Another off-topic post, but still former American Idol related news so here we go. Simon Cowell’s X Factor began filming its 2011 season today with audition episodes and guess who was just confirmed as one of his co-judges: Paula Abdul.
Sure, it’s no surprise that Simon snagged Paula and we saw it coming a mile away, but it took until the 11th hour to make it happen as her contract was still being worked yesterday evening. Paula will now take her seat next to Simon’s other confirmed judges: LA Reid and Cheryl Cole. Reid was confirmed weeks ago but Cole, an X Factor UK judge, just got the official nod last week.
Last minute contracts appears to be the new show’s theme as even the hosts were still being worked out in the past few days. Previously it was rumored that Corbin Bleu would be next to Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger but that was nixed (allegedly by Nicole, if you believe the rumors). Instead we’ll be getting X Factor UK guest judge Steve Jones in that role.
Now that half of X Factor 2011 judging will be American Idol alumni are you more or less inclined to tune in when the series premieres?
And yes, we’ve got an X Factor site all set up and ready to go: X Factor Network!
A little off our core subject, but since it involves two American Idol judges I thought I’d share it here. I can’t say I’m surprised by this news, but Simon Cowell has revealed that he’ll be putting a former American Idol judge in a chair next to him at the judges table for X Factor when it premieres in this fall:
Simon has delivered on his promise two months late, but we’ll take it.
Well look at that. Paula gets dumped by Idol after eight years of support, goes to CBS and gets dumped after one sad season of “Live to Dance,” and then gets right back in to the arms of Cowell where it all started.
Paula was just half of Simon’s announcement though. Cheryl Cole, his current X Factor UK co-judge, will also be coming over to help him launch the USA version. Cole’s name has been tossed around longer than anyone else and finally looks to be a reality for the UK singer as long as Simon isn’t blowing smoke at us.
What do you think? Should Simon have brought in fresh perspectives or will a familiar face draw you in to give it a try?
Update: THR spoke with Simon’s rep who says the last two seats have not yet been officially filled. Uh huh… Sure. I wonder if Cowell’s wrist still hurts from getting slapped over letting that news out on his own.
I never thought I’d see the day when Simon Cowell said something like this, but the former American Idol judge has admitted the new season is better than his last.
The 51-year-old TV star, who is set to launch his U.S. version of the X Factor later this year, said this season of the Fox show has more energy than his last one.
‘I personally think it is a better show than last year,’ Cowell said.
‘It feels to me they’ve got their energy back, they’re confident, they’re competitive.’
This surprising statement from Cowell follows on the heels of news that American Idol has finally staunched its ratings bleeding. Not since the 2007 season has Idol seen its ratings hold steady with an average of 25 million viewers each night after three straight years of falling numbers.
Could Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez be doing the trick or is the talent this year really that much better than recent seasons? What do you think it is?
When Simon Cowell quit American Idol he left behind some pretty huge shoes to fill, or should I say some pretty big t-shirts. So what does Simon think of Idol’s replacement? He’s impressed so far!
Former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell says he’s happy that Steven Tyler will take his place.
Cowell says, “I always said it had to be someone who wasn’t better looking than me and they achieved it.”
He believes Tyler can adequately fill his shoes, but stopped short of saying the rock star would damage his credibility being on the show.
Cowell says the role of judge is something that Tyler wants to do and that “it’s a fun job. You got to take it like that. You can’t take it too seriously.”
Considering all the jabs returning producer Nigel Lythgoe is taking at Simon it’s nice to see Cowell isn’t returning them even if he is teasing Tyler along the way.
We’re still weeks away from seeing how Steven and JLo handle their new responsibilities, but sight unseen, do you think Tyler is up to the task?
It was an awesome ending to an otherwise boring season on American Idol and Lee Dewyze broke down even before he was announced the American Idol winner while Simon Cowell managed to tear up a little during his farewell speech.
I was shocked and in a good way when the opening song was the Top 12 singing Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out” (For Summer) and saw Orianthi jamming on the guitar. Then the rock legend himself actually appeared on the Idol stage and I was like WOW, this dude has gotten old but he can still rock it! I think the rock element was long overdue this season so kudos to whomever brought Cooper to the Kodak Theatre this evening.
