American Idol judge Simon Cowell reveals to Parade.com that he thought about taking his own life as a teenager.
Cowell said he hated strict rules in school and had difficulty finding activities that kept him interested.
"I was always bored. I didn't like the rules and I didn't like discipline," he said. "So when someone said to me, 'These are the best days of your life,' I actually thought about jumping off a bridge. I was like, 'If it gets any worse than this, I'm done,' because I hated school and I hated my life." — J.R. Whalen
Jason Castro Sounds Off at the End of the Idol Road
Jason Castro by Frank Micelotta/Fox
Wednesday's American Idol marked the end of the road for Jason Castro, whose dreads, goofy smile and laid-back 'tude added to his feel-good aura. Some say he wasn't interested in being on Idol, but now that it's all over, he insists otherwise. Here's what the acoustic-loving lad had to say about:
Forgetting the "Tambourine Man" Lyrics "I couldn't believe I forgot. It's such a popular line that's written on your soul, and somehow it slipped my mind."
The Perception that He Did Not Want to Win "Yesterday I wanted to win, and the day before that. What it came down to was just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs, I wasn't really able to focus.... I made it farther than I ever imagined. I did just kind of wander in, and when it started going, I thought, 'All right. I'm here. I might as well be in it to win it.' And I was giving it my best. There was an interview this week where I said 'I wanted to go home' or something, and I think everybody had this idea that I wanted to go, but that wasn't my mindset at all."
His Look of Relief as He Was Booted off "I was as happy last night as when I found out I made the Top 24. This whole time, I've had a blast, and I was trying. But it's been hard. I was thinking to the week ahead, if I made it. How was I going to do three songs? I can't even do two right. I was just freaking out about it, and that was all building up. My natural reaction [was] just [being] relieved. The pressure was off. I loved my time on there, I would've liked to go farther, but I don't think I can handle it."
How His Body Language (and Yawns!) Were Closely Analyzed: "I didn't hear anything negative about [the backstage yawn.] I wasn't bored. I am a chronic yawner. Every week before my song, I'm yawning, and I don't know where it comes from, or why."
Being Portrayed as Goofy "I am a goofy person. I am an awkward conversationalist. All my friends, they love that, because what you see is what you get. I didn't change at all coming out here."
The Rumor that on Tuesday Night He Mouthed, "Don't Vote" "I was saying, 'Vote!,' and then I said it again, because I was trying to emphasize that. But nobody heard me. I remember sitting down and thinking about it: 'What's that going to look like? Don't vote.' That went through my mind."
What He Learned from Idol "That I can do a lot more than I thought. Before this, I wasn't really confident as a performer. I wasn't doing a whole lot, and now I did it for a few months straight on TV! I gained a lot of confidence."
What's Next? "Wherever music leads me. I just want to play some music somewhere." — Anna Dimond
Well, not exactly. Extra has the scoop that American Idol alum Clay Aiken no longer watches American Idol. "It's just not the same thing," Aiken says. "It's like going back to your high school and none of your teachers are there. It's just completely different."
Well, yeah. Time marches on, Clay. To everything, turn, turn, turn. What exactly does he think has changed? "I feel like the show was very innocent for a while when I was on it, and I absolutely thank God for it... it's just not the same show," he said. (Incidentally, I'm guessing that might be how a lot of people would describe Clay, too.) "It's not that I have an aversion to it. It's just, 'Eh, next.'"
What's next, you ask? Well, it just so happens that On My Way Here, Aiken's new album, is in stores now. What a kooky coincidence. — Mickey O'Connor
The following contains spoiler information from American Idol's Wednesday night results show.
This is, I believe, the most interesting outcome this week could have offered. By removing Jason from the equation, the question becomes: To which remaining finalist will his votes go? Because all along, Jase's fans have had the chance to back either of the Davids, if supporting cute boys was simply their thing, and yet they did not. Instead, they saw something more, something special in their favorite. Who that's left standing will now earn their support?
All we can do to get anywhere close to predicting the next turn in the tide is ask the weekly question: Who's your Idol now? Vote here. The new Power Rankings come out Monday morning. And then next Wednesday, America names our finalists.
PS. Got a question for Jason? Share it in comments and I may run it by him when he comes by for his TVGuide.com video interview. — Matt Mitovich
When Brooke White stopped by the other day, there were no trademark tears to be seen. Rather, we welcomed the arrival of a sunny blonde still riding the high of her Top 5 run. In this TVGuide.com video Q&A, Brooke talks about Carly Simon's amazing endorsement, the disparity between the guys' and gals' fan mail, and whether she would have (or even could have) braved Idol sans her piano and guitar. — Matt Mitovich
How do you know you've gotten a letter from a member of the Soul Patrol? Because this guy on the right is grinning at ya from the corner of the envelope. The latest issue in the Idol Gives Back limited-edition stamp collection is Season 5 champ Taylor Hicks, and TVGuide.com has been offered this sneak peek at his postage. Previous reveals included Idols Kelly, Ruben, Fantasia and Carrie. Only 2,000 of each stamp are being made available per state.
