So what does Simon Cowell think of American Idol hiring Mariah Carey as its new judge?

Cowell has previously expressed enthusiasm in Carey as a candidate for X Factor. But now that she’s joined his previous show, he injected a little note of skepticism about her ability to crush the dreams of wannabe pop singers.

“I think she’s going to find it difficult to say ‘no’ [to contestants],” Cowell told reporters via satellite from Miami during The X Factor‘s panel at critics’ press tour in Beverly Hills. “She’s sweet.” Cowell then gamely added: “I think she’s going to be great.”

Speaking of judges being too polite, Cowell’s new hires, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, didn’t demonstrate much bite during the panel, though Cowell assured Spears is “quite mean” and Lovato is “a brat.”  READ FULL STORY »

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Simon Cowell doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.

The X Factor chief is taking his own sweet time finding the ideal host for the second season of the Fox version of his hit show. Unlike last year, when host-bot Steve Jones handled the show solo, Cowell wants two people for the gig this fall. And instead of having a host on the singing competition from the very start, the audition rounds (which are already being shot) will be host-free. “I want to work with a boy and girl and I definitely think this is a role for two people,” Cowell recently told reporters. “[We] have narrowed it down to 5 people.”

Some names we’re hearing are under consideration: BET personality Rocsi Diaz, actor and America’s Best Dance Crew host Mario Lopez and actress/model Stacy Keibler. Add to that some names E! Online is hearing: Khloé Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne, BET’s 106 & Park host Terrence J, sportscaster Erin Andrews and radio personality Mike Catherwood (more names below).

Sources emphasize that prospective hosts are still being interviewed and actual testing for the gig is not expected for several more weeks. “They want to make sure the duo has chemistry,” one insider said. READ FULL STORY »

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It’s true: Pop singer and tabloid fixture Britney Spears is near a deal to judge Fox’s X Factor.

Sources confirm the singer is in final-stage negotiations with Fox and X Factor producers to join the series this fall. Spears has reportedly haggled a $15 million payout for the gig (slightly more than Jennifer Lopez snagged for American Idol).

If the deal closes, Spears could be an ideal choice to boost the music competition’s ratings: She has both credible music industry experience and a chaotic personality that’s lent itself to fun headlines over the years. That’s the type of celebrity mixture that Factor chief Simon Cowell can work with.

Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey have also been discussed as potential replacements for exiting judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, though nothing is clear yet on that front.

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