Mariah Carey “would be amazing” on “The X Factor,” says “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson.
“I don’t know if that is ever going to happen,” Jackson — who recently became the singer’s manager — told reporters in a teleconference today. “But Simon [Cowell, the show’s creator] is one of the smartest people I know. I am sure he has some interesting ideas up his sleeve.”
Jackson also weighed in on:
‘IDOL’S RECENT RATINGS SLIP: “The show is in its 11th season. It is still the number one show on television. Not by the huge margins it was before, but I think just in the term of time — and also I think the space of singing shows — is a little bit crowded right now. They are on year-round now. And that is what happens when your marketplace gets full.”
NOT WATCHING HIS OWN SHOW: “My ego is pretty good. I don’t need to watch myself on TV — like some others. Maybe Ryan loves watching himself back. I have heard rumors that he gets a bowl of popcorn and sits back and says “Oh, my God … look at my teeth!” But we disagree a lot. You will begin to see that.
UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE SHOW: “We have a couple of little wrinkles that we are going to throw in. It is always about finding ways to make it better. One of the things we have been tossing around is the judge’s save. Last season we saved Casey (Abrams). It was the right time because it was the right person to do that with, but I certainly wish we had another one or two because it didn’t serve the rest of the team well.”
HOW LONG HE’LL STAY ON ‘IDOL’: “I think I will be there for a while. At least my contract has me there for a while. But listen, you never know what the future brings. Ryan (Seacrest) and I are working on ideas together. We are working on ideas separately. There is a lot of territory out there still to explore. Who knows. Maybe I will become the next Brad Pitt and be a leading man. That is what I always wanted to be.”
SUNDAY’S PREMIERE OF ‘THE VOICE’: “I am sure they will have huge numbers after the Super Bowl. Any show after the Super Bowl will have huge numbers. They have a great show and I think there is room for everyone out there.”
THE DEATH OF DON CORNELIUS: “What Don was to urban music and black people in general, I can’t … Other than the great Berry Gordy … Don is right next to him. Don was the nicest guy in the world. Always did everything with a smile. Helped me. Helped everyone I know. So I am really, really sad about that. I am telling you that to be able to do it with a smile and with kindness … yo!”