Simon Cowell - Duets To Hit Fox And ITV
January 9th, 2006 at 16:30 by Stuart Heritage
Whatever you may think about Simon Cowell, the man sure knows how to sell TV shows. Pop Idol, American Idol, X Factor - all normal talent shows in sparkly suits - have all been giant successes.
So when Simon Cowell dreams up a new TV show, people sit up and listen. Even if the show is as toe-curlingly awful-sounding as Duets - Simon’s new idea: a kind of pro-celebrity wailing competition - networks like ITV in the UK and Fox in America fall over themselves to throw money at him.
Simon Cowell (Books) has got a lot of mileage out of being rude to bad
singers. Pop Idol - the first series at least, not the one where the
fat lass won - was a huge success, American Idol is regularly the
most-watched show in the country and X Factor is currently responsible
for Shayne Ward, the boy who has been number one for the last three
weeks with That’s My Goal.
Simon’s new idea - apart from Ethiopian Idol - is Duets, a format
which ruthlessly steals from just about every single reality television
show around. Duets is a song-based talent show - like American Idol or
X Factor. But the twist is that famous non-musical celebrities have to
convince a panel of judges of their worth - like Celebrity Fame
Academy. And by teaming the bad-voiced celebrities with professional
singers, Duets also gets to be a bit like Strictly Come Dancing (or
Dancing With The Stars).
We think Simon Cowell could have tried to go the whole hog by
getting the celebrities to live in a house together on a desert island together,
but that’s beside the point. Anyway, as well as selling the format to
ITV over here, Cowell has also sold Duets to Fox in America. But Simon
won’t be around to be nasty about the singing on the TV - he’s just going to
be executive producing Duets, not acting as judge.
And why would Simon Cowell want to judge Duets? He’s far too busy stuffing fistfuls of money into his underwear and laughing
developing other new TV formats - shows like an ‘idiots only’ Gong Show
type affair for Britain and the ludicrous American Inventor series for
the US.
Read more:
Cowell’s latest amateur hour: ‘Duets’ for Fox - Hollywood Reporter
[story by Stuart Heritage]
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January 25th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Hello Simon,
I was watching the Il Divo singing “HERO”, and there is this one song that they should learn singing in Spanish it is Called “ALL OF A SUDDEN” If they do sing this it will be a graet hit this is the kind of song they are good at. Please let Me know… give it a try it is going to be a big hit.
January 26th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
i have been playing the bagpipes for several years and i think that there are few bagpipe competitions is there any chance of there being an x-factor bagpipe competition in the near future. please let me know through my e-mail
February 6th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Simon says:
I think it is better to be blunt with people.
How about adding TACT to the shaker and sprinkle in on????
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:12 am
Simon: I have only a couple of things to say. I know that most ppl don’t like the way you handle or speak to the contestants. What I have to say about the whole thing is - and I know you can’t wait for this - you do your job very well, you do it your way. I think your a great judge. You tell it how it is however rude and rough at times. I know that your looking for the “wow factor” and have stated so in the past. It should be no surprise to anyone when you let these contestants know that they don’t have the “wow factor”. Your really not as bad as everyone thinks and of course being humans they will not let you show any other part of yourself. No matter Simon….keep being who you are cause you are the best Simon Cowell there is.
