Posted on 02/05/2010 11:37:14 AM PST by dead
"American Idol" producers are eager to hire Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowellas the show's tough-talking judge, sources tell Page Six.
An insider said that producers of the hit Fox show say Stern, America's highest-paid radio personality, is their top choice to take over from Cowell, who leaves at the end of this season. They approached the King of All Media after he repeatedly mentioned on-air that his exclusive Sirius XM Radio deal expires next January and he was open to other offers. Cowell was paid $50 million a year.
A source connected to "Idol" said, "It's one of the few shows that could compete with Stern's $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and 'Idol' bosses think he'd be even nastier than Simon.
"They know he would be great TV and would clash with the other judges such as Ellen DeGeneres and the contestants. 'Idol' will do what it takes to sign him."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Do they understand that Simon wasn’t just snarky, he was _insightful_? I mean the guy is a major music industry executive/producer/whatever, enough so that $50M/yr from Idol was practically chump change for him; he makes that kind of money because he KNOWS pop music REALLY well, and is harsh on contestants because he knows what kind of subtleties can make/break a singer’s career _bigtime_.
I’ll grant that Howard knows his material & industry really well too, to the same degree as Simon - but that industry is NOT what Idol is.
Redundant to say it, but must: they get Howard, Idol is over. Part of what made the show so popular was that it was so “safe”, which Stern is the definitive opposite of.
American Golden Idol.
First Ellen Degeneres now Howard Stern? Either way, we’re done watching it in this house.
Nail meet head.
Mrs Hodar
I agree one thousand percent.
If Stern comes aboard that will be the end of American Idol. People watch it because its (usually) a safe hour for families to watch TV together. Stern is a pig.
Expect behavior that will provoke a lawsuit by some contestant. Bet on it. Very bad choice.
Stern isn't joking though.
Ya know..a bunch of multimillionaires laughing and mocking kids has grown old with me.
DITTO, Hildy.
AI has jumped the shark this year and is taking a cruel and nihilistic turn.
How far do they want their ratings to fall? Losing Cowell, adding deGenerous and now teaming Stern with Ryan Seacrest??
Ugh.
There goes the show.
Right and I would rather have him than Ellen.
Officially jumped the Ellen.
If this is true and if it comes to pass, I will be among the first of millions who will quit watching the show.
Howard’s presence and personality will turn “Idol” into a vulgar farce.
I don't know what history you're referring to, but I don't think they're going to let him count the votes. Presumably, he'll be responsible only for giving his own opinion.
That's a perfect recipe for killing the show. Why not just cancel it? That would be cheaper.
Google “Sanjaya Malakar Stern”
It doesn't matter. Anybody is allowed to suggest to anybody else who they should vote for. It's a free country. If he was influential, which I doubt, he didn't throw anything. He just gave his opinion.
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