Simon Cowell's Golden Touch

CNN's Anderson Cooper Interviews The Acerbic "American Idol" Judge

(CBS)  Cowell's bravado is part of his act. So too is the verbal sparring with his "American Idol" colleagues, host Ryan Seacrest and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul.

In truth, Cowell and the rest seem to be good friends. Though he's fiercely competitive, he knows that their enormous success is due to the sum of their parts.

60 Minutes joined them one weekend on a private jet to Las Vegas.

"We do get along. I mean all of us get along very well," Seacrest says. "I think the great thing about our dynamic, our relationship, is that we feel very comfortable with each other so we can say or do anything without having to worry about hurting each other's feelings."

"Yeah, we like ripping each other," says Jackson. "The ripping each other is fun."

Cowell's gotten used to private planes and constant attention. Wherever he goes, he attracts a crowd, and apparently it's not just singers who want Cowell's critique.

"I was once offered money to judge somebody in bed, a couple," he says.

Cowell says the couple approached him, wanting the "Idol" judge to watch them in bed and critique them while they were making love.

"And I stupidly turned it down," he laughs, despite the offer of "about a hundred grand. And I should have … I should have taken the money. Yeah, because it would be a much more interesting story now. Other than I didn't."

We were interested to learn that he loves to race high-speed go karts, and when we suggested a spin around the track at the Mario Andretti Racing School at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Cowell jumped at the chance.

His longtime girlfriend, Terri Seymour, was there to watch when he got into an Indy car for the first time.

In a matter of minutes, Cowell topped out at 175 mph. He was, as usual, quite pleased with himself. "Yeah, yeah, I thought I got the hang of it," he says.

He didn't know it, but we'd set up an "Idol"-like panel to judge his driving, with NASCAR champion Kurt Busch, Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip and racing legend Mario Andretti.

Andretti's assessment: "Probably the language that you understand the best is, it was just bloody awful. To me it looked like you were looking for a map in your lap and then a dome light that just didn't exist."

"It's just so sad that a man who wants something as bad as you do looked like a drunk going to get more liquor," adds Waltrip.

"You really just see the lack of talent," Busch adds. "Where is that drive and determination, and that will and desire …"

Says Waltrip, "There's no 'it' factor. I don't feel any. Do you?"

"Are you saying I'll never be a race car driver?" asks Cowell.

"You were terrible," says Waltrip.

"Is that it? Well, I disagree," says Cowell.

"Look at your shoes," Waltrip points out with a laugh at Cowell's dress boots.

But a bit of his own medicine won't cure Cowell's mean streak anytime soon. There are just too many people who want to hear what he has to say. And, besides, there's far too much money in it to quit.

Does Cowell think he's humiliating people?

"I don't think I'm humiliating everybody. I think," he says with a laugh," possibly, they're humiliating themselves. But no one is dragged kicking and screaming, Anderson, into that audition room."

Does Cowell think he's tough on people?

"From the contestants perspective, absolutely. But what's more cruel? You know, I want to meet the parents sometimes and say to them, 'Are you aware that your son/daughter has zero talent? And that you're wasting their time when they could be doing something they're good at?' "

Does that mean he thinks he's helping people?

"Completely," he laughs. "Like a doctor. I don't have a conscience about this at all. Because at the end of the day, if you decided that you want to enter 'American Idol,' you want a short circuit to be rich and famous. If that means you've got to take a couple of hits of criticism along the way, tough."

[zinfulme]

As great a program as 60 Minutes is, watching Anderson Cooper "interview" Simon Cowell was journalism at its worst. Don''t get me wrong, I like Anderson Cooper''s style and poise, but SIMON COWELL? Mr. Cowell is the English verison of Howard Stern; a corporate pimp who admittedly has no talent to speak of. The sad part is, people actually like the guy, and some don''t even object to being insulted by him. Think about it...this guy makes millions of dollars each year without an iota of talent....as a society, we are surely doomed!

[eama-2009]

Simon who? Whenever Anderson Cooper reports on anything or anyone, he steals the show. The fact that he is the total package--gorgeous, intelligent and witty--make him the hottest man in the world. Every time I see him on TV, I can''t fully concentrate on what he''s reporting on. Sure, this story may have been a bit of a waste of AC''s extensive talents, but like always, he did an amazing job telling it.

[awbsdad]

Simple Simon.....

[southcst1]

There is no American Idol without Simon, period. Shock sells, he knows that, Howard Stern knows that, it's not hard to figure out. No one is waiting to see what Randy (waz up dawg)Jackson says, or Paula (whacked out) Abdul says. Who's opinion is everyone waiting for? Whether he is for real or an act, it doesn't matter. He's the only one that does what it takes to make that show so successful.

[clfish1]

I love 60 minutes and Anderson Cooper but Simon
I could live without, the man is a zit on the ***
of humanity. If Simon lived in Biblical times he would have made fun of Jesus's thorn crown and
he wouldn't have asked the Jews their opinion on
crucifixion. I don't watch reality TV or Idol
and the like,it make stars of Simon Cowell and Paris Hilton. Programing like that is the reason I won't pay for cable TV. Simon Cowell saying he should be paid more than Bruce Springteen now that sounds delusional.

