The Tortured Soul of Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell finds Idol ‘predictable’; says Clarkson should thank fans
NEW YORK (AP) — American Idol judge Simon Cowell usually has big bad words to describe the reality show’s wannabe pop stars. But the biting Brit sums up his relationships with past AI winners with one little one: “tiny.”
As for first Idol winner, recent Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson, “She would be like a stranger to me now,” Cowell said Thursday.
In January, Cowell criticized Clarkson for not allowing the use of her songs by contestants on the fifth season of the high-rated show. She later changed her mind. Then, during Clarkson’s Grammy acceptance speeches for best pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance, she never uttered the word “Idol.”
“Look, she doesn’t need to thank me and she doesn’t need to thank American Idol,” said Cowell. “She does need to thank the fans who voted for her on American Idol. That’s all.”
On Wednesday’s Idol episode, Cowell and fellow judges, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, chose the 24 semifinalists.
Of them, Cowell said only three “have got a chance in the music industry.” When asked to comment on each semifinalist by name, Cowell couldn’t recall most of them. However, he could remember what he thought of every Idol season except the first: “predictable.”