Kara DioGuardi has admitted that she found it hard to bond with Simon Cowell during her time on American Idol.

The accomplished singer songwriter sat on the judging panel of the reality TV show for both the eighth and ninth series but confessed that she could never get Simon to notice her and in fact, admitted that at times he was ‘less than kind.

Writing in her new autobiography, Kara explained:

“I smoked way too many cigarettes (a nasty habit I had previously kicked) outside the set in an attempt to bond with [Simon].”

“But he wasn’t having any of it. I hated myself for seeking his approval. I have never been that person. I say what I feel and I don’t kiss ass for anything, but if I couldn’t get him to acknowledge or engage me, I was going to be in big trouble when the light turned red.”
The singer-songwriter also insisted that the Fox network had ulterior motives for hiring her to do the show.

“My sad take is that they were never interested in me for my accomplishments or how I could really help the contestants,” she added.

DioGuardi continued: “As proof of that…I don’t think I was every properly credited or introduced to the viewers. I felt more like I was there to serve ulterior motives and ones that I could never achieve for them.

“I’m willing to bet that in Simon Cowell’s mind, I was Simon’s Fuller’s girl, and that made me suspect no matter what I said and did. Under those circumstances, I could see why Cowell was less than kind to me at times, but it still hurt.”

It’s such a shame. Simon seems to prefer bimbos to actually talented women. He often snubs Dannii Minogue in favour of Cheryl Cole on The X Factor and it would seem that he likes a yes woman, as opposed to someone with skills, opinions and view points of their own!

View the original post American Idol: Kara DioGuardi admits that she was ‘hurt’ by Simon Cowell’s disinterest on Unreality TV

American politician Joseph DioGuardi appeared on ‘Capital Tonight’ this week and shed some light on his daughter’s American Idol future.

The 69 year old former U.S. Representative from New York was asked if the rumours are true and his daughter Kara has been fired from the hit reality TV show. He responded:

“Would you believe that she did not hear and still has not heard anything. She read it the way you did and I did. In fact, her disappointment is that that’s the way she’s being treated.”

On why bosses have treated the singer/songwriter so badly Jospeh continued:

“I think what they’re trying to do is create a lot of buzz, like they did with Paula Abdul. They’re trying to reformat the thing. But Kara has a very deep career in music … so she’ll be fine. Does she want to do it another year? I think so … I think she will at some point confront them on that.”

Do you want Kara to stay? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Kara DioGuardi ‘disappointed’ in American Idol bosses on Unreality TV

It feels like American Idol only finished yesterday (we know it was actually last month sometime) but already the judges have been talking about next year’s season of the show. Ellen DeGeneres has revealed how her judging style will change next year and Kara DioGuardi has been talking about who she wants to replace Simon Cowell.

Ellen DeGeneres joined the panel as a newbie for the 2010, but says she has now found her feet as a judge and plans to be tougher on the contestants next year. Admitting that she was ‘too soft’ on hopefuls like Casey James, Mike Lynch and Aaron Kelly, Ellen told USA Today:

“Your first year anywhere is going to be tough, because you’re trying to figure out what your role is.”

“I think next year my role will be to be exactly who I am, sometimes funny and sometimes serious, and I think I’ll probably learn to be a little harder on people without being rude. But I think it was a fine line for me to walk this year.”

“It’s always been Simon’s show. There’s a whole dynamic there. You want to be respectful, and it was his last year, and so a lot was going on that needed to happen. “I think next year will be a different year. No one can replace Simon, just like I wasn’t replacing Paula.”

Speaking about who she would like to see joining them in 2011, Kara DioGuardi told The New York Times:

“I’ve voiced who I think would be pretty good. They know that I thought Harry Connick [Jr.] did a really good job. He really helped those contestants and he obviously cared a lot – he sat and did all those arrangements. He’s funny, Ellen [DeGeneres] and Harry are close friends, so that would be a good chemistry.”

It might seem very early to be discussing replacements for the 2011 season, but realistically show bosses only have another 3 months before the audition process kicks off once more. Are you looking forward to a non Cowell Idol? Leave your comments below.

View the original post American Idol 2011: Ellen DeGeneres will be tougher & Kara DioGuardi wants Harry Connick, Jr on Unreality TV

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi guest hosted The View today and we loved seeing a bit more of her personality than we are normally privy to on Idol.

Kara joked with the audience about the lack of applause she used to experience during her first year on the show…..claiming that she started to clap for herself in order to fill the silent gap.

She also showed Elisabeth how to give a good bit of Italian necktitude, in order to reinforce a point of opinion.

Most interesting was Kara’s revelation that many hopeful singer/songwriters leave cds at her house, in the hope of her taking them under her win as she did Jason Derulo. We think that’s a little bit creepy and feel sorry that she has her space constantly invaded in this way. Haven’t these people heard of the postal system?

Watch a clip of Kara’s appearance below.

View the original post American Idol 2010: Kara DioGuardi does ‘The View’ (video) on Unreality TV

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has given her backing to Harry Connick, Jr as a replacement for Simon Cowell on next year’s judging panel.

Harry mentored contestants during a recent Frank Sinatra week and not only gave amazing advice to the hopefuls, but was also hilariously funny to boot.

