Simon Sweats it Out

Simon Cowell has truly been sweating it out during this season of American Idol.

"I've been on detox," he reveals to OK!. "I have a girl that comes over and I sweat out all the toxins."

And the judge certainly has a lot to detox from on Idol this season--this week especially, when his co-judge Paula Abdul shocked viewers by judging contestant Jason Castro on two songs even though he had only performed one.

Simon faced some tough Idol questions on May 2 as he promoted the summer show he produces, America's Got Talent, for NBC.

When asked about Paula's horrifying gaffe, however, Simon claimed he's taken it in stride.

"She just got a bit confused," he said with a huge laugh, rolling his eyes.

"I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. She made a mistake. I think...on live TV...you embrace things when things go wrong. If this was a pre-recorded show, none of this would have been shown and it would have been a bit boring. There was no conspiracy--I hear all this stuff about how it's rigged. We watch the dress runs occasionally, sometimes we take notice of it, sometimes we don't."

Simon continues, "It's all part of the craziness of the show and the year everything becomes normal is the year I'll probably leave. I like it when it's a bit loopy."

But Cowell is quick to criticize his show, telling OK! that Idol ratings have been down slightly this season because, "I think the themes are too old fashioned at the moment. I think you've got to make the themes more current and I think we haven't got the right personalities at the moment. They're the contestants not letting go enough. They're very media savvy, saying the right things, not arguing with me. It's too safe at the moment."

Simon adds, "They've watched the show over previous years. David Archuleta was performing in front of Kelly Clarkson six years ago--it's on tape! It's like he's gone to the University of American Idol. Safe songs, safe message. I like people who just go a bit crazy sometimes. I'm dying for someone to scream at me one week and just say, 'I hate your guts' because I know they're thinking it," Cowell laughs.

So could change be coming? "You have to revamp every show you make every year," Simon says. "I've got a few ideas."

Meanwhile, the judge says that it's a no-brainer that David Archuleta and David Cook will be the final two vying for the American Idol title. "It will be David versus David and you're going to have a real scrap...Who the winner is will really depend on what song they sing on the night."

Though he may have a hunch about who will end up in the final two, Simon says he isn't playing favorites. He says that whoever sings best on the finale should win the competition.

"I think David Cook has got the better voice and David Archuleta has got the teen and grandma appeal," he tells OK!. "They're equal."

And as for Jason Castro, Simon says he has sailed through to the final four (Despite some questionable performances) because, "He's good looking. If he looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he still wouldn't be in the competition, would he?"

By: Carole Glines