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:36 am
Hi everyone. I’d just like to say that I have looked for Simon’s email address all over the internet and haven’t been ab;e to find it. Naturally, I didn’t expect to find his personal address, as he would be an idiot to reveal that, but there wasn’t even a place to send fanmail. I just want to say, Simon, if you ever read this on any slim chance, I love you! You are so much like me, it’a almost unreal. I just want to say, THANK YOU for saying the thing about the Gedeon guy’s smile.. It was driving me insane the whole time, and then you said it and I was like “THANK YOU” and then Paula and Randy started talking nonsense as usual. That smile sort of reminded me of a freaky cheshire cat on crack. And I think Paula is sweet, and Randy is cool, but I think in Paula’s case she just gives too many pity votes and not enough actual honesty, and sometimes during the auditions someone completely horrible will come in and you almost get the feeling that she gives them a yes because she knows you will say no, and she wants to give that pity vote, and it hoping to God that Randy will also say no, and then when Randy says yes you see that look of complete demise come over her face… Or maybe I’m just crazy. In any case, PLEASE continue to be honest and tell it straight; you’d only be annoying if you didn’t, and I rarely ever disagree with you. Also, after reading your book “i don’t mean to be rude, but…” I understand even moreso than before why you say the things you say. It would be wonderful to meet you, but considering I only sing when someone is annoying me and I am trying to torture them as [cruel and unusual] punishment, I doubt I’ll ever get the chance. Who knows, though.. Maybe someday you’ll make me mad and incur the wrath of my horrible excuse for singing. God bless you Simon!
-Crystal Curtis
March 6th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Hey Simon,
You are a CUTE ONE!! However some of your nasty remarks are not called for.
I sing and write southern Gospel songs..I don’t think you do Gospel - Do you?
If you could handle listen to Gospel, I would love for you to listen to my songs..Just to see what kind of remarks I would get from “The Simon Cowell”
We need an America Gospel Idol
Well take care,
Tammy Winslett
March 7th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Dear Simon, on the chance you might see this because I can’t find an address for you I want to ask you if your beautiful group Il Divo ever does a little charity work. My daughters wedding is next September, and my dream would be having Il Divo sing for my guests and daughter. Ilove Il Divo, and the music they make is like beautiful art to me. I love you for bringing them together. I hope one day to see them. A fan, lueee1@aol.com
March 14th, 2006 at 6:35 am
Simon - I just saw you on Leno tonight. I can’t wait to see your new show “American Inventor”. t . We live in Mpls, MN and did not hear about the casting calls. We have several patents on a “ski sled.” We have a fun way to ski. It can turn left and right, tightly, for solom courses and it has brakes. You sit in a chair suspended on special shocks for a comfortable ride. Someone can stand on the back. Almost anyone can use, even the disabled. Everywhere we have taken it, people have been interested and ski areas want them to rent out. We are looking for help getting it manufactured by a company that will take it over and share profits. How do we get on your show? We have spent years and our life savings to get a patent. Can you help?, PLEASE!!!
March 17th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Hi Simon,
I wish that one of your shows would allow talented singers from the ages of 30-50 to sing and try to win a single so that they can give 50% of the proceeds to a charitable cause of the winners choice.
I sing professionally and would just love the exposure and the gift of giving something back.My fund that I give to now is the CCF fund,but I wish I could give more.
Sincerely,Sinoa
March 23rd, 2006 at 3:15 am
nothing to comment on re the above, Just like to saySimon youare an obviously natural, when it comes to naming new shows, though the duet thing as been done recently, by you? celb thingy with pros, are was that on BBx?, anyway I digress.
I would like to let you know that I have a greatname for a new show, which I will keep to myself for now, But I also have the name of a natural star in the making. she is just 19 and deserves a chance to make it big, which she would given the right breaks, So if you do ever get to read ” which I doubt” this posting. but then again maybe you have somone who does this for you, well if so a true English rose with a mighty voice is waiting to be discovered. so anyone who may have the connections to make it happen and beat Simon to another sterlig success, then mail me on above addy, “morca007@aol.com” and this info I may divulge, to the right person’s………
March 29th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Simon, Thank God for you on American Idol. I really admire you for being candid and telling it like it is. I get so sick of Randy and his “Dude, Dawg Pound, Know what I’m saying? remarks.” Paula always trying to be so SWEET and afraid to be honest, afraid somebody won’t like her. They should not be judges. AND, Ryan Seacrest belittling you for being honest!! Smack him. This is the worst season yet for Idol and if things don’t get better real soon, the ratings will fall drastically. Kep up the good work, Simon and good luck in all your newest ventures.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Hello? How stupid are you people. SIMON IS NOT HERE. SIMON IS NOT READING HECKLERSPRAY.