Poor Ellen DeGeneres! Well not poor, per se, as she’s getting quite a bit of cash to replace Paula Abdul this season on American Idol. But she might have reconsidered things if she knew departing judge Simon Cowell would spend this year battling Idol exec Simon Fuller as he plans his rival program, The X Factor. According to Deadline Hollywood, Cowell showed up an hour and a half late for Ellen’s first day of filming yesterday, inspiring her to call her deskmate a “prima donna” and ask that Fox “hurry up and pick” Cowell’s replacement. Can’t wait to see the love between them on screen!
While Ellen has every right to be pissed—she’s shooting her morning talk show earlier to make time for Idol—potential successors of Simon’s are also fielding offers from another talent show: Simon’s. Both Idol and X Factor have reportedly put former Sony head Tommy Mottola, most famous for finding—and marrying—Mariah Carey, at the top of their wish list. “Mottola is in the middle of all that and beneficiary of it. Mottola has remarkable leverage because of this tug of war and will get a big payday from somebody,” says their source. If Simon signs Mottola and old banter-buddy Abdul, Ellen could wind up Idol‘s cousin Oliver.
[Photo: WireImage]
