Idol Chatter & Voice Views

If he was ever on it, Nigel Lythgoe just dropped off Simon Cowell’s Christmas card list.

In a new interview posted this afternoon by US Weekly, the former Idol producer brought back for season 10 blasts Simon for getting “too big for his boots” on Idol.

Nigel even insinuates that the show might be better off without its snarkiest judge.

Whoa, Nigel!

You’ve made some wise choices since rejoining the Idol ship. Or at least had a hand in some of them.

Shorter result shows. No Kara DioGuardi. No fourth judge.

Very sharp moves.

But Idol, better off without Simon?

Hey, Simon often came off as pompous. The ridiculous stroking of his ego when fans called in questions during result shows a couple years back was barely bearable.

But it was his judging that gave Idol its credibility for the last nine seasons.

While Randy was spouting cliches, while Ellen was cracking jokes, while Paula was spouting nonsense or complimenting someone’s look, and while Kara was trying her darnest to sound smarter than Simon, it was the cranky guy from Britain who seemed to have the best handle on what had just transpired on stage.

By a country mile, even if he wasn’t a fan of country music.

Too big for his boots?

Perhaps.

Idol better off without him?

Not until you prove you’ve found a judge to fill those boots, Nigel.