Simon Cowell Sounds Off on X Factor and Paula Abdul

Simon Cowell Prime-time television needs another talent competition around it requires another rule-breaking cop, unconventional lawyer or crazy neighbor. Yet Fox is starting a U.S. version from the U.K. go to the X Factor, by which unknown performers compete for the opportunity to win a $5 million recording contract. "Why is this not the same as all individuals other shows? Simon Cowell," states Nicole Scherzinger, among the show's idol judges, together with Cowell, Paula Abdul and Grammy Award-winning producer Antonio "L.A." Reid. "He's such as the Elvis of talent reality shows. And will also end up like The American Idol Show on anabolic steroids." Cowell, who'll earn $75 million per season, isn't just a judge. He's also the show's executive producer and mind cheerleader and spent much of history year traveling around America attempting to drum up curiosity about The X Factor. He describes why he likes this show a lot more than The American Idol Show and just how he's learned to like former enemy Abdul. TV Guide Magazine: Existence was running smoothly for you personally: You had been on the hit show within the U.S. with The American Idol Show, and creating and showing up about the U.K.'s X Factor. Why quit Idol to create The X Step to America?Cowell: Each time I returned to complete the show within the U.K., I loved it increasingly more. And the fact is that as we had not tried it [here], I believe someone else might have done a version. TV Guide Magazine: That which was Fox's reaction?Cowell: Their attitude was that lightning does not strike two times. Before we released within the U.K. [in 2004, people] stated, "You will not have another hit." I stated, "You have not seen the show, just how are you aware?" TV Guide Magazine: The British version has produced debate, with complaints about rigged voting and contestants' vocals being enhanced. Was Fox scared with that?Cowell: I cautioned them this was always a questionable show. Not too I care. It isn't like we are drowning young puppies. When individuals are speaking about this, you already know you are carrying out a proper reality show. Things are likely to fail and enable you to get into trouble and that i type of like this. TV Guide Magazine: Had you been concerned about the chance of beginning new things?Cowell: I love the danger. That's area of the thrill. When situations are going badly and you've got a great deal on the line, your adrenaline accumulates. TV Guide Magazine: Are you currently nervous the show may not work?Cowell: I recall driving towards the first audition, in the end individuals several weeks of planning, thinking, "Christ, here it is! Whether it does not work..." There have been 5,000 people [within the audience] plus they did not understand what the format was. Then your first person to audition emerged and also the audience just first got it. They understood these were area of the process. They might lead into it. I checked out their faces and thought, "Yeah, you prefer this show." TV Guide Magazine: What's going to result in the X Factor successful inside your eyes? Could it be vital that you you to definitely top The American Idol Show?Cowell: No. 1 is getting a star [and also the show getting] unpredictability, debate the ones speaking about this within their lives. Many of these [competition] shows have become through the years and finally, I'm not sure how lengthy it will require, [I wish to grow] enough to become no. 1 show. TV Guide Magazine: So how exactly does pressure of starting The X Factor rival the first times of Idol?Cowell: It had been another feeling with Idol. Nobody understood who I had been, and in ways which was quite comforting. Regardless of what happened, we would result in the show we desired to make. But once we got more effective, a lot more people showed up. So much more everyone was within the room that you simply did not recognize. A lot of watching you, delivering emails. It had not been fun any longer. TV Guide Magazine: Was that a part of your purpose in departing?Cowell: I had been making lots of money on The American Idol Show, however i did X Factor because I truly felt it was a much better show. Personally, i was more happy looking at a show where seniors could contend with more youthful individuals who could contend with groups. I simply preferred that process. And since I had been creating X Factor, it had much more of my character on the program. So I am sure some entertainers would favor Idol or even the Voice, but you will see those we backed sit better around. TV Guide Magazine: About The X Factor, idol judges behave as mentors towards the participants. Can you explain that vital that you you?Cowell: There have been stuff that happened on Idol that might have been prevented as we [idol judges] had much more of a say with what [the entertainers] sang or did. Tamyra Grey and Jennifer Hudson are perfect good examples of people that must have been runners up but due to stupid song options, they did not obtain the chance. I am very frustrated about this despite the fact that it had been ten years ago. I had been very upset about Tamyra passing up on an opportunity to contend with Kelly Clarkson, because that could have been one heck of the final. TV Guide Magazine: What excites you concerning the first round of auditions? Whom should audiences give consideration to?Cowell: Auditions felt not the same as everything we've done before. The most popular is someone we had in Dallas and somebody that may not have joined this type of show. TV Guide Magazine: You've made head lines immediately when Cheryl Cole, the judge you introduced over in the U.K. X Factor, was fired and changed by Nicole Scherzinger. Would you regret how that went lower?Cowell: The reality regarding that decision was which i had a dent within the U.K. and that i required the vista - and that i did not mean it as being an adverse - which i thought Cheryl was more happy focusing on the U.K. show compared to American show. She'll disagree with this, but like a producer make individuals choices. I am famous with this. I change my thoughts in the eleventh hour because my stomach informs me that. Not saying I am right constantly - because I am not. I believe my regret is simply it grew to become a larger deal of computer was since it went public. TV Guide Magazine: There's a minumum of one factor Idol and X Factor share: Paula Abdul. Why use her again?Cowell: I have remained in contact with her. We met soon after I understood she wasn't returning to Idol, and that i stated we are getting this show to America and that i provide you with my word you are likely to be some of it. When she found see me six several weeks before we finally made our mind up, she looked amazing. She was totally prepared. She'd done her research. I checked out her and stated, "You do not simply want employment. You need to make something using this.Inch Which explains why it had been an overall total no-brainer to create her in. TV Guide Magazine: How's the chemistry between you?Cowell: We now have tremendous loyalty to one another. It will get very passionate and you are likely to observe that. People remember her for that craziness, the quarrelling, but she knows what she's doing. For additional with Cowell, get TV Guide Magazine's Coming back Faves problem, on newsstands Thursday, September 15! Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!