The books of stamps are available for purchase at PhotoStamps.com, with $10 of the above-face-value price going to Idol Gives Back's charity efforts. — MWM
The daytime talk divas are really going all out this week, eh? On yesterday's Ellen, which was filmed in Chicago, former Idol contestants Michael Johns and Carly Smithson gave an exclusive performance, singing a duet version of the U2 classic "One." This was much more fun than the 'repeat performances' we get during their press tour, and it's safe to say Michael Johns, in particular, would have made Bono proud with this one. — Gina DiNunno
Usually by this point in the competition, the final four Idol contestants tend to leave judges (including Simon) wowed by their performances. Unfortunately for Jason Castro, that wasn't the case. The dread-head not only tanked by judges' standards with his first Bob Marley tune, "I Shot the Sheriff," but he forgot a chunk of lyrics in the refrain of his second choice, Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." Will America show him mercy? — Gina DiNunno
Your take: Do you think Jason cracked under the pressure of being in the final four, or does it seem as though he's "given up" and is just phoning it in at this point?
Millions of Claymates were beside themselves this morning when Idol's second season runner-up, Clay Aiken, debuted his new song "Coming Back for More" on GMA. It's amazing how a former Idol contestant who didn’t even win can still drum up hordes and hordes of fans after more than five years. Sure is a lot more than you can say for whats-his-face who actually won Season 2. — Gina DiNunno
Ryan Seacrest by Sam Jones/Fox, Larry King courtesy CNN
Whispers inside CNN say American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has the inside track to replace Larry King on the network's nightly talkfest.
MSNBC reports that Seacrest, who has subbed for King on numerous occasions, is in "serious negotiations" and could replace Capt. Suspenders by year's end.
King, who has hosted Larry King Live since 1985, told the New York Times last year that when he decides to step down, Seacrest would be the perfect replacement. "He's the classic generalist," King said. "The only thing I don't know... is how versed he is in politics."
Seacrest's reps had no comment on the story, while CNN said there is no truth to the report. — J.R. Whalen
Simon Sounds Off on the Finals, Idol Fixes, Boring Themes & More
Simon Cowell by Michael Becker/Fox
Meeting the press to promote the new season of NBC's America's Got Talent (premiering June 17 at 9 pm/ET), Simon Cowell inevitably was swarmed with Idol-related queries. Here is what the outspoken Brit had to say about:
It All Coming Down to David vs. David "It's what I genuinely believe will happen. I think you're going to have a real scrap on the night. Without either of them being a red-hot favorite, [the winner] will be [determined by] what happens on the night, and that's what the show is all about."
The Davids' Weaknesses "I don't think they've got too many. I think David Cook has got the best voice and David Archuleta's got the teen and the gran[dma] appeal. [They're] very equal."
Jason's Surprising Longevity "He's got a great face. If he looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he still wouldn't be there, would he? But that's the music business. He's had some very good weeks, to be fair. He just struggled with Andrew Lloyd Webber and, in particular, Neil Diamond. It almost felt a little bit like he was giving up last week."
"Broadway Week" "I didn't really see the point because I use it as a criticism on the show that you are going to end up on Broadway. We aren't looking for a Broadway singer. I want like a Leona Lewis, a contemporary recording artist who's going to sell a lot of records. I'm not looking for someone to be in The Wiz."
The Plan to Revamp Idol "You have to revamp every show that you make, every year. You have to wait and see [what we are going to do]. It's a surprise."
This Season's "Safe" Singers "We are not "letting go" enough, you know? They are very media savvy, saying the right things, not arguing with me. David Archuleta was performing in front of Kelly Clarkson six years ago. It is on tape. It's like he's gone to the "University of American Idol." Safe song, safe message. I like people who go a bit crazy sometimes. I'm dying for someone to scream at me one week and say, "I hate your guts." I know they are thinking it."
Paula's Flub Last Week "The whole thing is being blown out of proportion. It was a live show, she made a mistake. The year [Idol] becomes normal is probably the year I will leave. Genuinely, I like it when it is a bit loopy."
A Singer Sent Home Too Soon "Michael Johns was probably the only contestant that should have stayed on a bit longer. I was thinking this week it would have been nice to see him in the Top 4. I think he would have got better."
Kristy Lee, Country Star? "Kristy Lee Cook [has a career ahead of her] because I think that she knows who she is now, and I do think I steered her in the right direction one week when I said, "You are actually a country artist." So I think she knows who she is and I think that audience will like her. She's easy to market and she is interesting."
What's your take? Is Simon on target with his assorted predictions? — MWM
With your next American Idol just weeks away from being crowned, David C. is maintaining a strong lead in the TVGuide.com Power Rankings, commanding 62.4 percent of the reader vote. Check it out:
Top 4 Idol Power Rankings 62.4% David Cook 22.8% David Archuleta 9.9% Jason Castro 4.8% Syesha Mercado
Contrary to the above, however, Jason is likely the next to get sent home, says 49 percent of you in a separate survey. Syesha is far from safe, though, drawing 44 percent of that dubious vote.
