American Idol: What Simon Cowell Says...

The great man speaks! Simon Cowell came down from the American Idol mountaintop yesterday for a telephone press conference with reporters, and while several reports announced that Cowell and his girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy had recently gotten engaged, we were told he wouldn't answer any “personal questions.” So instead of rumor and innuendo about his personal life, Cowell faced rumor and innuendo about the world of Idol. Here's what Simon said...

"Judges on talent competition shows should know what they're talking about."
Cowell brought up this notion several times and likened the situation to judging figure-skating at the Olympics. “If you’re going to give a score, you genuinely need to know what you’re talking about. And I think over the years judges have been replaced by personalities.”

"No, it wasn’t meant to diss [Ellen's] credentials."
When asked if he was referring to Ellen DeGeneres, Cowell said he was talking specifically about who should fill his spot on American Idol. He said Ellen was “a good choice” because she loves music and has been an artist herself.

Don’t expect to see Howard Stern on Idol anytime soon.
Cowell gave Stern credit for the creativity and the eagerness of Stern's campaign to join the Idol panel, but said Stern doesn’t really fit any criteria for the job, even though his experience as a DJ might count for something. But he also said, "I’m fairly certain that there hasn’t been an approach at any time for Howard to do the show."

There’s a difference between rudeness and directness.
Cowell explained that he always aims "to make a difference to the contestants" and that a judge should "be honest and occasionally blunt but not be gratuitously rude." Unfortunately, he said, judges on many shows are there to be provocative first and constructive second: "You see people put in a role to play a certain role, which is quite tiresome."

He hasn’t been asked to help pick his replacement.
Cowell fielded all sorts of questions about specific people who might join the Idol panel. He said Perez Hilton is funny and has good taste in music and "might work." When asked if producer Steve Lillywhite could replace him, Cowell inquired whether the music industry veteran is handsome. Told that Lillywhite is "fairly attractive," Cowell responded, "Well, that’s not good enough."

He did brighten when asked about Noel Gallagher of Oasis, describing Gallagher as “funny and a brilliant songwriter.” But he did reveal one reservation: “Do you think people would understand him?”

But in the end, Cowell said, "You’re never going to pick anyone as good as you, are you? That’s why I don’t think anyone asks me that question."

He’s gaga for Lady Gaga.
Asked about mentors he would like to see on Idol, Cowell enthusiastically brought up Lady Gaga. “I think we should have Lady Gaga because she’s the most relevant pop artist in the world at the moment.”

He hopes for a strong finish.
Cowell said he would like “to go out on a high.” What he’s looking for this year is “someone who represents what’s going on at the moment. I’d love to find a Taylor Swift, somebody who’s relevant rather than just a contest winner.”

Idol contestants should always be striving to stand out.
Cowell said it can be difficult to remember individual contestants, and that it’s more important to put people through based on talent and not looks. “[A few years ago,] I remember every blonde girl in the competition looked identical, I couldn’t tell one from another. I think it’s good that we have a mixed bag.”

He credited Season 7 winner David Cook for coming up with interesting and original versions of well-known songs. “Don’t always try and do the obvious. Try and find something that is unique to you… and suck up to me. That always helps.”