[barnsinger]

Kudos to 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper for a wonderful interview with the magnificent Simon Cowell. He is England's greatest gift to America since the Beatles. He's brilliant, funny, witty, honest, and hotter than steaks on a grill. Simon IS American Idol; without him, it would be Star Search. He also is an excellent race car driver; 175 on his first time at the wheel of an Indy car isn't shabby at all!! Andretti, Waltrip, and Busch were just having fun with him; he knows they were really impressed. Thanks again for giving this amazing man some much deserved coverage.

[etoilebebe]

You guys that have convinced yourselves that Cowell is talented, are delusional!! %u201CSimple Simon%u2019s%u201D so-called %u201Ctalent%u201D are nothing more than Muzak singers who merely interpret someone else%u2019s songs. How many of Cowell%u2019s people write their own music? That is the real talent of people like Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Alicia Keyes, Anita Baker, James Blunt, George Michael, Bono, even Madonna, and others. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. %u201CAmerican Idol%u201D isn%u2019t even unique; it%u2019s nothing more than a glorified %u201CGong Show.%u201D

Capiruza88, I am soooo glad you think "Sadistic Simon" is soooo hot, h'ell feel right "at home" when he gets to Hell!!

[capiruza88]

I think he is soooo hot and he tell it like it is no running around there it is he is total honest and thats why we love him. GO SIMON!!!!!

[mateoc1]

I work with kids and when announcing the judges on American Idol they cheer for Paula and Boo for Simon, because in their infinite wisdom they understand what Simon is, a bully. Its really to bad that as we age we become bitter and embrace nastiness instead of love.

[mateoc1]

I work with kids and when announcing the judges on American Idol they cheer for Paula and Boo for Simon, because in their infinite wisdom they understand what Simon is, a bully. It is really to bad that as we age we become bitter and embrace nastiness instead of love.

[mitywhity]

I work with kids and when announcing the judges on American Idol they cheer for Paula and Boo for Simon, because in their infinite wisdom they understand what Simon is, a bully. It is really to bad that as we age we become bitter and embrace nastiness instead of love.
...............................Posted by MateoC1

Just shut up! That is puke! Kids resent any and all authority by nature of being kids. LOVE? No person hiring one of your little darlings is going to hire them because they "LOVE" them! They will only hire them IF they have the skills! Keep on raising up your little losers and we "Simons" will just kick their teeth in later on down the road.

[mitywhity]

I do not watch this show because I don't watch any TV at all - period. BUT I love the fact that this dude is not a weenie-backed appeaser and he sticks it to the those who get in the way of real talent. Why is he so hated? He goes against all this political-correctness that has infected the USA like a plague. We need more Simons in this country!

[chucktr150]

Did Cowell learn anything from the brutal and accurate comments on how he%u2019s doing with his own dream made by Messrs. Andretti, Busch, and Waltrip? No way. But, for the rest of us who despise the ugly side of %u201CIdol%u201D and its spokesman, it was payment in coin that Cowell should know well. The poor unfortunates he crucifies on Idol are NOT there to %u201Cgive them a chance%u201D , but to give the show%u2019s creator, Cowell, a public forum for his sadism.

But what really amazes me is the revelation the Murdochs and Fox didn%u2019t embrace this concept instantly. It%u2019s a perfect fit for their lowest-common-denominator approach to entertainment AND journalism.

It was once said of a great newspaperman that he %u201Chad his finger on the pulse of the people%u201D. Murdoch%u2019s success comes from his ability to fondle the public genitals. He and Cowell are a marriage made in the nether regions.

[wiredwilly]

Simon Cowell is to Bruce Springsteen as " The Gong Show" is to
" Easy Rider ".

[teeus]

Hey, teeus, no one would even know who Springteen is if someone like Simon Cowell hadn't been around to record, market, and distribute his records. There's ALWAYS a Simon and there ALWAYS will be.
Posted by ajaxrose1 at 02:13 PM : Mar 16, 2007

DIdn't say otherwise. But that doesn't make the AGENT more important than the artist.

[gqgirl]

Wow, Cowell is truly barbaric!

[mbr4317]

So what if Simon gets a little rough with his insults. Some of those contestants should have been told by their friends or family that they can't sing. I would think that if you have the courage to stand in front of people and sing that your skin is already tough so a little of Simon's criticism would only make you tougher!. These people subject themselves voluntarily so when they open their mouths and the train wreck begins it's fun to see Simon finish it off. So get over it! If you are living in that good-feeling-touchy-feely-every one's a winner in little league world, get out more: that's not real life!

[plowhandle]

Please remove this stupid story from your website, as we have had enough of this talent-free asswad Cowell's face and name being splashed across our screens. He has LESS talent than Groucho Marx's cigar and far less camera appeal than Anna Nicole Smith, even as a rotted corpse.

Stop trying to flout this piece of ******* as anything but what he is - a twisted, one-note pony whose time has passed.

[macolley]

as a british springsteen fan I can only apologise for inflicting the american people with Mr cowell.He does not write spine chilling lyrics that relate to everybody he is just a buisnessman who takes advantage of desperate,talented people and creams off the money from their record sales and dumps them he has no feelings just selfishness.If people stopped voting for the artists in his show that would be the end of him.

[sainethepain]

You are kidding? This guy is not worth the power to blow him up. He is a big ***.