Bucky Says Cowell Is Unhelpful

'Idol' Contestant Says Cowell Is Unhelpful

(AP- Sat Apr 15,11:47 AM ET) Bucky Covington, the latest contestant voted off 'America Idol,' says the comments of judge Simon Cowell are no longer helpful.

'It seems like he used to give advice, but now he doesn't give advice as he does try to put you down,' said Covington, 28, a country singer from Rockingham.

On Tuesday, Covington sang a version of rock band Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls.' Cowell called his performance 'mediocre.' The following night, Covington was booted off the Fox network show.

Covington said Cowell will never like singers like himself or contestant Taylor Hicks.

'For him to like someone like me or Taylor is out of the question. No matter what we do, he's not going to like us. We're just not his thing,' he said.

His departure slimmed the 'Idol' hopefuls to seven. The winner is set to be named May 24.

I love out of context reporting. Here's the verbatim transcript that was pulled from:

Q: Bucky, the judges keep saying the same thing over and over again; I'm sure you've notice this. They say, 'Be true to yourself. Make it your own. Pick better songs.' When you guys get together after a show and after that kind of stuff, do you like look at each other and just laugh about it and sort of in your own way make fun of it? Do these comments that the judges make, are they really seriously taken by the group and by you?

A: I think everybody, yes, we do laugh about it and everything else, but I'm sure some people take it to heart more than other people, but you have to look at it. You have to look at the judges. Like Simon, a lot of times he signs boy bands and stuff like that, so for him to like somebody like me or Taylor, it's out of the question. It doesn't matter what we do, he's not going to like us, because we're just not his thing. So when he gives me advice - it seems like he used to give advice, but now he doesn't so much give advice as he does try to just put you down and make the show, 'Oh, I can't believe you said that,' which makes people talk the next day.

Like he told Paris, 'Weird.' What is that supposed to mean? That tells her nothing. You did not help her none with your comment. You should have just kept your mouth shut. I don't mean to sound rude about it, but you can help and then you can just sell the show. He does a good job of selling the show, because he knows exactly what sells and he does it and does it well.

Bucky's right on. I'm certain the idol contestants talk among themselves and soften the harshness that is Simon.

Speaking of off-the-cough critique, it's a difficult thing to pull off constructively. The idol judges are not particularly good at it. Randy has the least time to respond and sticks to clichés like 'worked it out, dude' 'pitchy', etc.

Paula remains 'true to herself'.

Simon looks for something shocking, catchy.

Simon's critiques have never been helpful. NEXT!

It's from the Richmond Daily Journal, Bucky's hometown paper, they did an in depth interview with him and the AP picked it up, sliced, and diced...

Simon is usually the last to comment on the performances. Maybe they don't give him enough time to give more constructive criticism. I found it strange Bucky thought Simon didn't care for Taylor too. He did name him as one of the final 3.

Never assume anything on the show is unscripted.

It's the fault of the two useless judges and of Seacrest. He can't get a word in edgewise, so he just sticks to the soundbites. Seacrest is ruining the show this season. Write Fox and tell them to kick his sorry butt off.

See, he DID learn something from Cowell: that 'I don't mean to sound rude about it...' thing is classic SC, usually wielded when he has just said or is about to say something very rude and unhelpful.

Bucky Says Cowell Is Unhelpful

reply:

If Cowell is unhelpful.....what does that make that drunk robot cheerleader who sits in the middle most of the time?