Simon Cowell ON AIR with Ryan Seacrest

American Idol: Season 3 Forum

Just saw a promo for Ryan Seacrest's ON AIR program -- Simon Cowell will be his interview guest tomorrow (Tuesday). Consult your local listings, if interested.

The timing of this interview seems rather auspicious, since it will air just a few hours before the first Group of 8 performs Tuesday night. Simon might have something interesting to say ......... or not.

Very interesting. I wonder what old Simon will say. He will probably rant about the lack of talent.

If anyone catches it, please post what he says.

Yes, please give up a synopsis of what he talks about....

I'm sure that he WILL talk about the 'lack of talent', but if they ran a true American Idol... looking for, and taking on, those with actual talent, instead of worrying about showing us the crap singers, and making all these off the wall, unneeded comments, I think that we would have real, raw talent.

I just feel so unimpressed with the majority of people that actually come through.
And also, the lack of discipline that we see. I mean, if this were someone trying to make it in Hollywood, they would do everything that they could to land a deal. Not screw around in the pool, running around chasing girls, having attitudes with those that can make you or break you, etc...

Simon and Ryan did an extended (2 commercial break) interview segment, talking about a bunch of things -- girlfriends, things that had happened to them while on the road, Simon throwing a fit because Ryan had a larger dressing room, etc. Not very much about the show.

A guy called in live and it turns out that he was one of the ones that got cut in Houston. He still didn't understand why. Still wanted to know why he had gotten cut. Still claimed that he was a good singer. So Simon told him to go ahead and sing right then. Ryan and Simon listened for about ten seconds and then cut him again and hung up the phone. Simon commented, "Everyone in Houston was awful."

Then he mentioned the guy who had thrown the glass of water on him. He said that guy was the worst of ALL the auditions this year. (He must have forgotten about SCATgirl.)

Ryan asked him who was the strong talent for this year? Who do you like, Simon? And Simon's immediate answer was Fantasia Barrino. He pointed out that she will be on the show tonight. Then he said that he liked Diana DeGarmo, also on the show tonight. He didn't mention anyone else or say anything else about tonight's show.

Ryan then started talking to him about William Hung and Simon said that he certainly remembered William and that they all liked him but that he just couldn't sing. Right then, William Hung showed up on the show, pushing out a cart full of copies of Simon's book (they were giving a copy to each member of the audience).

Simon and William shook hands and exchanged a few words pleasantly. William said that he had just read Simon's book and that he had started working with a singing coach in order to improve. Simon immediately reverted to form and told him that he was "sucking up". William fired right back and said, "I don't suck up to anybody!" As they went to commercial break, William and Simon shook hands and even hugged.

That's about it. I left out all the idle banter.

I noticed one interesting thing -- William Hung and Simon are of equal height. Hung looked very small during his audition. Either he's much bigger than he looked before or Simon is a lot smaller than I thought. Actually, I took note of Simon when he was standing next to Ryan and Ryan Seacrest looked to be a bit taller than both Simon and Hung.

Old Scout

Great report Old Scout.

Hmm, Fantasia was the one with the big mouth. She was making fun of that on one of the tapes. She did not bowl me over. Too many singers sound like her, but we shall see. She could be the one Simon is pushing for this year.

Old Scout, I found the following about Simon.

Hmm, I knew Simon had to be under 6'.

Is 5'9 tall or short for a man?

Thanks, Whidden ............

So, if Simon is 5'9", I'd say Hung is within an inch of that height. Ryan Seacrest looked to be a couple of inches taller than both of them.

From just his audition tape (and my experience travelling in the Orient), I would have guessed Hung at 5'6" or less. Appearances are sometimes deceiving.

actually I think it is about average.

Thanks for the update of Simon on Ryan's show. I didn't want to miss it, but you made me "see it". Appreciate that. Sounds like it was an interesting show.

That was a great report scout !

I watched On Air too, so thanks for mentioning it. If not for you I would have missed it.

I was so surprised though when William Hung was Ryan's first guest before Simon arrived !

William said almost everyone recognizes him and tells him he had lots of guts. Ryan mentioned that William has already been invited to be on the Tonight show, and to appear on 8 Simple Rules and a couple of other things ! He is just adorable, and Californians take note, he said if/when he becomes a "real" civil engineer, he wants to resolve California's ozone/pollution problems

Springing him on Simon was brilliant and turned out well.

Again scout, thanks for the heads-up. I've had an American Idol evening

Oldbutafan .............

I missed the first few minutes of the program today thanks to that yellow rag of a local newspaper. The television listings had the program scheduled to start at 5:00 pm MST. I needed to make a run to the supermarket so I did that right after 4:00 pm, allowing plenty of time to get back for the show.

Well, I came in a little past 4:30, turned on the telly and there were Ryan and Simon just beginning to chat. Ryan was chiding Simon for arriving late to the show so I figured that I hadn't missed anything important. But now you tell me that Hung was on during the first few minutes, when Simon had not yet arrived. I missed that, so thanks to you for filling in that part of the report!

I believe that show is broadcast LIVE so when Simon was not there on time they probably hurried Hung into the beginning of the show in order to "fill time". If Simon had been there on time, they would have still sprung William on him as a surprise but afterwards they would have been able to sit down together (Ryan, Simon and William) and chat for awhile. Simon's tardiness scotched that idea.

Glad to hear that Hung has been booked for the Leno show. Any idea when he will appear?

Old Scout