This week we also asked you to forecast who will face off in the finals, and based on that poll there's a 71 percent chance it will, in fact, be dueling Davids. Somewhat surprisingly, the next-likeliest outcome is Cookie vs. Jason (voted 18 percent of you). Me, I still say there's an eensy-weensy chance it will be David C. against Syesha, if only because Idol does like a XX-XY finale.
Not a chance, says FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz.
Frot-Coutaz told the Associated Press, "Why would we get rid of Paula?...It was so unexpected. It was something that took up 2 seconds of airtime. You'd think there was no other news on television."
Abdul caused a stir when she critiqued two of contestant Jason Castro's songs when he had sung only one. It was later revealed that she had mistankenly read from notes taken during the show's dress rehearsal, at which Castro sang both of his songs for that evening's show. — J.R. Whalen
Brooke White and Ryan Seacrest by Ray Mickshaw/Fox
After a tearful exit from the Idol competition at the edge of its final frontier, Brooke White is nothing but grateful for the experience she had on the show, and knows that she's a survivor.
Speaking to press Thursday, White confided that she'd had her bags packed for two weeks before she was actually voted off the show Wednesday night. But when she woke up Wednesday morning, she said, she knew that it was her final day. "Weird, I know" she admitted, but somehow, she was right. On Tuesday, she took to the piano and the guitar for two Neil Diamond songs, the first of which, "I'm a Believer," Simon deemed "a nightmare." Despite the fact that White recovered nicely for her second song, "I Am, I Said," it wasn't enough to save her another week. "Boom, it hit me" she says of the moment of truth. "This is over." Racing her through her mind as the tears ran down her cheeks was "the fear of going back into the real world, and what does the future hold?" She told reporters, "I hoped so much that I could have been stronger. I'm an emotional girl and I'm passionate, and that came through on the stage."
In the aftermath, White reflected on the previous weeks of performances and how she managed her own, very public vulnerability and confidence issues. White also conceded that, in a certain way, getting the Idol ax was a relief. Her self-confidence issues, for example, "escalated at times ... [and] at other times I felt like I had a better handle on it." And in this last week, the preparation for two songs and instruments was a lot to tackle. Given the deep emotions that surfaced for her throughout — and the pressure that goes with it — White said, "in that sense, it does feel kind of good to be done with that, but I was welcoming the challenge as well."
Apparently, though, White wasn't the only one under pressure this week, which made her all the more understanding of other show issues Commenting on Paula Abdul's uncomfortable Tuesday gaffe, White reminded us that it is, after all, live TV, and that, regardless of verbal trip-ups, Paula's a "good-hearted woman."
Yet, even under the pressure, White rose to the challenge, lasting longer, it seemed, than even she expected. The voting was something she knew was out of her hands. "You never know what's going to happen, you take what you can get," she said. Plus, the Michael Johns effect didn't help matters. "Ever since Michael Johns went home," White said, "there's been this question in my mind, like, 'how long do I get?'" She added, though, that "you only have so much control in this situation."
One of the things out of White's hands was her gender. The Idol boys definitely attract a big following, something that was not lost on Carly Smithson, who commented on such following her exit, or no Brooke, who could see the popularity disparity in the daily mail deliveries. The boys, she said, get "great, humungous" piles of fan mail daily — leaps and bounds bigger than the couple of letters each of the girls receive. "Oh, to be a boy this year!" she joked. Of course, she gives the girls props, but there was no doubt that the charm-talent combo among the remaining male contestants isn't a factor in their longevity.
Throughout all her ups and downs, however, White had strong support from her own fans, family and husband, who vowed not to cut his hair until she was off the show. Praising him Thursday, she said, "He's a very laid-back fellow with great perspective, I've been very fortunate to find a guy who can hang with me through this." White also cited her Mormon faith -- Idol finalist David Archuleta is also a Mormon -- as a source of solace. White, however, brushed off any deeper link between Idol success and Mormonism, speaking more in personal terms. "It's just part of my life," she said. "It brought me a lot of peace throughout the competition."
If White had continued in the contest, we might have seen songs by Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor or Joni Mitchell — possibilities we'll have to wait for when she releases the album she hopes to make. In the meantime, though, White is digesting the Idol experience. She said, "It's been quite a ride." — Anna Dimond
Top 4: Who's Your Idol Now? Plus: Predict the Final Two!
The following contains spoiler information from Wednesday night's American Idol results show.
Whose heart light got turned out as Idol culled its crowd down to the final four? When all was said and done on Wednesay night, the one left delivering a song sung blue was not David Cook or Syesha Mercado, and it wasn't David Archuleta. Instead, it was Brooke White, who many thought would be a goner last week, but enjoyed a seven-day reprieve. That brings us yet another step closer to crowning a new winner. Who's your pick to win Idol now? Vote now!
While you're at it, vote in each of these Idol polls as well:
