Mariah Carey would have been 'X-Factor' judge
If Mariah Carey hadn't gotten pregnant, says Simon Cowell, she would have been a judge on Fox's highly anticipated talent competition "X Factor". Paula Abdul, who will be a judge and therefore will be reunited with Cowell from their "America Idol" past, says of that development, "It's good to be back in a demented relationship."
Abdul also told TV critics here that Cowell is "a completely different species on this show. He's a pussycat." She then told him to shut up and "just go away" when he said he's "all about giving people second chances". Judge Nicole Scherzinger, meanwhile, says she was "never ruthless until I met this cat," meaning fellow judge L.A. Reid.
In other words, "X Factor" will be the biggest show ever if the drama with the contestants comes close to matching the drama with the judges. And Cowell, unsurprisingly, says that's the level of success he's envisioning. "You don't go into anything to win the silver medal," he said, and if he didn't think "X Factor" could beat "American Idol" and all other shows, "I wouldn't have gotten into it."
Cowell says "X Factor" will be "a completely different show" from "American Idol". For starters, contestants can be anywhere from 12 to 112 and the judges will mentor them. The winner will get a $5 million recording contract and, it was announced this morning, will also star in a Pepsi ad during the Super Bowl.
The drumbeat for "X Factor" began more than a year ago, when Cowell announced he was leaving "American Idol", and it has included extensive drama about the judging panel. Cowell admitted this morning "I may have been mistaken" when he thought Cheryl Cole, a judge on the U.K. version of the show, would be happier returning there rather than coming to the U.S. edition.
He said Cole was ultimately offered a slot on the U.S. version, but "for various reasons" decided not to take it. That's when Scherzinger, who previously was a judge on NBC's "The Sing-Off", was brought in. Cowell said Carey was "enthusiastic from Day One" about "X Factor" and joked that "the fact she selfishly got pregnant is the reason she's not a judge". Carey had twins earlier this year. Cowell said he hopes Carey will still be involved in the show in an unspecified capacity that could involve working with contestants.
"X Factor" has a two-night launch on Fox, with two-hour shows at 8 on September 21 and 22. (New York Daily News)
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