Simon Cowell – The NY Independent

American Idol Requiem: The Good, Bad & Ugly of a Pop Culture Touchstone

David FaginApril 6, 2016

“American Idol”, like most hit TV shows that eventually crash and burn, is (thankfully) closing out its historic 15-season run on Fox tomorrow night. Let’s face it, the horse is dead. It’s been dead for quite some time now. So what will future generations, 2,000 years from now, make of this pop culture touchstone? ...

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Simon Cowell Gives Inside Scoop on Zayne Malik One Direction Split (see!)

Keith GirardApril 17, 2015

Simon Cowell, who created the hit boy band “One Direction” out of rejects from his UK music show “X-Factor,” joked last night (Apr. 16) that he was ready to “jump off a cliff” when he heard Zayne Malik was leaving the group. He gave James Cordon the inside scoop on the break up. Simon revealed that the handwriting had been on the wall for some time, and he did his best to persuade him to stick with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson....

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Zayn Malik Figured Out the Problem With Boy Bands; The Boys Grow Up

Keith GirardMarch 27, 2015

Zayn Malik’s departure from boy band One Direction in the middle of its Southeast Asia tour is following two story arcs at the moment and there could be a grain of truth to both of them. Either way, he probably got out while the getting was good. One story line hyped by tabloids is that Malik was so deep into drugs and alcohol that he was essentially kicked out of the band. The other is Malik’s own take on the situation. ...

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Zayn Malik Quits One Direction, Or Was He Kicked Out Amid Tensions?

Keith GirardMarch 25, 2015

Zayn Malik, a founder member of the UK boy band “One Direction,” has left the band amid rumors that he was either asked to leave or kicked out amid tensions over his chronic failure to make appearances. Malik, 22, abruptly left the band in the middle of its Southeast Asian tour less than a week ago, citing “stress” from the notoriety the band is consonantly bombarding them. Bandmates, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles were forced–again– to carry on without him....

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Julianne Hough Fuels New Talk About Ryan Seacrest Gayness

Keith GirardJuly 1, 2014

Julianne Hough opened up about her failed relationship with “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest, and inadvertently or not, she fueled new speculation about Seacrest’s sexual orientation. Seacrest, 39, and Hough dated for more than two years. But the way Hough explains it in the latest issue of Redbook magazine, there never really was a spark between them. ...

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One Direction Sells Out! Why Are We Not Surprised… (Watch!)

Keith GirardNovember 21, 2013

One Direction, the boy band cobbled together by Simon Cowell has struggled with credibility so this ought to really help. The lads, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, just released a commercial for Macy’s department store. Awe, just in time for Black Friday!...

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One Direction Hits ‘This is Us’ Red Carpet; Watch Via Live Stream!!

Keith GirardAugust 20, 2013

One Direction, the boy band crafted by music mogul Simon Cowell out of UK X-Factor rejects, will lift the curtain on their revealing new documentary “This is Us,” today (Aug. 20) in London, and you can watch the red carpet action live here!!! TheImproper will air red carpet arrivals live at 12 noon Eastern direct from London via live stream. Band members Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles helped relaunch the boy band concept in 2010....

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Simon Cowell, Lauren Silverman Scandal Splits Exclusive Hamptons

Keith GirardAugust 6, 2013

Simon Cowell’s torrid sex scandal with Lauren Silverman has turned the normally publicity shy Hamptons on its ear. Not since the 2008 divorce of Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook has the exclusive playground of the rich been so divided. True Hamptonites hate publicity and even the whiff of scandal. But the Cowell-Silverman sexcapade has blown the lid off the tony beach community. “It’s really beyond the pale,” said one Hamptons resident who asked not to be named. “Can you believe they really carried on like that?”...

