Idol Chatter & Voice Views

During a Friday afternoon conference call with the media, Randy Jackson covered a series of topics.

Naturally, with Paula gone, with Ellen in, with rumors of Simon leaving the show, Randy spent lots of time talking about Idols’ judging panel.

But he also addressed a range of other issues, including what viewers can expect from season nine of Idol.

Here’s a recap of Randy’s conference call responses.

Rumors about Simon leaving the show …

Randy: “Until I hear it from him, I’m not going to believe any rumors or anything. The thing I’ve just been saying: ‘Look, we’ve got a very exciting, very different season nine of the show going on.’ I’m just looking forward to the season because the rumors just get so wild and crazy, you don’t know what to believe.”

Reports that Ellen has already called Simon mean. Is Simon mean?

Randy: “Look, he’s not really mean. You can coin his phrase, “I don’t need to be rude, but …” He’s honest from his perspective. Sometimes it may be a bit harsh, but some people call that real. I don’t know that I would call it mean. I would just call it very stern.”

What has it been like, working with Ellen?

Randy: “Well, listen, next week, which is Hollywood Week, will be our first time really sitting down with her. She didn’t do the auditions on the road. We had guest judges. (Of Ellen …) We’ve had a relationship for a long time. I’ve know her for a long time. So has Ryan Seacrest. I think we’re going to have a very funny, interesting season ahead of us. There will be a lot of laughs.”

What will Ellen bring to the show, given her lack of music experience?

Randy: “I think her being just a die-hard music fan and loving music and just being a really smart, talented person herself. She knows about performing and entertaining because this is how she’s made her career. She’ll get the expertise from being a fellow entertainer who’s hugely successful. These kids all want to be entertainers as well as great singers. I think she’ll give that layperson-at-home view. She’ll be like a home viewer on the judges’ panel.”

Missing Paula?

Randy: “The whole thing (show) started with me, Ryan, Simon and her. She was one of our best friends and still is. I miss that. We look down the table sometimes go, ‘Wait a minute, where’s Paula?’ But welcoming Ellen to the fold is a good look. She’s funny, she’s charismatic. She’s really cool. It’s going to be a very interesting, funny, different season of Idol.

The future of the show …

Randy: “I think Idol is the best show of its kind ever. I think it can go on for quite a long time. I’m contracted for a couple more seasons. It’s really hard to predict, but I think the show can go on for a long time. I think it’s the best music reality show that’s ever been a music TV show.”

Adam Lambert eclipsing Kris Allen, in publicity at least, and the AMAs.

Randy: “Adam is a giant personality. He’s unbelievably talented. The AMA thing, I guess, was something he wanted to do and try. An artist is really left up to their own ideas of how they want to do things. I think he’s a big personality. He’s a far bigger personality, probably than Kris. I think they’re both equally talented. Kris, obviously, won for a reason. You’ve got Allison. She’s got her record out, too. And you have Danny Gokey. We had a lot talented kids (last) season.”

Which season eight contestants we’ll hear a lot from in the future …

Randy: “Probably, those four that I mentioned, in some fashion, you’ll be seeing a lot from. I mean, Adam, Kris, Allison and Danny.”

What he looks forward to in season nine …

Randy: “I often look more forward, every season, to seeing the kids sing current music. Winning the show, or wherever you come in in the top 10, the only thing you know for sure is that you’re going to get a shot to go up against your contemporaries. So I’m loving hearing them sing their contemporaries’ songs, trying to put a new spin on it, sing it better than them or whatever to see how they stack up in the real world.”

For more on what Randy expects from season nine, which audition cities provided the best talent and what he looks for in an Idol contestant, go here. Sorry to split it up, but Randy talked too much for just one blog.