Harry Connick Jr. enjoyed a warm reception when he appeared on “American Idol” as a musical mentor in Season 9, so why wasn’t the jazz singer offered a seat at “Idol’s” coveted judging table?
“I couldn’t grow my hair fast enough,” Harry joked with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Wednesday’s Access Hollywood Live, of the reason why he was passed over for a judge’s seat on the hit reality singing competition. “Steven Tyler beat me to it, and how are you going to compete with that? I tried and I pushed and pushed, but Steven — he already had shoulder-length [hair]. That’s what they were looking for.”
In addition to impressing the contestants and audience during his stint as an “Idol” guest mentor, Harry’s musicianship struck a chord with reality mastermind/former “Idol” judge Simon Cowell, prompting rumors of a possible collaboration on the Brit’s latest reality endeavor, “The X Factor.” However, Harry said communications have stalled with his pal from across the pond.
“I had a great time [on ‘Idol’] and I remember Simon Cowell coming up to me after the ‘Idol’ thing and he says, ‘I’d like to get your number, there’s something I want to talk to you about,’” Harry told Billy and Kit. “I said, ‘OK, cool.’ He never called so I figured he didn’t think that much of me!”
In related news, could Simon be aiming to create Paula Adbul 2.0 for his new show? A source reportedly told People mag that lovably-ditzy singer/reality star Jessica Simpson is being seriously considered to take a seat next to Simon at “The X Factor” judges’ table.
“She knows what she is talking about [and] is talented and likable,” the source reportedly told the mag in a story published on Wednesday. “But Simon’s not in a rush to decide. The judges have to mentor on ‘The X Factor’ – it’s more than just turning up for a few hours a week to appear on TV.”
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