As Simon Cowell prepares to leave for X Factor, Kara DioGuardi has started discussing the new incarnation of Idol. She told People:

“It’s sad to see Simon go, but the show is more needed now than ever because it’s harder for people living in obscure places to find a manager who will bring their record to someone who can make a decision.”

She also says that Harry Connick Jr. “obviously cares, and when you’re a judge you have to be invested, opinionated and charming.”

Kara also stated the obvious saying: “I think it will be a Crystal [and] Lee finale.”

Well D’oh! That was obvious from week one!

View the original post Kara DioGuardi backs Harry Connick, Jr for American Idol 2011 on Unreality TV

Kara DioGuardi has been showing that she’s more than qualified to judge American Idol singing hopefuls by giving an amazing vocal performance of her own.

The Idol judge rocked up on Lopez Tonight yesterday, when she and Jason Reeves sang the song they co-wrote “Terrified.” The track was originally penned for Idol star Katharine McPhee and has also recently been performed by eliminated contestant Didi Benami, but we think that Kara’s version is easily as good as either of theirs.

Watch Jason and Kara perform below. We think she easily could have won Idol in her day, did you love her performance as much as we did? Leave your comments below.

View the original post American Idol 2010: Watch Kara DioGuardi perform ‘Terrified’ on Lopez Tonight (VIDEO) on Unreality TV

Kara DioGuardi in Allure

American Idol judge Simon Cowell reportedly branded Kara DioGuardi’s recent naked photo shoot for Allure magazine as ‘desperate.’

Explaining her decision to strip for the publication Kara said:

“This shoot was less about beauty than about taking a risk, and showing people a side of me they never have seen.”

However Showbiz Spy quote one Idol insider as saying:

“Everything is just a little odd this year,”

“The whole equilibrium of the show has been thrown off by Paula Abdul leaving, Ellen DeGeneres joining and Simon announcing this is his last year.

“Kara is ambitious and sees this as her moment to turn up the heat.

“She thinks this is her time to set up her game even if Simon thinks it’s a bit desperate.”

View the original post American Idol 2010: Simon Cowell thinks Kara DioGuardi’s naked photo shoot was ‘desperate’ on Unreality TV

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has stripped again. The last time we saw her almost naked in a gold bikini on last year’s Idol final, this time she went the whole hog for a magazine photo shoot with Allure.

The 39 year old singer songwriter admitted that she battled with binge eating and depression in her twenties but told the magazine that due to her current proper diet techniques, her body is now in its best shape either.

She added:

“Back then I was a size 6 or 8; now, I’m more like a size 2,” she said. “Food is not what I use to anesthetize myself anymore.”

“This shoot was less about beauty than about taking a risk, and showing people a side of me they never have seen.”

One of Kara’s weight loss techniques was to massively reduce her salt intake.

“I can really retain water,” she said.

Kara DioGuardi in Allure

View the original post American Idol 2010: Wanna see Kara DioGuardi naked? (PICTURES) on Unreality TV

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has revealed that she and fellow panelist Simon Cowell have been ‘getting along splendidly’ on this season of the show.

The singer/songwriter performed two sell out shows in Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City last week and told the crowd:

“It surprises me when Simon agrees with me. [I think to myself] ‘Is something wrong? Is someone paying you?’ [And then I realize] ‘Oh you already have enough money.”

She added:

“We’ve been getting along splendidly. I have mad respect for Simon. I kind of look up to him. He’s a bit older than me … way older than me — like 30 years!”

Kara also revealed her reasons for putting on a show, saying that she wanted to show people what she can do and that she does deserve to judge young Idol hopefuls. She told the crowd:

“A lot of people still ask, ‘Who is that girl sitting next to Ellen and Simon? I wanted to get out there and show a different side of me and show I do know what I am talking about.”

But don’t worry, she has no plans to give up her judging career and cut a record any time soon. Kara said:

I really love being a songwriter and I don’t want to be that judge up there plugging albums. I want the concentration to be on the kids.”

View the original post American Idol 2010: Kara DioGuardi has ‘a mad respect for Simon Cowell’ on Unreality TV

Outgoing American Idol singer Didi Benami made an appearance on the David Letterman show this week and though she looked incredibly awkward during her interview, she gave an amazing rendition of ‘Terrified,’ which was originally co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.

Always courting controversy, Letterman asked Didi which Idol judges she liked and told her that she could be honest on his show. The singer revealed that while she loved Ellen DeGeneres’ presence on the panel, she was incredibly nervous about singing for accomplished singer songwriter Kara DioGuardi. She said:

“I was really glad that Ellen was on the show this year, because she added a bit of comic relief and she was really sweet. It was really hard to sing for Kara actually because I really respect her as a songwriter and I look up to her a whole lot.”

During her chat with Letterman, Benami defended Idol presenter Ryan Seacrest after she was asked:

“Why is Ryan Seacrest on this show? Honest to God what is he doing on this show?”

She laughed and replied:

“He talks to us, he’s really sweet I think he’s a nice guy!”

On how she coped with the sing off, she revealed:

“I told myself that I would be ok regardless of what happened. It was a really interesting ride and now I get a little bit of sleep!”

Watch Didi’s interview below and let us know what you thought of her performance in the comments section as always!

View the original post American Idol 2010: Didi Benami found it hard to sing for Kara DioGuardi on Unreality TV