The first video clip for Simon Cowell was his best insults over the last ten years and Randy, Ryan and Kara all pretending like (well maybe they weren’t really pretending) they were ecstatic about it. It was by far the best fun and had me rolling.
Siobhan and Aaron pair up to sing “How Deep Is Your Love” and I loved the harmony but the two of them singing a love song? Come on now! That’s taking it a little far lol and I know it’s all in fun but it was a little creepy. They are joined on stage by The Bee Gees and I was kind of like what? I mean “Staying Alive” was like 3 decades ago.
Big Mike is up next singing “Taking It To The Streets” and is joined by Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. I’m just tapping my foot wondering wth is up with all the old music. I was raised listening to all this and if the target audience was my parents I could see coming in with all these guys but the younger generation don’t even know these songs much less who these guys are lol. We need current and relevant!
The Top 6 girls come out singing “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera and I’m holding my breath waiting for her to appear and thank God she comes on stage and belts it out and I’m like there is someone who can sing and who is NOW!! She sings ”You Lost Me” from her upcoming album and is amazing.
Now it’s time for the Top 6 guys to get their chance to sing on stage and I’m thinking here comes some Enrique Iglasias but no, we get Hall and Oates. The guys sing “I Can’t Go For That” and are joined on stage while singing “Maneater” and continue to sing with Hall and Oates on “You Make My Dreams Come True”. Tim Urban actually sounded decent during his solo, as good as anyone else up there.
Crystal Bowersox then gets her duet and it is with Alanis Morisette. She sings “Ironic” and introduces Alanis and they strut around onstage singing “You Oughta Know”. The phrase “would she go down on you in a theatre” was changed to “would she go with you to the theatre” lol. I used to sing this song to my exhusband quite a lot lol.
The best moment of the entire evening was Casey James singing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. I kept looking at my husband saying, “Do you think Bret Michaels is there?” Is it Poison without Bret? I never thought he would be able to do that because on the Celebrity Apprentice just last Sunday he looked like he was in so much pain. When Bret came out on stage I jumped up like it was 1990 and I was at the concert. I love Bret and Casey so seeing them paired up was a dream come true for me. In case anyone missed it, here is the video from youtube.
Lee Dewyze gets to sing a medley of hits with Chicago because he’s from Chicago. I guess the Idol producers found humor in that or something. So Crystal gets Alanis and Casey gets Bret and the winner sings with Chicago. Doesn’t seem quite right to me but whatever.
General Larry Platt is back with Pants On The Ground and he’s joined by a group of hip hop dancers who at the end drop all their pants just as Platt says, “keep your pants up”. It was pretty funny and honestly, he was probably the most popular ‘contestant’ they had all season.
Paula Abdul graces the idol stage to bid farewell to Simon and she’s still as ditzy as ever. You gotta love crazy ass Paula. She wasted no time jumping in his lap while all previous winners with the exception of David Cook sing “Together We Are One”. They are joined by many former idol hopefuls to sing their tribute to the man who gave them a start in the music industry.
It was a touching moment and made more so by Simon’s emotional speech to everyone. He actually teared up a little and made me realize just how much I’m going to miss this guy. This is the end of a ten year era for American Idol because you all I know as well as I do that things will not be the same once he’s gone. He was the show.
The last performer is Janet Jackson and the Top 12 get to perform one last time with the pop queen. She is singing a slow song and sounds eerily like Michael which made Matt and I miss him all the more. R.I.P. Michael, you truly changed music and there will never be another king of pop.
The moment has arrived and the envelope is handed to Ryan. People all around the country are holding their breath. Lee is crying on stage and Crystal puts her hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Ryan says dim the lights and slowly announces that Lee Dewyze is the season 9 American Idol. He pretty much loses it and has a hard time singing “Beautiful Day” amid all the fire and streamers and tears. Congrats Lee! Hope you rock that first album.
Sure, it’s no surprise that Simon snagged Paula and we saw it coming a mile away, but it took until the 11th hour to make it happen as her contract was still being worked yesterday evening. Paula will now take her seat next to Simon’s other confirmed judges: LA Reid and Cheryl Cole. Reid was confirmed weeks ago but Cole, an X Factor UK judge, just got the official nod last week.
I never thought I’d see the day when Simon Cowell said something like this, but the former American Idol judge has admitted the new season is better than his last. 
