Bitten and Bound » Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell Pitches X-Factor in U.S. with FOX

Meg — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:02:59 +0000

Television mogul Simon Cowell is reportedly in talks with FOX to bring his popular British singing show X-Factor to the U.S. as a summer series. He wants to be the executive producer of the stateside version for a cool $50 million, the same pay scale he is pulling in for his on-camera role with American Idol.

The question of whether America will accept another singing show is what the network has to decide. Idol started out as a summer replacement show and took off like a rocket. Placing X-Factor in that same slot might prove to be a savvy move by FOX.

Rumored judges would be Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Simon’s old friend Paula Abdul, who currently finds herself available after parting company with American Idol. She was interviewed last night on Dancing With the Stars, making reference to her old nemesis Cowell and referring to judge Len Goodman as “Len Badman”.

Cowell will only say, “I am talking to FOX. I have a great relationship with them. There has been a lot of speculation and I hope to clarify the situation in the near future.

Simon Cowell turned 50 this week and celebrated with a group of 40 close friends on Saturday night – photos here.

Check out video of Paula Abdul comments on DWTS below.

Simon Cowell’s Open Letter: I’ve Made Mistakes

Andrea — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:37:01 +0000

After the backlash over this season’s “Britain’s Got Talent,” judge Simon Cowell has come forward to admit that he has made mistakes along the way.

[sic]“If, like me, you make a living from criticising people on television, then you can’t complain when people turn the tables and criticise you. And I don’t,” writes Cowell in an open letter on UK’s Daily Mail.

Criticized for the controversy surrounding BGT runner-up Susan Boyle, and for the way things were handled with some of the children who were contestants on the show, Simon says “Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Setting the record straight, Cowell says, “I’m the first to hold my hands up and admit I’ve made mistakes.”

“I didn’t get into show business to make little children cry or upset a nice lady like Susan Boyle,” he continues.

Cowell addresses Boyle’s breakdown; his decision to give 10-year-old Hollie Steel a second chance after she struggled to remember the lyrics of her song and began to cry; and his “biggest regret” – making 11-year-old street dancer Aidan Davis cry by critcizing his performance in the finals.

[sic]“It was a huge, huge mistake. It almost ruined the whole evening for everybody. Looking back, I know I could have been kinder.

In the heat of the moment, I had treated him as I would an adult, forgetting that he was only an 11-year-old child with a dream.

I apologised to him afterwards, but it didn’t make me feel any better about it. Moral of the story? I don’t always get it right.”

Simon also addresses the sore losers from some of his reality shows:

“From the way some of the contestants go on, you would think they had been locked up and tortured or taken into a room to have a personal confession beaten out of them, instead of voluntarily taking part in a televised talent show.”

View Hollie Steel performance video, Aidan Davis performance video and the entire Simon Cowell open letter below.

Hollie Steel cries after forgetting her lyrics

View the entire Simon Cowell open letter on Daily Mail.

View Aidan Davis final performance video.

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X Factor Contracts Stipulate ‘No Dissing’ of Simon Cowell

Missy — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:10:47 +0000

If you are a contestant on the UK television show The X Factor, you better watch what you say about outspoken judge Simon Cowell. That is apparently an eligibility requirement, as evidenced by some leaked contracts that the contestants had to sign.

The contracts were made public this week and they state that contestants may not verbally disapprove of Cowell in public or on air. Simon got wind of this and is of course denying that he knew of this clause.

“It’s slightly embarrassing when any commercial contract goes out. I wasn’t aware that I was one of the clauses. You can’t be horrible about me? That’s probably the most useless clause in the history of contracts, because everybody does talk horrible about me, and you know what? I don’t care.”

The contracts also spell out a different payout than the show leads the audience members to believe. The winner of the show is to get $1.5 million, when in reality they receive a $225,000 recording advance.

Photo: WENN

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Simon Cowell & Terri Seymour Clear the Air (Photos)

Meg — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:03:06 +0000

Simon Cowell and Terri Seymour recently parted ways after a six year relationship. Cowell has been telling anyone who will listen that the couple are still very close friends. Apparently he decided that the story would be more believable if his ex-girlfriend backed him up.

The pair contacted Extra to set the record straight.

Extra Question: Why did their relationship end?

Simon: “Because Terry decided to dump me…you sent me a text!”

Terri: “I didn’t dump you! Just time–we had a great six years and we’re the best of friends.”

Simon: “I do call Terri when I’ve got an issue or I’m moaning about something or I want to bounce an idea off.”

Terri: “We do speak more now on the phone all the time. It’s true.

There you have it – no longer lovers but apparently fast friends. In a walk down memory lane, we’ve included a beach photo of the couple before the romance died.

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Paula Goodspeed Suicide: Former American Idol Contestant (Video, Photos)

Meg — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:43:54 +0000

Paula Goodspeed, a former American Idol contestant was discovered dead in a car near Paula Abdul’s home in the 3800 block of Beverly Ridge Drive in Sherman Oaks at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The young woman, age 30, is believed to have died of a drug overdose.

Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroners office said, “we are investigation the case as a possible suicide. The cause of death will not be determined until toxicology tests are completed.”

Goodspeed auditioned in a pink dress and sang Proud Mary for the judges in anticipation of being picked to appear on season five. Simon Cowell actually remarked that there was a resemblance between the two Paula’s.

Police had reportedly been called to Abdul’s home on numerous occasions to deal with Goodspeed, who according to her parents had an unnatural obsession with the American Idol judge.

Abdul released the following statement: “I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday. My heart and prayers go out to her family.”

Check out our photo gallery below, including a shot of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest with Goodspeed. There is also a photo showing Goodspeed’s car and a picture of Paula Abdul hanging from her rear view mirror. The license plate is ABLLV – short for Abdul Love? Goodspeed also had a full collection of drawings of Abdul.

