Simon Cowell says fatherhood has softened his judging style
They say becoming a parent really changes a person, but this is unprecedented.
Notoriously grumpy reality TV host Simon Cowell -- who earned his reputation ripping into musical hopefuls on "American Idol," "X-Factor" and "Britain's Got Talent" -- insists that the arrival of his infant son has made him change his ways.
Cowell joined the judging table of "America's Got Talent" for its current season -- which kicked off earlier this week -- but his approach is a bit different, he explained to People magazine.
"There's no question when you actually have a kid, it does make you feel different because you understand how you would feel if it was your son up there," Cowell said.
The host and producer welcomed his first son, Eric, two years ago with girlfriend Lauren Silverman.
"I'm very conscious that the kids who audition for 'AGT' want to be there, they're not being pushed into it, and that they're having a great day out, otherwise we wouldn't see them," he added.
Cowell also maintains that his reputation may not be entirely earned: "I think 'X Factor' and 'Idol' were edited so that I was always seen as this bad-tempered, miserable whatever -- which of course I am at times," Cowell said. "But I'm not like that the whole day."