A Self-Critique: Q&A with 'American Idol' Judge Simon Cowell
Emily Christianson
Hollywood.com Staff

Simon Cowell knows how to tell it like it is and on the cusp of another new season of his hit show American Idol, the loose-lipped Brit had a lot to say.

From Britney Spears to his Idol exit plan, Hollywood.com found out nothing is off limits with America's favorite judge.

Hollywood.com: Is all the agony of the American Idol auditions worth it in the end?

Simon Cowell: The answer is yes, it is worthwhile. Is it fun doing it? No, it is become increasingly like torture, but you have to give most of the people who come in at least three or four minutes. It has gotten harder over the years. What is amazing is that over the years … is how much they still believe that they are right and I'm wrong and they've gotten more argumentative with me this year and all I'm trying to do is help them.

HW: Are you expecting bigger numbers this season due to the Writers Guild of America strike?

SC: I don't know the ins and outs of the dispute to be honest with you other than I'm sure both sides have got a case. In terms of the impact it is going to have on us, I don't think it is going to have as big an impact as people have said mainly because people have still got a choice to watch other channels and we have to be making a better show this year than we did last year. That is the only reason we are going to gain all those viewers. When we found out about the writers strike it had absolutely zero impact on us. American Idol in the last few years, no one has put anything up against our show so we've always been out there on our own. Our success comes down to the quality of our program so I don't think it is going to have an impact on us either way.

HW: Fantasia Barrino's brother auditioned this year. Does he have his sister's talent?

SC: The answer is, he hasn't, he was terrible. He was dreadful. He can't sing. I think I am right in saying this from memory, he was terrible. I remember thinking ""Oh great Fantasia's brother's come in"" and it was all fantastic until he started singing. Then I think we disputed the fact that he really was Fantasia's brother because he hasn't got his sister's talent.

HW: Seven American Idols are up for Grammys this year including Kelly Clarkson and some other non-winners like Ace Young. On the other hand, winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard have just been dropped by their label. What do you make of this disparate success?

SC: I think it is a reflection of the unpredictability of the record business where fortunately we've got it right more than we've got it wrong. I've run a record label for more than 25 years and the one thing I know about this business is it is horribly unpredictable. Ruben is certainly one of the ones you would have backed at the beginning to be on his third or fourth album now and it just didn't work out. There is no scientific or logical way of explaining why that didn't happen. We are a reality show and what happens at the end is also reality and you have to take the knocks with the good things.

HW: Do you have an exit date with Idol? Can the show survive if you leave?

SC: Nothing is going to last forever. I think the exit point to a point is determined by the public, who eventually are going to get sick to death of me if they haven't already. I always in my mind kind of thought I would go up until the end of my contract, which would mean two more seasons after this one, which would make it nine in total. Nine years is probably enough to inflict on anyone. That is sort of what I've got in my mind. Could the show exist without me? Absolutely, it would probably get better.

HW: Britney Spears is going through a lot right now. Do you have any advice for her?

SC: It is never too late because I think she is the most searched celebrity on the internet at the moment, so I think she has a head start. I genuinely think if I sat down with Britney I would remind her of all the good things in her life. Which are her kids, her money, her success, everything. I'd try to give her a sense of perspective. Then I would take her out of where she is living at the moment and ask her to go and live with her family and live normally for six months. If you live normally and do normal things you suddenly find that the paparazzi aren't camped outside your door everyday. And most importantly to just give her a sense of perspective, because it looks to me at the moment she's out of control and she's got to have someone in her life to listen to. She can call me any time.

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