Paula Goodspeed audition tape

Watch more Dailymotion videos on AOL Video

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Simon Cowell is Back on the Market

Missy — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:17:41 +0000

Outspoken American Idol judge Simon Cowell (48) and girlfriend of six years Terri Seymour (34) have ended their relationship. Cowell’s rep confirmed the much speculated gossip to People magazine.

“Terri phoned Simon and finished it in September, about six weeks ago. They are going to remain close friends. Simon thinks the world of Terri and that isn’t going to change. He also understands her reasons for ending it.”

So that’s grand – not only does Simon’s rep, Max Gifford let the world know that his client was dumped, he added that there were not any other people involved in the split “certainly not on Simon’s side.”

Seymour and Simon met when she was 18 but did not get involved until after an interview she conducted with him in 2002. Never one to shy away from telling it like it is, he spoke openly to the press about the fact that he was not interested in marriage or having children and in the end Terri wants to have children.

Photo: WENN

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Simon Cowell Got it WRONG, Apologizes for Disrespecting David Cook (Video)

Meg — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:39:15 +0000

Simon Cowell turned out to be WRONG. Tuesday night he did everything possible to crown David Archuleta the new American Idol. He may be Simon’s guy but it turns out that David Cook won by a monumental margin of 12 million votes over his 17 year old competitor. Not even close folks.

We don’t know if the judges had any inkling on Wednesday evening that the tide had swelled for 25 year old Cook, but Cowell was immediately contrite at the start of the show and offered up an apology saying that he had viewed the show at home after Tuesday night’s performance and realized he may have been too clear cut in his pronouncements. Ya think?

Cook’s brother Adam, who is battling cancer, was on hand to see his brother win. He was instrumental in getting his bro David to try out for the Idol show and was clearly thrilled with the outcome. Full story of Adam HERE.

Check out the photos of David and Adam Cook and the video of Simon attempting to be contrite.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHZ_YsgRmr0[/youtube]

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Jason Castro Sent Packing on American Idol

Missy — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:52:51 +0000

Texas born, dreadlock contestant Jason Castro was voted off during last night’s American Idol show. There has been much speculation that Jason was ready to go home and was not upset by being voted off. After his Tuesday night performance, the ever critical Simon Cowell told Jason to pack his bags after his less than stellar performance of Mr. Tambourine Man originally done in 1965 by Bob Dylan.

Castro told Ryan Seacrest that he really tried to pick songs that he was familiar with and then “I still screwed up”. Gotta tell you, Jason was my pick all the way and I am very disappointed but am sure that he will get a recording contract some time soon.

Three contestants remain; David Cook, David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado. All three are great singer and now the heat is on to bring out the best performances of their lives. The David’s have been touted as the two who will battle it out for the top prize. Syesha, the underdog, has been in the bottom two on numerous occasions. Her past few performances have been stronger and her stylist has really given her a more distinctive look. She shouldn’t be counted out as a contender.

The winner of American Idol is guaranteed a recording contract by Clive Davis. Other top 12 contestants will likely have lucrative opportunities as well. Notables who didn’t win and are doing extremely well include Jennifer Hudson, Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry. Mediocre success has been realized by Jordin Sparks and Kelly Clarkson. Top winners who fizzled include Reuben Stoddard and Taylor Hicks. The mega success story has been that of Carrie Underwood.

Check out Jason Castro’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdnzKgq-B6Y[/youtube]

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Simon Says American Idol Finale will be Battle of the David’s

Meg — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:05:15 +0000

Simon Cowell, known for his brash and in your face commentary, is making an American Idol prediction. While doing a press conference for America’s Got Talent summer show, the creator and executive producer also shared his thoughts on his other wildly popular American television gig – American Idol. He said there is no doubt in his mind that it will come down to David Archuleta and David Cook.

Cowell said that the show isn’t just about talent. He believes that it is in some ways a popularity contest as well and cites young Archuleta’s appeal among teens and grandma’s.

While Syesha Mercado has been in the bottom two for a very long time, she seems to be gaining some confidence and is definitely looking more stylized. Simon doesn’t believe that she has developed enough of a fan base to keep her in the game much longer. Simon believes that Jason Castro has had some great moments on the show but seems to have peaked early.

The American Idol finale begins on Tuesday, May 20 with the next Idol being named on Wednesday, May 21 on FOX. Then America’s Got Talent premieres on Tuesday, June 17 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Will it come down to the David’s? Simon Says! Check out their photos below.

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Simon Cowell’s First Boyhood Crush (Photos, Video)

Meg — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:29:31 +0000

Simon Cowell was set up on Wednesday night’s elimination round of American Idol. Ryan Seacrest took a few live phone calls from television viewers who had questions for the judges. The third caller identified herself as Tara and her question was for Simon:

Simon, you say that some performances are really forgetable so which of these two performances is the most memorable – your kiss with Paula Abdul or your first kiss with Tara at the bottom of your garden when you were nine years old?”

It turns out that the caller, Tara McDonald-Smith, was Simon’s first girl crush when he was a young boy across the pond. Tara Miller then, she shared with Access Hollywood that a group of kids used to play spin the bottle and she frequently ended up kissing Cowell, who she acknowledged was smooth even as a boy.

It turns out McDonald-Smith is divorced and lives in Petaluma, California with her three children. When asked if she would consider kissing Cowell again, she responded that she would not because he already has a girlfriend. Check out photos of Simon and Terri Seymour in Barbados.

Check out photo of Simon and Tara, courtesy of Daily Mail. See video below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76XZ-10DdK4[/youtube]

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