Cowell talks 'X Factor', judges - Welland Tribune

Britney Spears is used to harsh criticism. But this time, she's the one doling it out, promises Simon Cowell.

“(Spears) is fearless,” Cowell said Tuesday about the pop star's stint as a new judge on The X Factor, which returns for a second season Sept. 12 on CTV and Fox.

“To get a no out of (former judge Paula Abdul), as you know, was like getting blood out of a stone. She didn’t want to be unpopular. But Britney has literally no qualms, she can have 4,000 people going crazy about a contestant."

But are you still the mean one, Simon?

“Watch the tape,” he said. “I’m not so sure.”

On a personal level, Spears is more “shy” than you’d expect, he said, adding she didn’t necessarily show up as advertised - which was part of his plan.

“There’s kind of a mystique about her, which probably is what attracted me to her in the first place. I knew what I read but I didn’t know what was going on in her head and I was kind of fascinated.

“Where I’m a big fan of hers is, she’s not on the show to be Britney Spears on a TV show. She’s actually there to prove to the world there’s more to her than what she’s done and she’s got the ability to do the job well. And she has taken that role really seriously.

“It’s not just someone taking a cheque and just turning up. There’s a real commitment.”

Spears and Cowell are halfway through the audition tour alongside returning judge L.A. Reid and newbie Demi Lovato, who is "a total brat."

United, Spears and Lovato are fresh and forceful, apparently.

“When the two of them (Spears and Lovato) get together, me and L.A. want someone to go through, these two, they’re immovable. That’s what happens when you put two girls together.”

As for Lovato, Cowell said it was important to get a younger perspective for a change.

“A lot of people who watch our show are 16, 17, 18, and younger. So we had to had to have someone, I thought, on the panel who could reflect that younger audience.”

Cowell added he expects to have two hosts for season two of The X Factor, “a boy and a girl.”

Cowell may search for Eh Factor

Simon Cowell says he’d be willing to back a Canadian version of The X Factor, if it were done right.

“I don’t believe this attitude of, ‘We’re a smaller country, therefore we can’t compete with the U.K. or America’ - it’s nonsense,” Cowell said Tuesday during a visit to CTV in Toronto.

“What’s in my mind is, either we join The X Factor up so we can have Canadian contestants, which I think would make sense. Or, if I could persuade the broadcaster, and more importantly that we could find the right team who are really, really trusted, who gets what’s going on in the marketplace now to say, ‘I’ll find you the talent.’ ”

Just to be clear, a Canadian version of The X Factor is not right around the corner, organizationally or financially. But might Cowell be one of the judges if it came to pass?

“I can’t do two,” Cowell said with a laugh. “Maybe I’d make the odd appearance.”

bill.harris@sunmedia.ca

Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:46:37 EDT AM

0% 0 votes	Yes, she's great
0% 0 votes	Nope, 'Idol' and 'The Voice' are way better
0% 0 votes	I don't care about reality TV