're very happy with the show now. One of the producers has made it very clear and public that he's happy I'm not on it. So I think we're all on the same page. I'm happy to be doing something new, he's thrilled not to have me, the contestants are happy, the judges are happy.

So no hard feelings?
Look, I left the show on fantastic terms. I still talk to Randy and Ryan on a regular basis. Other people connected to the show have made it public they think the show's better without me. It [underscores] why I left in the first place: We were just on different pages.

You did seem bored out of your head last season.
I was. When I said recently in an interview that Idol got better without me, I meant it in a positive way. I was not happy being on the show anymore. In hindsight, I should've waited until the end to announce I was leaving. The timing was off. People got suspicious and it was a weird atmosphere, and it didn't work for anyone, really.

Any finalists this season you can't stand?
The only person I can remember is the young kid with the deep voice, the country singer. But I'd be lying if I said that I knew enough about any of the contestants to have an opinion.

So what's the latest on the remaining two spots on The X Factor’s judging panel?
We didn't intend to be in this position, where all the people we were talking to were [made it] public. But I don't really have a problem with it: We take meetings; people are going to hear about it. You've got to cast this like a dinner party. You've got to find the balance.

Anyone you can say will not be on the show?
I can rule out Mariah. She was literally going to be, like, eight months pregnant, and that wasn't going to work.

When will you have it all nailed down?
I'm guessing that within a week, or two weeks maximum, we can announce something.

"Pitchy" was a word we heard far too often on Idol during your tenure. Any word you'd like to ban from The X Factor?
Yes, I’ve got it: journey. It's been banned for two years. Even if you're on a journey, you can't say you're on a journey anymore. I don't know where this word came from, but it popped up like three or four years ago. And it's like, "Why are you using this word 'journey' to describe what should be the most fun time in your life?" I've banned my producers from saying it. We fine people who say it. It's the "J-word.”

What would be your advice to Rebecca Black if she were on X Factor?
Very simple: Don't listen to anyone over the age of 18. I'm being deadly serious. Whatever she's done has worked. Whether you like her or not, she's the most talked-about artist in America right now. Nobody over the age of 18 should understand her or like her. So she should just do it her way.

There's been buzz that your company has sold a lottery-themed game show in the U.K. What exactly is it?
Where I've got to be careful — and The Voice is a good example of this — is that you have a lot of competition out there that watch us like hawks. And the minute I give too much information away, someone's out there making the show before me. So I tend to keep things close to my chest.

Will a version of that show be sold here?
It'll certainly be sold within the next month in America. I don't want to sound arrogant, but this is a fantastic show.

Are you ready to get back on TV?
Once I announced L.A. [Reid]’s name, it was real. And I'm loving it. It's exciting.

http://mjsbigblog.com/simon-cowell-on-paula-abdul-both-annoying-and-fascinating-at-the-same-time.htm


Simon Cowell on Paula Abdul: “Both Annoying and Fascinating at the Same Time”

Simon Cowell lays out some hints in this Radio Sophie interview that the possibility of Paula Abdul taking a seat on the X Factor US judges’ is a strong possibility, just based on viewer demand, and the fact that he’d love to team up with her again.“I’d
love to work with her again, Simon says of his pal Paula, “Even though
she was a complete pain at times and I wanted to throttle her, I kind of
missed working with her because she was both annoying and fascinating
at the same time.”Paula’s contractual obligations to CBS and
FOX’s reluctance to tangle with the loopy ex-Idol judge could be reasons
that would keep a Simon and Paula reunion from happening. Hm.Simon
says that he loves nothing more than competitors who are not only
cutthroat, but also hate each others’ guts. “We want killers,” says
Simon of the type contestants he’d like for X Factor.On hiring
record exec L.A. Reid for the judges’ panel, Simon says it took a year
to negotiate and almost didn’t happen because he was working for another
record company.Listen to the entire interview after the jump.

http://www.mjsbigblog.com

Today is the day to register for Los Angeles X Factor auditions. More information HERE. The cattle call begins Sunday March 27 at the LA Sports Arena.

'X Factor Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205303812820314