Conference Call with American Idol’s Simon Cowell
Hi guys. I just got off from a conference call with American Idol judge, Simon Cowell!!! Yes, you read that correctly - SIMON COWELL!!!!! I will have the full transcript tomorrow but I can give you an overview of some of the things that were discussed.
This is all from my notes (exact phrasing will come tomorrow or Friday):
Simon said the "bad audition" hopefuls were more argumentative with him this year. He said it amazed him.
The topic of Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks being dropped by J Records came up and Simon said that there is no logical or scientific way to know who is going to do well after the show and who will. He went on to say that he is surprised Ruben isn’t on his third good album by now.
He also said that he never remembers which contestants came from which audition city but that Paula has a near photographic memory for that type of thing.
This year, as you’ve heard before, Simon says we are going to learn more about the contestants (their lives, families, where they are from, etc…) and less emphasis will be placed on mentors.
He said that he liked 90% of last season but that the show’s success is reliant on who walks in the door. Hmmm….
This year contestants can used instruments and he said that it was not particularly good or bad and it didn’t make much of a difference since the contestants were just so good this year.
When asked about Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis‘ debut albums, he said that he was disappointed by the sales and that neither artist has really "caught on fire."
More after the jump!
He didn’t watch The Next Great American Band and after being asked (he laughed hysterically) he revealed that he had not been invited to be on Randy Jackson’s new album (it was really funny).
He said that it’s not too late for Britney Spears to make a comeback since she’s the world’s most searched artist but that she should go and live "normally" with her family for 6 months, get away from the paparazzi and gain some perspective. He added that she’s "welcome to call him anytime."
As you may know, Fantasia Barrino’s brother auditioned and Simon said that he was terrible, he can’t sing and it was bad enough that they questioned whether he was really Fantasia’s brother.
As for retiring, he didn’t give specifics but said that he felt the show might do even better without him.
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POSTED IN: Interviews, Simon Cowell
5 opinions for Conference Call with American Idol’s Simon Cowell
idol fan
Jan 9, 2008 at 2:32 pm
paula is really smart. im not surprised she can remember all that stuff. im not really that interested in simon though, maybe you can call paula next time??
Jeanne
Jan 9, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Maybe! I’d love to talk to her :)
GerriG
Jan 9, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I can’t wait to read the whole script…mmmmmmmlets hope Simon will keep on dumping on those no singing people. I respect him for that.
photographic memory
Jan 9, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I have seen an improvement in my memory after doing some mind exercises on a daily basis. Do check out http://www.photographic-memory.org, it helped me and it can definitely help you too.
A'kyra
Jan 10, 2008 at 7:03 am
I think it’s great you got to interview Simon. I can’t wait to read the whole thing.
Women tend to have a better memory than men anyway so I’m not surprised that Paula has a photographic memory but I am surprised she remembers anything sometimes….you think she remembers her show Hey Paula?!!! HAhaha! If so that should be a warning never to do it again! :-)
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