Simon Cowell Skewers Katharine McPhee

February 7, 2008 | Candid Confessions

Simon Cowell is known for skewering awful singers on "American Idol," but now he's turning on "Idol" sweetheart Katharine McPhee!

"Didn't care much about Katharine McPhee," Simon told "Extra." "I don't think she was a credible recording artist. Katharine will end up on Broadway!"

The King of Mean has come out swinging at some of "Idol's" biggest names, telling "Extra" that last year's champ Taylor Hicks didn't deserve to take the top spot.

"There's always a place for someone like that on the show - until they win," Simon insisted.

As for Clay Aiken, who's currently starring in "Spamalot" on Broadway, Simon seems rather satisfied that the season two runner-up ended up exactly where he predicted.

"[He is] very at home," Simon huffed.

As for rumors that the producers are planting "ringers" in this year's competition to make sure they get another chart-topper, Simon says no way.

"Oh, give me a break!" he said. "Regardless of whether or not you got a recording contract, they've all failed, which is why they turn up on 'American Idol.'"

Mr. Nasty is also taking on fellow judge Paula Abdul and her new single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow."

"Uh, I'm glad Paula's made a record," Simon admitted. But as for whether he'd give her a thumbs up if she were a contestant on "Idol," "Probably not."

But even the so-called "Sultan of Slams" wouldn't resist dishing out one more ticket to Hollywood for Paula.

"I think she should definitely perform it on the show," he said.

Now, with the Hollywood rounds starting, you tell "Extra": Who's your early favorite this season? Sound off here!

comments

Let’s be honest. I’m not a music snob, but mainstream music sucks and lacks originality for the most part. If you want to be a real musician who plays your stuff, don’t go on American Idol with the expectations to win. It might have been once a credible place, but now it’s downright corny.

I know that much of America cares about what Simon has to say about music, but he’s not the best judge. And Broadway performers are REAL artists. It takes actual talent to sing live unlike the manufactured crap you try to sell to us.

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March 22, 2010

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October 26, 2009

simon sucks because he is always trying to put people down that have the most talent. I feel that simon tries to get rid of the people that he feels want make him any money. Simon is a lonly little man that can’t even get a hot girlfriend. His girlriend has a nasty voice and she is not the best looking person. She looks like a man. And simon looks like he can be gay. I think he is so he is very angry because he can’t come out of the closet so he has to make everyone else life hell. He acts like he can get any women but now that he has no girl friend noone is paying him an attention. that show how much women really won’t him. They only want him for his money.

The True
March 23, 2009

Simon Cowell and Clive Davis have produced Leona Lewis’CD,and to me Simon has a conflict of interest there.He now seems to be dissing female singers,such as Kat and Carly Smithson..who might be in a competing market with his protege!
Simon should recuse himself and quit Idol..he has ulterior motives and therefore cannot be objective!

keefir1
April 14, 2008

Simon is right, Taylor and Kat are not mainstream enough to be profitable in the current state of the industry. Chris and Elliott were the standouts of their season. I don’t think Kat is going to have much of an acting career either, there’s is no buzz in the industry about her and her one upcoming starring role is her husband’s indie film and he’s a relative nobody.

JM
March 24, 2008

I rather like Simon Cowell and think if
it wasn’t for him Idol would be a boring if not painful show. He is there
to be honest and he is usually right. And if the contestants can’t take it in
the right way as constructive critisim
then they’re the ones on the wrong track. Taking what Simon has to say and
incorporating that into their performance and a chance of a lifetime.
Hey Simon keep up the great work.

Brenda Nelson
March 7, 2008

Go skewer yourself, Simon! You and Clive and RCA spoke too soon…..Kat does have the goods and Over IT was just certified GOLD!

keefir1
February 18, 2008

At least Simon can put a sentence together. Paula is a bumbling idiot. She stutters and stumbles over her words and can’t get a thought out of her little head that makes any sense at all! Simon rolls his eyes at her all the time and I am right there with him!

