Great American Idol Blog

Simon Is "Guilty" of Pestering Paula, But Never with Malice

• Dec 23, 2008 11:09 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell on Idol

Simon Cowell has pleaded, "Well, guilty!" to charges that he often whispers in Paula Abdul's ear just before they appear on camera, but denies that he does it to embarrass his fellow American Idol judge on live television.  

"I've done it from Day 1. That's part of the relationship I've had with Paula [and] I've looked upon it ... read more

Idol Fan's Death "Hit Us Like an Express Train," Says Simon

• Dec 17, 2008 06:57 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell says the death of a Paula Abdul superfan who once auditioned for American Idol is different from every other controversy that has touched the hit program.

"I have to separate this controversy from others, because..." More, after the jump. read more

Britney as Idol Mentor? Simon Says: "I Would Love It"

• Dec 17, 2008 02:07 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Britney Spears

Might Britney Spears' comeback trail ultimately lead her to serve as a celebrity mentor to this season's batch of American Idol wannabes? Or, at the very least, might she be one of this season's guest performers, akin to how she recently served up "Womanizer" on Idol's UK counterpart, X Factor?

Can Blasts from the Past Amp Up Idol's Future?

• Dec 17, 2008 09:38 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Clay Aiken was "saved" from obscurity by Idol's Wild Card round, which is now back in play.

American Idol is plumbing its past to bolster its future, in the wake of a seven percent audience decline for the previous cycle.

Among the changes on tap for Season 8, premiering Jan. 13, is the resurrection of two elements from seasons gone by — one of which affects game play, the other offering fun (if not deliciously catty) insight into the semifinalists.

As hinted in recent weeks, Season 8 will ... read more

Idol Boss: I'd Never Put a Dangerous Person in Front of Judges; Plus, Is Paula Leaving?

• Dec 15, 2008 05:00 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Ken Warwick, Paula Abdul

American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick has responded to Paula Abdul's recent comments and, in turn, the tragedy which recently befell a fan of Abdul's, stressing that he never would knowingly put a dangerous person in front of the judges.

Detailing the process by which wannabes are surveyed as they enter the early audition rounds, Warwick told reporters in a Monday conference call, "It's always been that if someone looked like they were a bit dangerous or led us to believe they weren't as sensible as they should be ... read more

Idol Season 8 to Emphasize Quality over the Crazy

• Dec 14, 2008 10:28 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Ben Haar

In addition to introducing a fourth judge, unfurling a finessed marketing campaign and the subtracting "Idol Gives Back," American Idol's eighth season will afford less time to the inane and untalented and more hours to quality crooners.

According to an internal Fox memo obtained by an Idol fan site, only three weeks (versus four) will be ... read more

American Idol Shelves "Give Back" Show for 2009 Season

• Dec 12, 2008 02:16 PM ET
• by Erin Fox

Simon Cowell, American Idol Gives Back 2008

American Idol powers-that-be have decided to shelve the "Idol Gives Back" charity-centered episode this season because of the ongoing economic crisis and recession.

Industry insiders say that Idol officials didn't want to ask people to donate money when the economy in such dire straights and with unemployment... read more

Former Idol Boss Disputes Abdul's Claim of Intentional Cruelty

• Dec 12, 2008 10:17 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Nigel Lythgoe

She said, now he said.

Former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe has denied Paula Abdul's claim that the show's execs purposely allowed Abdul's alleged longtime stalker, Paula Goodspeed, to audition for the judging panel during Season 5. Goodspeed was found dead of an apparent suicide near Abdul's home last month.

"You do not take somebody in that room that you believe is a danger to herself or a danger to Paula ... read more

Paula Abdul: Idol Producers Trying to Ruin My Career

• Dec 9, 2008 04:43 PM ET
• by Gina DiNunno

Paula Abdul

On Monday, Paula Abdul appeared on Good Morning America and The View to discuss the recent suicide of former Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed and revealed she had been aware this person had been stalking her for 17 years. But, Abdul dropped another bombshell Tuesday morning during an interview on Barbara Walter's Sirius XM radio show, Barbara Live! Abdul claimed that allowing Goodspeed to audition for Idol was "an attempt by Fox Broadcasting, the producers of American Idol, and Simon Cowell to ruin [her] career." (Click here to listen to a snippet from the radio show).

Abdul, who had restraining orders out at times on Goodspeed, explained she asked the producers to not have her on, and against her wishes, they kept allowing her to try out.

The Idol judge also went into the rumors about her drinking, blaming ... read more

Simon Says "Mouthy" New Judge Knows Her Stuff; Plus More Season 8 Changes!

• Dec 1, 2008 02:59 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, American Idol

With the eighth season of American Idol now just six weeks away, comments from Simon Cowell and a network exec — as well as a new promo — offer a peek at how things might be just a bit different this time around, especially in the wake of last winter's nine percent dip in the key demos.

Speaking about Kara DioGuardi, the singer-songwriter who will join him, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson on the dais this year, Cowell tells TV's Extra, "She's mouthy, this girl. I'm beginning to ... read more