# Simon "American Idol" Cowell's Replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791 "2010-07-24T00:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/1 "2010-07-24T00:19:15Z")
> [@](#): > > …the search to find a replacement for exiting judge Simon Cowell is underway, too, with The Hollywood Reporter breaking the news that singer-actor Chris Isaak has met twice with Fox executives about the position. THR’s story also mentions Fox is still considering Harry Connick Jr., who has been buzzed about as a potential judge since he memorably mentored season 9… Full story at [EW](http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/07/21/american-idol-chris-isaak-simon-cowell/) It also mentions Bret Michaels and Donald Trump? So what do you think? Chris Isaak seems like he’d be way too nice, as does Connick Jr. I thought part of the appeal was getting slammed or watching others getting slammed by Cowell ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/2 "2010-07-24T00:31:44Z")
I’d hire Quentin Tarantino if possible, though I’m sure he wants to make another movie sometime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/3 "2010-07-24T00:40:39Z")
Harry Connick Jr. was actually kind of amusingly dickish as a mentor. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/4 "2010-07-24T00:47:10Z")
Have either Harry Connick Jr or Chris Isaak worked as a music producer? Because that seems like the kind of skills you’d need for the job. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/5 "2010-07-24T02:12:05Z")
Considering Ellen Degeneres (who I love) is a judge I doubt there are any skills required other than being famous and having a personality. Possible judges: Enya - hums all of her comments, sends everyone to sleep, very relaxing Melanie B - laughs very loudly, speaks in heavy loud accent, has loud breasts, perfect for the job Leona Lewis - will tell everyone they are “amazing, just amazing, brilliant, wow” Prince - comments on the contestants not with spoken words but with a series of dance moves performed by a pair of beautiful identical twins who are by his side at all times ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/6 "2010-07-24T02:14:04Z")
I enjoyed Harry Connick Jr.'s mentoring week last season–he was equal parts constructive, funny, and brutal. If he were added to the panel, he would become (at worst) the second-best judge. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/7 "2010-07-24T02:51:14Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Considering Ellen Degeneres (who I love) is a judge I doubt there are any skills required other than being famous and having a personality. That does seem to be the case. I seem to recall that at one point Paula Deen was being considered 😕. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/8 "2010-07-24T03:03:39Z")
I don’t know why this popped into my head, but my ideal panel would be Ellen, Harry Connick Jr. and Dave Grohl. Dave Grohl just strikes me as a funny guy, I can complete see him filling the Simon role with more of a slacker aesthetic. Saying, “Dude, that kind of sucked” to the David Archuletta types. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/9 "2010-07-24T03:05:40Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Considering Ellen Degeneres (who I love) is a judge I doubt there are any skills required other than being famous and having a personality. I like Ellen’s personality, but I think she is a useless judge who only praises the people and is afraid to critique seriously. May I ask why you love her…on the show(assuming you meant that)? ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/10 "2010-07-24T03:26:02Z")
Sorry I should have been more specific - I don’t watch American Idol but I love Ellen Degeneres in basically everything else I’ve ever seen her in, her talk show, sitcom, Finding Nemo etc. I have a passing interest in Idol like I have a passing interest in all big pop culture things (I find speculating about the production of the show, including new judges and the like, more entertaining than the show itself) but even Ellen can’t make me that interested in it, and it doesn’t show on free-to-air Australian TV anyway. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/11 "2010-07-24T03:35:41Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Prince - comments on the contestants not with spoken words but with a series of dance moves performed by a pair of beautiful identical twins who are by his side at all times Now I want to see this. This would dramatically raise the quality of the judging segments. