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March 28, 2024

Who’s he to judge? Simon Cowell eyes Las Vegas production as ‘AGT’ seeks talent

Paula Abdul-American Idol

Fox TV

American Idol Season 8 judges Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Updated Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 | 4:43 p.m.

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Rick Harrison and Terry Fator at Fator’s fifth-anniversary celebration Friday, March 7, 2014, at the Mirage. Launch slideshow »

Murray Sawchuck at Sin City Theater

Murray Sawchuck, with co-star and wife Chloe Crawford and sidekick Doug Leferovich, aka Lefty, debuts in Sin City Theater on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Planet Hollywood. Launch slideshow »

There is no more “open” a process than the nationwide cattle call of performers invited to audition for “America’s Got Talent.”

The sea of hopefuls includes a deep pool of talented folks in Las Vegas, where auditions for Season 11 are set for noon Sunday at the Linq Showroom. (To learn about how and where to showcase your stage skills, hit this website, and good luck to everyone.)

Obviously, Las Vegas has played a prominent role in the show’s long-running success, as a headlining run on the Strip and $1 million are parts of the championship prize.

Past champs performing on the Strip are Mat Franco at the Linq Hotel and Terry Fator at the Mirage. Michael Grimm, who won Season 5 in a stunner over Jackie Evancho, is still bouncing around the city playing in small and midsize venues.

Others: Season 10 finalist Piff the Magic Dragon (Jon Van der Put) and his canine sidekick, Mr. Piffles, are in residency at Flamingo Las Vegas, and Season 5 finalist Murray Sawchuck remains a headliner at Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood.

But “AGT,” having been surpassed in ratings by “The Voice” on NBC, is attempting to regain its prominence in the entertainment culture by moving the show from New York back to its original home in L.A.

The really big move is bringing the man with the refreshingly unvarnished opinions, Simon Cowell, back to the judges’ table, where he became internationally famous during his days with “American Idol.” Cowell is replacing Howard Stern on the panel, joining Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel. Nick Cannon returns as host.

Along with serving with Jackson and Abdul on the original panel of judges on “American Idol” (developed by British producer and manager Simon Fuller), Cowell is creator of the “AGT” series, which has a version in his home country of England, “Britain’s Got Talent.” “AGT” is co-produced by FremantleMedia North America and Syco Entertainment, which is Cowell’s business venture with Sony Music.

In other words, if he wants to judge, he’s gonna judge.

In a lively phone conversation from London, Cowell talked of his return to what he calls “the desk.”

I doubt you’d remember this, but we met at the Nevada Ballet Theatre event honoring Paula Abdul a few years ago when she was Woman of the Year. You and Randy Jackson showed up, and Paula was taping her reality-T show “Hey Paula.”

I do remember that. I think I was a little bit drunk that night. But I do remember the night very well. I love Las Vegas, and it was quite a crazy night. I remember that about it.

You’re pretty closely affiliated with the city now that you’re a judge on “AGT.” The show has a pretty firm bond with the city. Many people who have won the show are performing here, or who have been on the show. I was just at Terry Fator’s Christmas show the other night.

Really? I have a funny story. In year one, I called all the people who were making it to the semifinals and wished them good luck. I remember Terry very vividly because I remember his audition very well. I asked him to tell me about himself, and he told me he had booked a theater with his own money for a thousand people, and one person turned up. He asked, “Any advice?” and I said, “Buy yourself a decent suit because you’ve got to look like a star.”

I remember it, from 11 to 12 years ago, and I just read where he is one of the highest-paid entertainers in America. That’s what these shows are all about. They can really, really change your life, and he’s a fantastic example.

For a ventriloquist who used to play county fairs to the Mirage on the Strip, it’s an amazing leap.

It’s incredible. But you know, the show really was designed for Vegas. When we did “Idol,” it was all about finding the next big recording artist. When we devised ‘America’s Got Talent,’ it was thinking, ‘I’d love to find someone who can have a residency in Vegas.’ And in year one, it happened, and he’s still doing it.

This is still the show’s objective? To create a headliner in a show on the Strip?

I still think that, but there is more to come. I’d like to find better singers on the show. I don’t think that has been the strong point, up to this point, and that is one of the reasons I came back. Long-term, I’d love the “Got Talent” room in one of the hotels in Las Vegas based on the people who have come through the show.

This would be a permanent show? Not the shows that have performed here with the champion and finalists, like we just had at Planet Hollywood? But a sit-down, resident show?

Yeah, yeah. I’ve got something in mind about that, and now is the time I start talking to some of the hotels about it because the show has been on for so many years that I think it’s an added incentive to come onto the show. I think it would be great.

The feeling for me is that “AGT” really is the modern-day version of “The Ed Sullivan Show,” where all variety of talent can be rolled out. You’re just taking that format and creating live shows out of it.