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How Simon Cowell Got Played by NY Socialite Lauren Silverman

Keith GirardAugust 1, 2013

Simon Cowell has it all a booming career, substantial wealth, and at 53, he’s holding up fairly well in the looks department. But wily socialite Lauren Silverman played him like an “American Idol” wannabe. The only question is, why did he fall for it. Silverman’s pursuit of Cowell is no surprise. It happens every day in New York City’s wealthy enclave. Polished women sharpen their stilettos and prowl for wealthy older men in bars, clubs, posh hotels and the tony Hamptons. Like NBA groupies, the goal is to get pregnant and cash in on child support, which can range from $20,000 to $50,000 a month depending on the individual....

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Is One Direction Becoming the Band Everyone Loves to Hate?

Keith GirardFebruary 28, 2013

Harry Styles can’t get any respect from Taylor Swift and now his boy band One Direction is getting dissed as well. The UK music magazine NME dishonored the boys with its Worst Band Award for the second year in a row. What about The Wanted? ...

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Khloe Kardashian Fired as X-Factor Host; Here’s Why

Keith GirardFebruary 18, 2013

Khloe Kardashian’s hope for a respectable entertainment job with a big paycheck to boot on Fox music show “X Factor” apparently has been dashed. A new report claims she’s been fired, although the show says no personality decisions have been made yet. At least Khloe won’t suffer the indignity alone. Judges Britney Spears and L.A. Reid are also exiting....

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Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey Take American Idol to New Low (watch)

Keith GirardJanuary 17, 2013

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey were the center of attention on the debut of “American Idol’s” 12th season, marking a new low-point for the show, which is now all about the theatrics of the judges. Contestants? What contestants? ...

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Britney Spears Confirms X-Factor Split: On to Sleazy Vegas Act?

Keith GirardJanuary 11, 2013

Britney Spears has had enough with the tears, the drama and the backbiting among judges on the “X-Factor.” But in a nice way. She confirmed her departure ahead of the third season amid rumors Vegas is her next stop. She served as a judge with Demi Lovato, music mogul L.A. Reid and show creator Simon Cowell....

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Tate Stevens Surprise Winner Over Teen Phenom on X Factor (watch!)

Keith GirardDecember 21, 2012

Tate Stevens who seems a tad over-the-hill to be a pop idol, nonetheless captured the crown on season two of “X Factor. He topped 13-year-old Rose Soneclar and girl group Fifth Harmony. Sonenclar, the 13-year-old music phenom seemed like the front-runner going into the final round. Simon Cowell’s Fifth Harmony also showed considerable talent and Cowell hinted they may get a contract as well....

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Khloe Kardashian Apologizes For X-Factor Exposure (watch!)

Keith GirardNovember 2, 2012

Khloe Kardashian is apologizing and trying to explain how she came to wear a blouse without a bra on her debut as co-host of Fox’s “X-Factor.” In the cold studio air her nipples puckered right up and were visible to viewers at home. Was it by accident or design? More than likely Khloe knew what she was doing when she went out on stage dressed in the thin purple top open to her waist. She was obviously looking to make a big–and lasting–impression with her first hosting gig. But she insisted otherwise today (Nov. 2) as she apologized for the mishap....

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See! She's Not (Too) Crazy; Britney Spears Does Leno (watch!)

Keith GirardOctober 30, 2012

Britney Spears looked great on the “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, and proved she still had her own hair after a magazine featured her on the cover looking like she was wearing a thick, ill-fitting blonde wig. As good as Spears, 30, looked, she still seemed to be tightly wound on the show. She appeared with X-Factor boss Simon Cowell. Cowell looked like he was wearing a halloween mask of himself. He face look puffy and gruesome from what appeared to be loads of botox. The Brit’s upper life was truly stiff. It never moved as he talked....

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Nicki Minaj Blow Up: Has ‘American Idol’ Veered Off Course? (watch!)

Keith GirardOctober 3, 2012

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey fight light Real Housewives of New Jersey on “American Idol” while Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are the meek sisters on “X-Factor.” Have the reality music shows veered too far off course? The most radical lineup of judges in the history of the “American Idol” franchise is proving to be incendiary to say the least. Minaj’s now infamous meltdown at co-judge Carey may be just what the producers hoped for to add spark to the show. But is her style and profanity-laced vocabulary ready for primetime?...

