Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So, Simon Cowell has had to chime in on the hiring of Mariah Carey as a judge on American Idol.

“I think she’s going to find it difficult to say no” to contestants, Cowell said during a television critics’ panel for The X Factor yesterday. “She’s sweet.”

Too sweet to judge? Hold it, didn’t Simon want Mariah to judge his show just a while back.

Fans seem to think she’ll be a great addition. More than 3,000 have responded to a Billboard poll on the topic. More than 70 percent think she’ll be “the greatest judge ever.”

Hmm, that would mean even better than Simon? Is that humanly possible?

Anyway, critics are generally cheering the selection. Here are snippets of what they’re saying about Idol’s newest judge, with links to the full stories.

Be sure to check out the Daily Beast’s look at Mariah’s wackiest TV moments.

MTV.com, James Montgomery: “I do know that, for the first time in years, I’ve got a reason to tune in to “Idol” once again. She will undoubtedly bring some much-needed unpredictability to the show, not to mention plenty of attitude and the kind of résumé any wannabe superstar could only hope to attain (she will probably also manage to out-accessorize the recently departed Steven Tyler). Carey could help bring “Idol” back to its glory years, when the judges actually had something to say and viewers actually listened.”

TV Line, Michel Slezak: The “Vision of Love” singer’s potential strengths as a judge are obvious: As one of the most successful power vocalists in modern music history, her opinions on contestants’ performances — and her advice for how they can improve — immediately carry more heft than Auto-Tune-reliant predecessors like Lopez or Paula Abdul. What’s more, Carey doesn’t seem driven by the need to be viewed as relentlessly nice — a problem that has plagued many artists-turned-judges. Indeed, during her more than two decades in the spotlight, Carey has been known for being outspoken, a little bit cheeky, and occasionally biting. Plus, she brings a little of the unpredictability factor that Tyler and Abdul were known for.

HitFix, Melinda Newman: “So “American Idol” has nabbed its Christina Aguilera-equivalent. Hang on there, lambs… I am fully aware that Mariah Carey was a superstar before little Christina was even a Mouseketeer. What I mean is that for a singing competition, “American Idol” sure took a hell of a long time and traveled a most circuitous route before landing an honest-to-God singer for a judge.”

The Daily Beast: “American Idol fans worried that the resident Loopy Judge Chair, first occupied by Paula Abdul and then proudly taken over by Steven Tyler, would go vacant next season following the Aerosmith star’s departure from the show should fret no more: Mariah Carey is coming.” Oh, and the site also provides a look back at Mariah’s seven wackiest TV moments, with video of many of them.

Reality Rocks, Lindsey Parker: “Something tells me Mimi won’t play nice on “Idol.” This is a GOOD thing. After two seasons of J.Lo and Steven Tyler coddling every contestant, telling them they’re “beautiful, just beautiful” and breaking out in “goosies” every 30 seconds, it’s time for some tough talk on “Idol”–and I can totally imagine Mimi delivering it in her brazen New Yawk accent.”