Ellen: Simon is "Meaner" than I Thought

(AP)  Ellen DeGeneres, the newest judge on "American Idol," says Simon Cowell is "meaner" than she thought.

Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and various guest judges kicked off the ninth season of the Fox singing competition last month. DeGeneres begins her stint Tuesday night.

Photos: Ellen DeGeneres
Photos: Simon Cowell

In a video posted on the show's Web site, DeGeneres says Cowell is "actually meaner than I thought. It's hard to listen to him tell people things and for me not to go, `You poor thing!"'

Photos: "American Idol" Season Eight
Kelly Clarkson
Carrie Underwood

The British TV personality, who has been an "Idol" judge since the talent show launched, has announced that he's leaving "Idol" after this season. Paula Abdul left this season over a salary dispute.

DeGeneres says no one has given her advice on judging - "they're just letting me do what I want to do."

Check out CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric's interview below with DeGeneres about American Idol and other topics:

Katie interviews Ellen



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[pragmatist1]

I guess being truthful is categorized as being mean by those who are accustomed to dishonesty. Simon isn't mean. He's honest and forthright. If the so-called talent and the so-called judges can't accept this, then they need to get a venue change and stop their whining.

[vietnam2]

The music business is a cut throat business. Ninety percent of these people cannot sing. Out nine years Jennefer Hudson is the only AI to make it big especialy when people like you voted her in second place to fantasia. According to Simon he would have voted for Jennefer Hudson instead of fantasia. JH won an oscar many for her vocals. It's a shame you judge based on your heart and not what sounds good. These people who are getting the yellow tickets can not sing. But, only someone like me knows the difference. It's best to tell them they stink now than for them to do album and no one buys it.

[differnet]

You know we aren't much different than the Romans watching people kill each other or be killed by wild animals for sport. The meaner and nastier a host is, further the ratings climb. We love to watch people be degraded and mocked. I have no problem with honesty, but when it comes down to snide and cruel remarks - that's not honesty, that's just a blood sport. The funny thing is watching Simon Cowell on British TV, he's either edited very carefully or he's reserving his spleen for Americans. I hope when he's gone, someone can be honest without the ugly, meanspirited languaged. But I suspect ratings will fall. Americans love emotional blood sport.

[rwsmith29456]

Even if people need in the worst way to hear the truth very clearly about how horrible they are, you can do that without being insulting and degrading'. I've seen Simon being too harsh by telling people more than they need to hear on the show, so there's no telling what happens when the show is NOT on the air. I appreciate an honest judge, but being a judge doen't make you better than everybody else. Maybe Simon is the designated 'bad guy' or something to make controversy and attract attention. I know he's not a 'bad' person but he treats amateur contestants like he would somebody approaching him for a record deal.

[IMDOnlyWalrus]

My question is, why is Ellen on TV at all?

[frogger581]

Cmon, you guys act like you've never heard of a ratings draw before.

[dopeydoper]

Ellen is a thick-skinned little boy and he should be able to handle Simon's harmless bantering. I think Ellen's comment is just the AI way to get more viewers to come to the show.

[Justme8811]

Ellen is gayer than I thought, and see no experience to be a judge from what I can see. Without Simon I am sure the ratings are going to crumble....

[cidaia]

hey Ellen why don't you come up with a way all the contestants can win.

Is it really a VERY BIG surprise to find out that in the show biz world, competition can be cutthroat?

Not that anyone would ever suggest anyone THIS NICE of being, maybe, a tad fake or anything. I'm sure Ellen felt really just AWFUL about everyone she had to climb over on her way to the top.

[bill0bob]

cidaia,

In this article, Ellen says that, in person, it turns out that Simon Cowell is actually meaner than he appears on the broadcasts she'd seen. Saying this does not imply that Ellen doesn't know anything about competition, nor does it imply that she wants "all the contestants" to win.

I don't know if Ellen had to "climb over" anyone "on her way to the top". What do you actually know about it? (Nothing, I expect.) Is Ellen really at the "top"? I did not know that!

What is WRONG with you, cidaia? Do you just hate Ellen, and this is your way of saying so? Have you ever met her? Do you actually know her? How did you manage to develop so much hatred for her?

[cidaia]

I know better than to trust people who have an obviously fake "nice person" persona.

Obviously this particular episode is just a publicity thing. But it just feels so manipulative.

Then again, that's why I neither like nor trust people who make a big show of how "nice" they are.

[tammydel2009]

Maybe a little of Ellen's comic relief can balance out Simon's nastiness. Good luck Ellen!