Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell (Photo by Jill Ann Spaulding/FilmMagic)
Simon Cowell doesn't seem to like a lot people. But judging from what we see on TV and read in the press, Cowell really doesn't like Ryan Seacrest.
Sure, while they were both working on "American Idol," they would bicker and squabble like an old married couple. But then again, who didn't argue with Cowell?
But while appearing on "Conan" to promote "The X Factor," the hit British talent search show which recently premiered a spinoff in the United States, Cowell launched a full-on Seacrest attack. He even revealed that he was never supposed to be the host of "American Idol."
"Yeah he was really annoying," Cowell said about the blond, blue-eyed host of "Idol," which returns to the airwaves in January for its 12th season with judges Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, and Keith Urban.
"And the whole plan was to launch Brian Dunkleman. The whole thing failed," he said, referring to Seacrest's co-host in Season 1. Cowell's "plan" failed because Dunkleman, a stand-up comedian, reportedly quit his co-hosting duties to pursue a comedy and acting career.
However, Dunkleman hasn't been up to much other than guest starring on "Friends," "Ghost Whisperer," and "Two Guys and a Girl." He also appeared on the reality weight loss show "Celebrity Fit Club" in 2008 - where he spoke about leaving "Idol" because of the poor treatment of the contestants and the producers' manipulation of the show. Apparently, he said that arguments were staged and retakes were shot with fake tears in the judges' eyes.
Now, he admits leaving the show was a moment of "poor judgment", and it seems like there's more than a little resentment between him and Seacrest. It's too bad that Cowell has his hopes set on Khloe Kardashian to host "The X Factor," or else it could have been Dunkleman to have the last laugh.
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