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Britney Spears, Demi Lovato Turn X-Factor Into Freak Show

Keith GirardSeptember 13, 2012

the second season premiere of “The X-Factor.” Show creator Simon Cowell got just what he hoped for by picking music’s two of the biggest head cases to be judges. With television now saturated by musical and variety talent shows, Cowell has smartly, in an evil genius sort of way, re-positioned “The X-Factor to appeal to the lowest common denominator among viewers. Now, the show is no longer about contestants, but about how the judges react to the contestants. “American Idol” tried to tone down the more tawdry aspects of the talent show after Simon left....

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Kate Moss, From Casual to Elegant, for Italian Brand Liu Jo (photos)

Keith GirardAugust 17, 2012

UK Supermodel Kate Moss shows her full range in a new series of photos for Italian brand Liu Jo. She goes from casual jeans and cable-knit sweaters to elegant evening wear. At 35, she’s still one of the world’s top supermodels. She was spotted in Saint-Tropez yesterday (Aug. 16), rubbing elbows with Neil Patrick Harris, Elton John, Simon Cowell, Michael Caine and Paris Hilton....

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Britney Spears, Demi Lovato; Let X-Factor Meltdowns Begin

Keith GirardMay 15, 2012

Britney Spears looks like she’s on the verge of another nervous breakdown judging by the length (no pun intended, well maybe) she’s gone to chew off her fingers. Just wait until she gets in front of belligerent contestants on her new X-Factor gig....

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Pudsey, Robert Pattinson of Dogs, Eyes Stardom (watch!)

Keith GirardMay 13, 2012

Pudsey the adorable dog showed off his talent on the UK’s “Britain’s Got Talent, and walked off with the $800,000 first prize for his equally adorable trainer Ashleigh Butler, a 17-year-old teen....

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Simon Cowell Eyes Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato for X-Factor

Keith GirardMay 2, 2012

Simon Cowell reportedly is going younger in his search for judges on the U.S. version of his music show “X Factor.” Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Avril Lavigne, and Demi Lovato are all getting big mentions in the sweepstakes. Even Britney Spears! On the hit Fox show, Jennifer Lopez is the youngster, yet she’s over 40, while Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is 63, and Randy Jackson is in his 50s. How many kids remember Journey, anyway?...

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One Direction Shakes Up Saturday Night Live (watch!)

Keith GirardApril 8, 2012

UK boy band One Direction continued its whirlwind tour of the Unites States with their debut last night (Apr. 7) on “Saturday Night Live.” They blasted out two songs off their new album. The Irish and British lads, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan, are rapidly winning over legions of teen-age fans in the Unites States. Even breathy Italian beauty and show host Sofia Vergara was overheated by the performance. ...

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Justin Bieber, Boy Band 'One Direction' Collaborating!

Keith GirardApril 5, 2012

Justin Bieber apparently realizes if you can't beat them, join them... the latest boy bands, that is. The teen sensation is collaborating with One Direction, the hot UK boy toys managed by music mogul Simon Cowell. The Irish and British lads, culled from Simon Cowell's UK show "X-Factor," sang their hit “What Makes you Beautiful” on the Kids Choice Awards show April 1 and took the place by storm. Katy Perry, Ashley Tisdale and Victoria Justice were groovin' on the kids. Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez also danced and knew the words to their song....

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Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger X-Out in X Factor Bloodbath

Keith GirardJanuary 31, 2012

Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger are paying the price for a less-than-stellar inaugural season for Simon Cowell’s U.S. version of “X-Factor,” the widely popular UK music talent show. X-Factor host Steve Jones is also out, but that comes as no surprise given his spotty performance during Season One. Cowell’s show stumbled in its premiere season, with controversy over judges and Jones widely panned by critics....

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