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/12 "2010-07-25T02:55:29Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@multimediac17](#): > > > > Considering Ellen Degeneres (who I love) is a judge I doubt there are any skills required other than being famous and having a personality. > > I like Ellen’s personality, but I think she is a useless judge who only praises the people and is afraid to critique seriously. > > May I ask why you love her…on the show(assuming you meant that)? I think it’s funny that they have a judge on a show about making somebody a musical idol who has no experience with music at all. best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/13 "2010-07-25T02:57:48Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Sorry I should have been more specific - I don’t watch American Idol but I love Ellen Degeneres in basically everything else I’ve ever seen her in, her talk show, sitcom, Finding Nemo etc. Ah, this makes much more sense. I like Ellen, but she’s pointless on AI. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/14 "2010-07-25T03:13:31Z")
Neil Patrick Harris was far and away my favorite guest judge, and as long as it didn’t interfere with filming the _Dr. Horrible_ sequel, he’d definitely be my choice. Unfortunately, he’s already got his hit show, so I don’t see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/15 "2010-07-25T03:43:20Z")
Is there a better choice than John Lydon? I think not. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/16 "2010-07-25T03:47:03Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Neil Patrick Harris was far and away my favorite guest judge, and as long as it didn’t interfere with filming the _Dr. Horrible_ sequel, he’d definitely be my choice. Unfortunately, he’s already got his hit show, so I don’t see it happening. Oh, please let this happen. I want the Horrible sequel and him to be a judge on Idol. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/17 "2010-07-25T04:00:08Z")
I adored “The Chris Isaac Show,” but I don’t know if he’d be bitchy enough, as already speculated. I love, LOVE the idea of Prince as a judge, but I don’t see any way of _that_ happening. “You’ll never make it as a singer. You have no talent.” “Yes, sir.” (Except the deluded masses wouldn’t believe him any more than they believe anyone else.) You need a Gordon Ramsay-type personality to replace Simon Cowell, but ideally from the music world. (“That was fucking shite. You are the worst fucking singer I’ve ever heard.”) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/18 "2010-07-25T17:25:06Z")
I can’t stand Harry Connick Jr. Years ago, he was hired to do a benefit at a large ballroom in NYC for a charity. The idea was, people would come, pay a huge amount to get in, and then have a silent auction. After that, Harry would play and sing on the ballroom floor. So, about 1000 people milling about, talking and being typical people in a ballroom setting and Harry starts to play and people are still milling about, talking normally. Harry stops playing and says, “Hey, I’m playing music up here - be quiet!” The audience was shocked…this wasn’t a concert in a theater, it was a ballroom and it was supposed to be light, live entertainment towards the end of the night so people could dance or, just mingle with background music. Sure enough, after the initial shock and silence, people started to talk again and mill around and Harry suddenly stopped playing and stormed off the floor. Then, several years ago, I see he is scheduled to perform at the Boulder Station (a so-so, small local’s casino here in Las Vegas). His career was nose-diving (deservedly in my opinion) and tickets for this show were $29. The only reason I remember this tidbit is that was coincidentally scheduled the very week Katrina hit in New Orleans. A disaster for most, but the best thing to ever happen to Harry’s career! Harry Connick Jr. canceled the show and dashed off to New Orleans. Although there is nothing wrong with that, and he was indeed from New Orleans, I feel Harry latched onto that disaster like white on rice. He suddenly put himself in the position of becoming the face of Katrina, and he milked every opportunity to get his mug on camera. Now you are not allowed to say his name without genuflecting and saying a prayer to Katrina victims - despite the fact that the only one who came out smelling like a rose was Harry Connick Jr. I find him a smug, arrogant, opportunist with mediocre talent at best. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/19 "2010-07-25T18:45:24Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I find him a smug, arrogant, opportunist with mediocre talent at best. This is odd, but I find him the same way and I’ve never dealt with him or even seen him other than brief TV appearances. That, and he’s in Independence Day for some reason. I actually kind of hope they find an unknown who has experience and can be critical, somewhat like Simon was at one point. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791/20 "2010-07-25T23:45:37Z")
The answer is Bret Michaels. I am not a fan .so I don’t know how he will do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-american-idol-cowells-replacement/547791.md?page=2)