Idol Watch

The Bitch Is Back on American Idol. Elton in, Simon out?

One of the most enticing rumors of late finds pop music legend Elton John's name bandied about as a replacement for departing Simon Cowell on American Idol.

The hype started when TMZ suggested Elton's name as a suitable new judge to fill Simon's seat. After all, Elton's bitchy (his 1974 hit The Bitch Is Back wasn't called that for nothing), he's British, and he knows pop music better than anyone.

 Since scoring his first hit in 1970, Elton's been out front as a performer/songwriter cranking out hit after hit. In the 70s, he owned his own record label (Rocket Records) and through it brought Neil Sedaka's dormant career back into hit-making status. He's also written a music column for Interview and has been a proponent of promoting new, younger talent such as Ryan Adams, Eminem and Groove Armada.

Elton was also a guest judge/mentor on Idol's second season.

Add all of that to his name recognition and an Elton-Simon swap could buy Idol a few more years.

Of course, none of this is official. But word has it, Elton's name is now being talked about on the Idol set and backstage.

Enticing.

What do you think? Post a comment.

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Simon Cowell to depart Idol. Really, this time.

Simon Cowell has announced he will leave American Idol when his contract expires at the conclusion of this ninth season, which begins airing on Fox at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Cowell wants to bring a version of his popular Brit talent show, The X-Factor to Fox, in the fall of 2011 and Fox has agreed to take him up on this endeavor.

New judge Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Abdul's replacement, jokes that Cowell announced his departure just as she was to debut. "I'll try not to take this personally,'' she cracked.

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Simon Cowell to quit American Idol

Another season, another story about Simon Cowell departing the show he helped make a phenom.

Except, this time, it just may happen. After all, Paula Abdul is gone from the program for its coming ninth season. Everything ultimately comes to an end sometime.

Simon's contract expires after the ninth season ends in May and Reuters reports his brother blurted out that Simon's "bored" with the show and ready to move on.

 Can you blame him? Here's a program that introduces several exciting new contestants each season and voters keep on giving the title to bland, forgettable "Idols" such as Kris Allen and David Cook. We'd be bored, too, altho Simon's millions could tend to make even Kris seem interesting and endurable for another few months.

It could also be the usual pre-show hype given that Idol's season begins in a few weeks on Fox. Simon could re-up if, say, the addition of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge stirs his interest for one more go 'round. If I was a betting man, however, I'd bet he leaves this time. Idol's really run its course, the introduction of  Adam Lambert, notwithstanding.

(Speaking of Adam, excellent appearance on Jay Leno Show the other night. He sang his current single, Whataya Want From Me, which, like the album it comes from, is proving to be a real grower, and he was engaging and upbeat in the interview portion.)

Here's the Reuters story on Simon. Photo: AP

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Simon Cowell: 3 more years; Paula Abdul getting "Ugly?"

The speculation on Simon Cowell's leaving American Idol after this coming season ends. The star judge is in the final stages of finalizing a contract with Fox for another three seasons, according to Hollywood Reporter. The deal bumps his salary from $36 million to $45 million, it appears.

Ryan Seacrest also signed on for three more years. Judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi are set for the coming season and have already started filming the audition shows.

As for erstwhile judge Paula Abdul? EW.Com's Ausiello Files reports she's in talks with ABC for a guest spot on the ailing comedy Ugly Betty. Ausiello says he hears she'll be playing a temp at Mode who bonds with the loopy Amanda character. Two loons at the Mode front desk? Can Betty handle it?

Photo: EW.Com

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Simon explains why he saved Matt

Post-Idol, Simon Cowell explained why the judges used their one-time Save card on Matt tonight, a vocally-challenged contestant he felt had no chance to win. Simon said that since there is only one more opportunity before top 5, when the Save card can't be used, he figures Anoop will wind up in the bottom next week on Disco Night and that he would not use a Save on Anoop so it was pretty much use it or lose it this week so they saved Matt and two will go home next week anyway.

Simon Cowell too busy to dine with Obama

American Idol judge (the only real judge, that is), Simon Cowell, told Jay Leno that he had to pass on a dinner invite with President Obama in L.A. recently because their schedules didn't mesh. Obama gets the last word tonight when his latest speech pre-empts regular broadcasting.

Idol returns with its performance show Wednesday nite and Results on Thurs. Look for my print column on Thursday and Friday this week as a result (and live blog Wed and Thurs).

See a vidclip of Simon, Randy and Ryan on Leno. Click the link below:

http://www.butasforme.com/2009/03/24/busy-simon-cowell-tells-jay-leno-he-turned-down-obamas-invitation/

Simon boots fourth judge in U.K. Idol equivalent

From my pal Lesley: Simon Cowell's boorish behavior knows no boundaries -- or borders. He gave new Britain's Got Talent judge Kelly Brook the boot after just six days on the job, reveals Perez Hilton. Brook was added as a fourth judge to breathe new life into the UK show, but she didn't have the necessary skills to impress Simon. Watch your back, Kara DioGuardi!

Me now: Gosh! I can only hope! DioGuardi has been nothing but a sullen, listless and unpleasant addition to Idol this season. She can write a formulaic pop song but she has no TV quotient personality in my view.

Read Hilton's piece here.

http://perezhilton.com/2009-01-20-simon-cowell-shows-no-mercy-dumps-model-as-uk-reality-show-judge-after-only-6-shows

Filter figures out Idol judges' favorites

The Filter.Com, a music/multimedia recommendation engine, has determined precisely what songs the Idol judges should like, using an algorithm and the judge's stated tastes or histories. This, supposedly, offers guidance to wannabes who can thus impress the four judges by singing one of their supposed favorite tunes.

     The Ultimate American Idol Contestant Playlist was created by blending the musical tastes and influences of judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardi.

  According to a press release, The Filter.com’s Taste Mixer used popular songs from the judges’ musical influences, as published by the All Music Guide. (Simon Cowell, who was not a songwriter or performer, was evaluated based on his favorite music broadcast on the UK’s BBC Radio 4). For Paula, they factored in Madonna, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, and Daryl Simmons. For Randy it was Jean Luc Ponty, Billy Cobham, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Journey and Van Hunt (what? no Mariah?) and for Kara they folded in Chico Bennett, John Shanks, Max Martin, Kylie Minogue and Fleetwood Mac.

    From the formula, the algorithm spit out this sure-fire, sure to please song list for Idol hopefuls to sing their way to glory (or, at the very least, into the judges' crusty ol' hearts):
    

• Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All
• George Michael – Faith
• Cher – All or Nothing
• Rihanna – Pon de Replay
• Natasha Bedingfield – These Words
• Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer – No More Tears (Enough is Enough). This one worked for Season 3's Diana DeGarmo.
• Tony Bennett – I Left My Heart in San Francisco
• Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal
• Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night)
• Air Supply – Just As I Am
• Mary J. Blige – You Bring Me Joy
• Alicia Keys – Samsonite Man
• Clay Aiken – Invisible
• Destiny’s Child – Soldier
• Ricky Martin – Livin La Vida Loca
• Frank Sinatra – I Get a Kick Out Of You
• Michael Buble – I Got You Under My Skin

     Looking at this list, this seems as random and rather bogus as iTunes new "Genius" feature or the Pandora internet radio iTunes application that supposedly uses mathematical algorithms to mix and match your favorite tunes based on artists or songs you type in. It's all in good fun, but does it really mean anything?