Simon Cowell has admitted that both Katy Perry and Madonna would be on the list of his dream judges for his American X Factor series.

The music mogul fired Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger from the judging panel of the show last week and is currently on the lookout for two stars who can replace the female singers.

Many names have been in the frame for the role and speaking to his ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour on Extra yesterday, Cowell addressed a few of the rumours.

He insisted that Mariah Carey will not be joining the show, not because he doesn’t want her, but because with her baby twins, she has too many family commitments, to want to be travelling the country and working long hours, as they audition for and then film the hit Fox series.

Simon said:

“I don’t think Mariah would make that commitment. I really, really don’t. She’s just had kids, you have to work five days a week on this show and do all the travelling as well, so she won’t be on the list.”

However, even though she recently insisted that she wouldn’t join the judging lineup, Cowell confessed that he would love to land singer, actress and queen of pop Madonna, adding:

“Yes I think she would be great, in terms of experience and success.”

The TV boss already had Katy Perry work on the UK X Factor as a guest judge and at the time, spoke about how impressed he was by her wit, her knowledge and her sassy nature. Asked if he would consider asking her to step into Paula or Nicole’s shoes, Cowell continued:

“I worked with Katy once, I think she would be fun. I think she is hard, in a good way and she’s feisty.”

Simon also quashed rumours that Elton John is on his list, saying he would be too difficult to work with and added that he doesn’t necessarily need to have an a list star on the panel, for the show to be a success.

He insisted:

‘It’s all about the contestants.’

Our question…Then why does it never work out that way?

View the original post Simon Cowell wants Katy Perry and Madonna but not Mariah Carey for X Factor USA on Unreality TV

We revealed last night that Paula Abdul and Nicola Scherzinger have been axed from the X Factor USA and already, people are talking about replacements.

The series won’t return to TV screens until September and filming starts around May, when the new panel will begin auditioning singing hopefuls, however it is said that Simon Cowell is already in talks with a number of stars to replace his female judges and some that will may over from Steve Jones as presenter.

The Sun reports that one of the front runners for a judging role is US singing superstar Mariah Carey. The ‘Hero’ hitmaker was heavily tipped to join the panel last year, and revealed that she had been in talks with Cowell and Fox bosses, but she was heavily pregnant and opted instead just to help Simon at judges houses.

However, Carey’s husband Nick Cannon spoke out last week and said that his wife will definitely not be joining a talent show, because she is too big a star.

Speaking on his radio show he said:

“Why would would my wife want to be on a show like that? For somebody who has a legendary career, I don’t know why they would do that.”

He also criticised American Idol judge Steve Tyler for joining the show last year.

The Sun went on to claim that Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj are also in Cowell’s sights, along with former X Factor UK judge Kelly Rowland.

It is claimed that Kelly told the music mogul she would not return to the British series, as she hated being away from home for such a long period of time, so he may now be considering moving her to the US version.

Katy Perry previously guest judged on the UK show, standing in when Dannii Minogue was on maternity leave in 2010.

Last year Simon confessed that he had been in talks with Minaj about a ‘number of projects’ and speaking to XXLMag.com, he added:

“She’s very smart, very influential, very bright and along with artists like Jessie J. You can’t ignore them and sooner or later they have to be in our world and we have to be in their world.”

So what do you think of Paula and Nicole’s possible replacements and who else do you think would fit the role?

As always, leave your comments below.

View the original post Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Kelly Rowland or Nicki Minaj to replace Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger on X Factor USA on Unreality TV

Nick Cannon has rubbished reports that his wife, Mariah Carey, will be joining the panel for The X Factor USA.

The America’s Got Talent host was responding to reports that Simon Cowell had persuaded the ‘Hero’ hitmaker to join him as a judge on the hit Fox series and insisted that being a judge on the show would be a “step down” in his wife’s career.

Speaking on his radio show “Rollin’ With Nick Cannon” earlier today, the handsome star said:

“Like Nicole Scherzinger, my wife is not a fan of judging people. Nicole actually did say that she is used to performing, and the judging thing is not really natural for her.”

“I really think that a lot of entertainers feel that way and I think these shows are really good shows, but when you get someone of status, or just big-time, career-wise, to do these shows, I personally think it’s a step down.”

Cannon added:

“Why would would my wife want to be on a show like that? For somebody who has a legendary career, I don’t know why they would do that.”

Cannon then turned his attention to Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, saying that he now views him in a “different light” since he joined American Idol.

However he does not think less of radio DJ Howard Stern, after he joined “America’s Got Talent” because he thinks Stern is not doing it to boost his career.

Do you agree with Nick? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Nick Cannon insists Mariah Carey is too big for X Factor USA 2012 on Unreality TV

Sinitta has claimed that Simon Cowell has found a job for Mariah Carey.

The music mogul recently revealed that the ‘Vision of Love’ hitmaker would be involved oin his new American X Factor series in some way and this week, his former girlfriend has revealed that the new mum will assist Cowell at his judges houses stage.

