'Idol' judge slams role of celebrities

By Gary Levin
USA Today

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Countdown Who will be the next American Idol? Here's what's in store for survivors Clay Aiken, Joshua Gracin, Kimberley Locke and Ruben Studdard. All shows are on KHON FOX2): Today, 7-8 p.m. The final four perform. Tomorrow, 7:30-8 p.m. Who will be kicked off next? May 13, 7-8 p.m. Down to three. May 14, 7:30-8:30 p.m. — The show gets extended to one hour before we find out who's eliminated. May 20, 7-8 p.m. Down to two. May 21, 7-9 p.m. Winner will be announced.

Nothing personal, but the judge says they don't belong on "American Idol." Neither does Robin Gibb, of the BeeGees.

"I personally find it a bit insulting having celebrity judges on the show," he says as "Idol" heads for its May 20 finale. "To me, it's our role and nobody else's to judge these kids, because we've chosen them from the beginning."

Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe blames Cowell's inflated ego: "The only time he's happy to be next to anyone is when he's leaning against a mirror."

The guest judges were added this year, and their songs often provide the theme for competition.

But what about those other judges? Lately, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul mostly seem to fawn over "Idol" finalists, leaving Cowell to shoulder the audience's boos at any whiff of negativity, which he finds absurd and amusing.

"You could not unblock the nasty thoughts in her head and get them out; it's a physical impossibility," says Cowell of Abdul.

"If you had three people on the panel who were like me, it would be awful; it would just be gratuitous, who could come up with the best insult. Part of its appeal is that we are so different."

Cowell is confident viewers will settle on the pair who have been leaders from the start.

"As long as we've got two good ones, I don't really care. Whoever comes in third, fourth or fifth isn't really a major issue to me as long as the two I like make the finals. And I think the best two are Ruben (Studdard) and Clay (Aiken)."

"The best thing that's come out of this competition by far is the fact that the two front-runners are so non-typical music business ... It's responding to what the public is saying, that we want something different."

The risk is a repeat of last summer's Tamyra Gray travesty, in which the singer was eliminated early, some say prematurely.

"You don't want a situation you had last year, where the best or second-best singer gets kicked out before she has a chance to make the finals," Cowell says.

"The audience kind of short-changed themselves a little bit and missed the chance to see a great final. It was a bit like a heavyweight taking on a lightweight, and that's a problem. That's not being disrespectful to (runner-up) Justin (Guarini); he'll be the first to admit Tamyra was a better singer."