Anonymous
February 14, 2008

This man is a loser of a human being… He’s probably the #1 reason why I WON’T be watching Idol again this season. Plus the fact that they NEVER properly resolved the voting system. The ONLY intelligent person on the panel is Paula, sans her “Kooky” behavior. Randy is a “Nice” guy, but NOT that bright. Simon is actually kind of “stupid”, especially emotionally and really has NO business judging a MUSIC copetition! He just happened to get “Lucky” in the lottery of life. I wish he’d go packing back to the U.K. with that other piece of human “debris”, Ann Robinson? ( “Weakest Link” ). Why the “Sheeple” keep on worshiping this guy is beyond me.

Jeff
February 12, 2008

Simon is still po’d that he gave Taylor a no while Paula and Randy both said yes - and he won! Taylor is such a nice guy and Simon, of course, does not fall in that category

CHERYL
February 11, 2008

Simon is deluded and so not the musical genius he wishes he were. Does he not realize he’s disparaging the very product he’s supposedly trying to sell? He’s only sour that, time & again, he’s been proven wrong about what generates true success (i.e. KELLY, CLAY, JENNIFER HUDSON, etc.). And what he proposes we listen to? Il Divo? Please! They’re lackluster, boring, a total snoozefest. Give it up, Simon. Stick to the caustic banter with Ryan, Randy & Paula. That’s what you’re best at… and we all know it.

jan
February 9, 2008

American Idol is just a way for talent to be discovered because talent doesnt always get noticed by record companies. The real contest is when your first album comes out and first sale records are made. Daughtry made history in the record industry and he didnt even win. These 3 will find their niche in life no matter what they do in the end.

Denise
February 9, 2008

Simon may be a jerk, but I tend to agree with most of his opinions. He knows what sells. Kat is beautiful and seems like a nice person, but along with Clay and Taylor she makes music that I’d never actually spend my money on.

Jenn
February 9, 2008

Wow! Simon never ceases to amaze with his inappropriate comments! Kat is amazing and it’s beyond me how some people can’t see that. Just spend some time listening to her voice with your eyes closed and your heart open. Her first album didn’t do well but America, just watch her shine on her next album with David Foster behind her efforts. She’s never recorded and album before and I know she has learned alot about her voice and what is really best for her. I think she’s in a learning curve and I can’t wait to see what comes next for her. Simon praised her on Idol now stabs her in the back…Simon wil eat his words!

Dani
February 9, 2008

dissing kat mcphee makes him look like a completre idiot…she is one of the few contestants i still see in the media on a regular basis so…

Anonymous
February 9, 2008

i blame his mother for not teaching him the rule of ‘if you can’t say anything nice…..’

franky
February 9, 2008

Kat will prove her worthiness in the musical/movie/modeling role in time. With the excellent connections she has made with well-known producers and songwriters I see a bright future for Kat. I say we move on and watch the opportunities open up for Katharine Mcphee.

move_on
February 9, 2008

Does Mr. Cowell realize that when he disses on contestants and makes it known he doesn’t like someone as he does with Mr. Aiken every chance he gets, how bad it makes him look. I truly believe his dislike of Clay Aiken stems from the fact that he has done amazingly better than the actual winner of that year and that just eats Mr. Cowell up. Positive praise of contestants who have proved themselves would sit so much better with the viewing public. I truly feel that the show has lost alot of its credibility and I feel bad about that because the first few years were truly so enjoyable, but it definitely has lost ground over the past few years and that is a shame. While Mr. Cowell may have valid points at times he is CERTAINLY NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. Dissing Kat, Taylor and Clay is so inappropriate and makes him seem so un-professional…..

maria
February 9, 2008

Not only did Taylor sell three times as many CD’s as last year’s winner, the very mediocre Jordin Sparks, Taylor (along with Kat, Chris and Elliott) made Season Five the biggest Idol ratings success of all time, probably its apex. Simon loved Kat last year. What will he be saying about Jordin this time next year? And didn’t his FAVORITE Idol (and mine) of all time, Fantasia, just finish up a stint on BROADWAY…..?

Owen
February 9, 2008

Simon gets paid BIG BUCKS to open his BIG MOUTH, and I agree, that Taylor Hicks SHOULD have never WON!!! Daughtery was good on the show, but I didn’t want him to win either…. So, when it’s all said and done, it’s back to America’s vote as to who the winner will be.

Anonymous
February 9, 2008
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