For the last number of years Sinitta has sat beside her ex-lover, as he whittled down his remaining hopeful contestants to the few who would eventually appear on the live shows. However, now that the series is moving stateside he wants someone with a higher profile than the ‘So Macho’ singer and has reportedly asked Mariah to help him out.

Sinitta wrote on Twitter last night:

first response to the now OFFICIAL news that the Diva’s Diva =Mariah Carey aka MIMI is to replace me on USA XF-S TOLD ME HIMSELF

She won’t even get to model her ridiculous bikinis or palm leaf outfits as Sinitta went on to reveal that while she will be on the set of The X Factor, she will be working strictly behind the scenes of the UK not the US show. She added:

i will be working on the show.i love helping the Talent-its what i love to do,you just dont see me

THINK BEING OFFERRED POSITION,(powerful)ON UK ,someone has to hold the forte…so USA SHOW doesnt KICK OUR BUTTS!!!,IN TALKS

What do you think of Simon’s choice. Will Mariah work well on the show? Will Sinitta be missed? Leave your comments below.

View the original post Mariah Carey to replace Sinitta as Simon Cowell’s assistant on X Factor USA? on Unreality TV

Mariah Carey was looking hot when she hit New York last night and as she was spotted enjoying a girly night out, speculation began to grow about her reported role on the X Factor USA panel.

Simon Cowell recently revealed that he is trying to find a role for Mariah Carey on his new TV talent series.

The 41 year old diva gave birth to baby twins in April of this year and so couldn’t join the panel for the auditions stages in early 2011, however the music mogul has admitted that he wants her on the show in some form or another and her idea is to become the ultimate ‘judge of judges.’

Speaking a few months ago Simon revealed:

‘I think Mariah will have a role on the TV live shows. I met her recently and she was on great form.’

‘And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with.’

Simon had previously tried to land Jennifer Lopez for the show, but was thwarted when she accepted a role on American Idol instead.

It has been revealed that the new American version of The X Factor is the most expensive reality TV show ever made and so, keen to recoup his expenses, insiders report that Cowell is currently wooing Carey, desperate for her to bring her star power to the format.

If she does accept the role, she’ll be joining former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger, record executive L.A. Reid and former Idol judge paula Abdul.

We can’t imagine that Paula will want another beautiful woman competing for Simon’s attention…..so we’ll be watching out for drama and lots of bitchiness if the two women do end up working together!

View the original post Mariah Carey hits the town and wants to become ‘the judge of judges’ on X Factor USA – Paula Abdul won’t like that! on Unreality TV

Mariah Carey may not be a judge on Simon Cowell’s new X Factor series, but it has been reported that the music mogul is seeking out another role for the diva.

Carey recently gave birth to baby twins – son Moroccan Scott and daughter Monroe – and could not participate in the audition rounds of the new American show, however insiders claim that she may now join the lineup as a full time mentor to hopeful singers.

“Mariah and Simon are great friends, and now [that] she has had her babies, it’s very possible that she will be involved [in] some way in the later stages of the show,” a source told Entertainment Weekly.

“She has always said she wanted to work with the show, so it’s something they will certainly be discussing ideas for soon.”

Speaking earlier in the year, Cowell confirmed that the ‘Vision of Love’ star would be involved in his new series in some way saying:

“I think Mariah will have a role on the TV live shows. I met her recently and she was on great form. And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with.”

Admitting that he loves her music and back catalogue, the TV boss continued:

“She’ll be involved in some form. I literally adore her. I love her to bits.”

View the original post Mariah Carey could still join X Factor USA on full time basis on Unreality TV

American Idol is about to come to the end of it’s tenth season, and all in all, it’s been a pretty fabulous run.

No one could have predicted it’s success when Simon Cowell left the show last year, followed by Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi and by the middle of 2010, many were sure that Idol was on it’s way out, probably to be replaced by Simon’s new show The X Factor.

Jump forward eleven months and it is shocking how well the current season has performed, mostly we think you’ll agree due to the amazing chemistry between the new judging panel, consisting of original judge Randy Jackson, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez.

However, in a revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter, just days after a eleventh season was confirmed, Idol bosses admitted that the whole thing was a gamble and confessed that they met with a whole plethora of stars, to try and get the balance right.

Fox president of alternative programming Mike Darnell told the publication:

We weren’t sure what direction we were going, so we just kept taking meetings. We had a list: Mariah Carey was on it, Shania Twain, Harry Connick Jr. Cecile [ FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz] and I were the first line of defense, and we met with at least 40 people.

Cecile went on to reveal that it was actually Randy and Kara who were responsible for the hiring of Tyler, saying:

Then I had lunch with Randy Jackson, and we were brainstorming, and he’s the one who said, “Have you thought about Steven Tyler?” We hadn’t. It turned out Kara, who deserves some credit for this, had just worked with Steven, and she brought up the idea to Randy.