When we were devising the show, obviously, you look back to what you guys (in the U.S.) started, and these shows, including “Star Search,” produced a lot of stars. One particular kind of act I’d like to find this year — and they must be out there — is another Danny Gans. I thought he was incredible. Someone like him, or a woman, I don’t know — but that gap hasn’t been filled yet.

Not for straight impressionists on the Strip it hasn’t, and not in the same way Gans filled it. He was a unique performer who had a great deal of success filling that theater at the Mirage.

Well, here’s the chance. If anyone out there wants to replace Danny, they’re going to be very welcome with me.

Careful what you wish for.

(Laughs) It could get crazy!

A lot of entertainers I know who have auditioned and even made it to the TV finals of the show have said the biography is really important to the early judging process on “America’s Got Talent.” How important is a great story to this contest?

That’s a good question. I think it’s more about personality rather than, “Do you have a good story?” I mean, it’s kind of a running joke that if you’ve got a sob story, you’re going to do well on these shows, but I think people are bored of that now.

From my own perspective, certainly from when I did “American Idol,” whether it was Ruben (Studdard), Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, you knew when they walked into the audition room that they had something special. Kelly had a great personality; Carrie had this glow about her; Ruben was a big personality and was fun. So, for me, if you’ve got it, you’ve got it.

Do you keep in contact with any of the former champions or contestants who have become famous through the years of “American Idol”?

Kelly, I would say, I have the closest relationship with. Interestingly, I saw her on Sunday and spent quite a bit of time with her. Most of the time you bump into them at events occasionally. Sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s bad.

I’ll bet.

Yeah, I’ll use Clay Aiken as an example. I hadn’t seen him for years, and he came back to the show. He walked up to me in the dressing room literally still complaining about something I’d said three years earlier about not liking his jacket or something. I went, “Are you actually seriously bringing this up now? Three years later?” He said, “Well, you hurt me.” I went, “Well, the jacket was horrific. What do you expect me to say?” But the moments are far more good than bad.

It’s funny you should say that. I can tell you there are entertainers in Las Vegas who have appeared in front of you who remember everything you’ve said about them like it was yesterday. It’s remarkable.

Well, whenever that happens, tell them I say, “Hello, and I’m sorry (laughs).”

What is your personality like when you’re not in judging mode?

Personally, and I’m not sure everyone would agree with this, I think I have a sense of humor. I think I’ve probably laughed more than I was rude to people, over the years, when I did “American Idol” and when I think back at some of the crazy auditions. I remember at times literally crying with laughter. Of course, you are always edited in a way that you look like a complete jerk. That’s just the nature of being on a TV show. Whenever you’re nice, or at least whenever I have been nice, it’s edited out.

I always took it with a pinch of salt, and I’ve always thought it was funny. But when someone was terrible, I was entitled to say they were terrible ... I treat most things with a sense of humor, and when I find someone good, I’m very passionate about trying to turn them into a star.

The end result is to find stars, still, isn’t it?

Yes, absolutely, it always has been — and Kelly Clarkson is a great example of that. There has to be huge amounts of talent out there, all over America, who just for whatever reason haven’t been given the right break or the right direction. Maybe they should be doing a different type of music, or whatever it might be, and that’s why we made the show in the first place. The entertainment factor came in after, but the purpose from the beginning was to find a star.

You’ve talked of finding the next great impressionist, and another great singer, and I’ve read somewhere where you said you’d love to find the next David Copperfield. What are you really after through this audition process?

I’ll take the next David, and the next Frank Sinatra. How’s that (laughs)? Genuinely, that’s why we have this show — you mentioned Ed Sullivan, I love the variety, and that’s why these shows have been popular because you never know who is going to audition. You never know who is going to turn up. Sometimes you’re sitting behind your desk, and there’s just a bag on the stage and you don’t know what’s going to come out. We see the craziest things.

Have you ever been in front of a panel of judges in your life? For any reason?

That is a very good question. Do you know what comes to mind? We have something here, and I don’t know what the equivalent is in America, but it’s called the Civil Service. It’s a very strange thing, linked to the government or something, and they control the course of your life, and it’s just a weird, weird thing. God knows how, but I ended up having an interview somewhere in (London) with these people because my mum and dad despaired that I would never find a normal job. This was to end up, somehow, working in the court system or something, which was the last thing I wanted to do.

But I remember walking into this room in front of four of the most boring people I’d ever met in my life, asking me the most boring questions. I left about halfway through, saying, “I hate you and you hate me.” That must’ve stuck in my head, that maybe I would be better behind the desk than in front of it. But I remember them being really, really boring people asking me questions I couldn’t understand and coming away thinking, “I could never work for you people, or people like you, ever.”

How long ago was this?

I am going back, literally, 40 years ago — and I can remember it almost like it was yesterday.

Well, now you know how people feel about you, I guess.

Now I feel even worse about myself (laughs). It’s not uniformly bad. I understand that. This has been fun, though. It’s been like therapy. Maybe I needed that (laughs).

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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