Show presenter Ryan Seacrest added:

I remember Cecile telling me she was going to go meet Steven Tyler and she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. He blew her away. She said, “You would think he’s this tough, badass rock star, which he is, but he’s probably got the biggest heart on the panel.”

So how did they land Jennifer Lopez and what made them think that she was any better than Shania or Mariah? Idol creator Simon Fuller went on:

I had lunch with Jennifer and her manager Benny Medina at the Beverly Hills Hotel in April of last year to ask her to do a show with me called Q’Viva. But as we were talking, I had in the back of my mind that she would be great for Idol. So I brought it up halfway through the main course, maybe into the coffee and tea. I just threw it out there. She was a huge fan of the show, so she knew all about Idol — she was like an expert, actually. She watched it every season. Jennifer didn’t say yes there and then, but I knew she was intrigued, and eventually I got her to do it.

View the original post American Idol 2011: Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Harry Connick Jr were all considered as new judges on Unreality TV

Nick Cannon has admitted that he already wants more children with Mariah Carey, even though she only gave birth to their baby twins a few weeks ago.

The couple became parents to twins Moroccan Scott and Monroe last month, and while the pop diva is insistent that she doesn’t want any more children, the ‘America’s Got Talent’ host would happily enlarge their brood.

Asked if they are unlikely to have more children, Nick said: “Yeah, I think we are if you ask my wife.

“I keep threatening her with getting her pregnant again, and she doesn’t like it. She doesn’t think that’s funny. I heard women are their most fertile after they have children…”

On how they came up with names for their new tots, Cannon admitted that they came up with the monikers months ago.

He said in an interview with PopEater: “It’s funny, I always say we had our names picked out very early on – we picked one of the names like the first date that we had. But it’s kind of weird that they stayed the same.”

The rapper also discussed the inspiration behind the twins’ names, and said he likes the monikers because they are so “strong”.

He said: “Monroe, obviously, my wife has always been inspired by Marilyn Monroe, she bought her priceless piano and all that stuff. And I just like the idea that is was more than just naming our daughter Marilyn. I think that would’ve been a little too cliche. Monroe is a very strong name – it sounds really elegant.

“And then Moroccan was kind of more my pick. When you think about Moroccan, it’s kind of both of our names together — Mariah and Nick together. And I always like the name Rock. Rock Cannon. It sounded like a strong name.”

View the original post America’s Got Talent: Nick Cannon wants more babies but Mariah Carey’s not having it! on Unreality TV

Simon Cowell has confirmed that Mariah Carey will join the US ‘X Factor’ lineup.

The music mogul said that the ‘Dream Lover’ hitmaker, who is currently pregnant with twins with her husband Nick Cannon, will play a role on the reality TV series, though he didn’t confirm if she would be judging or not.

In a radio interview with Jackie Brown, he said: “I think Mariah will have a role on the TV live shows. I met her recently and she was on great form. And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with.”

Admitting that he loves her music and back catalogue, Cowell continued:

“She’ll be involved in some form. I literally adore her. I love her to bits.”

Speculation about who is joining Simon on the judging panel has been rife.

So far, only the 51-year-old music mogul and record executive L.A. Reid – who is the former Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group – have been confirmed.

Among the numerous stars to be linked to judging spots are Cheryl Cole – who appears on the UK version of the programme – Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Simpson and Katy Perry.

Rihanna recently admitted that she was forced to turn down an offer to join the judging panel, because she cannot work it round her 2011 touring commitments.

She said: “It’s something that I would have loved to do, actually. But our schedule doesn’t allow it and it’s a demanding schedule to be on that show.

“You have to be around months at a time, which is impossible for me.”

View the original post Simon Cowell confirms Mariah Carey for X Factor USA on Unreality TV

X Factor bosses are reportedly set against Simon Cowell bringing Cheryl Cole to his American version of the show.

Insiders suggest that Fox executives would rather have Mariah Carey than the Geordie singer on the new TV venture, saying that audiences would never understand Cheryl’s thick accent.

A source told The Mirror:

“The Fox executives are totally against Cheryl joining the panel.

“Simon has put her forward and is trying to persuade them she’s perfect for the job.

“But they’re saying that together with her accent being difficult to understand, and nobody knowing who she is, she doesn’t have the star qualities to draw in an ­audience.

“They are going to be competing with American Idol’s ­star-studded panel of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and J-Lo, and Cheryl just doesn’t cut it compared to them. She’s not a name.

“While Simon may want ­Cheryl he ­understands Fox’s insistence that he delivers a strong panel to bring ­viewers, and therefore advertising, in and ­make as much money as they can.”

Simon himself admitted that he is keen to bring Cheryl to America for his newest TV project but revealed that nothing is yet set in stone. He said:

“Look, I’ve said I’d love Cheryl out there but whether it will happen, who knows?

“Mariah Carey would be an ­amazing addition to the US show. And she’s exactly the right calibre of star that we want for the show.

“I can’t say more because it’s too early and I can’t say. But there will be surprises.”

View the original post X Factor America: Bosses want Mariah Carey over Cheryl Cole on Unreality TV