Yesterday we learned the glorious news that our dear Britney Spears has signed on officially to judge the forthcoming second season of The X Factor. Today we get to hear from Brit a bit about her new gig … and we also get to hear from Simon Cowell, who tells Extra that he wasn’t sure the Britney deal would get signed until it was actually signed. Click below to watch video of Britney and co. commenting on the new X Factor job and read what Simon had to say about the deal that took FOREVER to close.
Squeee! I’m still so excited for this X Factor thing. I couldn’t give a hoot about the show before now. I’m not gonna lie, my interest lies solely in the fact that Britney is a new judge. I’m a faithful fan now, trust:
As for Simon, it’s clear he’s been a big Britney fan for a long time. And despite his uncertainty that the deal would get done, I’m sure he is happy now that Britney signed on the dotted line:
“Right up until today, I wasn’t 100 percent sure it was going to happen or not.” Terri asked why it took so long, and Simon explained, “Because when you’re negotiating with people like that who are big stars, you don’t just sign the contract overnight. There’s stuff you’ve got to sort out.” Cowell remembered talking with Britney and her manager early on. “I remember her manager, Larry, saying, ‘Britney wants to speak to you’ and about a week had passed and she got on the phone and said ‘Simon, I want to tell you I’m in, and we have a deal.’ [Her manager] said, ‘We haven’t quite got a deal yet!”… She spoke too soon.” Does Simon think he’ll have chemistry with Britney? “Oh she’ll love me!” laughed Cowell. Terri asked how he can be so sure. “I just know that, Terri.”
BUT, the casting work for The X Factor isn’t finished yet … they still need to find a host. Simon made it clear that he never spoke to Gwen Stefani so she’s out of the running. I guess we’ll have to wait and see which names start to get floated around again. With Britney in place, I’m set. That being said, I hope they don’t hire a lame-ass host like Avril Lavigne or someone like that. I’ll still watch for Britney, yes, but I’d prefer to watch the show with a fun host too. Who do YOU think should host The X Factor? Any ideas?
[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]
I am excited and nervous for Britney at the same time. Mainly because I know she is working hard to prove to people that she is more than what they think of her. This is a bold step for her knowing the media are never kind to her. I pray that she succeeds and have fun while doing this. I may not listen to most of her music, but I give her credits for trying to improve herself. People put her down for her breakdown like it was all her doing, mental illness is no joke, it steals part of your life. If people will understand the kind of courage and strength it takes to move forward, they will give this woman and millions like her more credits. Good luck Britney!
I’m sorry but Britney is still under a conservatorship which means she isn’t ABLE to do a lot of basic things in life by herself…She is obviously heavily medicated & doesn’t really make many decisions by herself…I love Britney’s music for what it is….But at this point in her life, how can she give advice on a competition when she’s not mentally capable herself to make any decisions…I agree with the post above about recovering from mental illness but doesn’t the fact she’s under a conservatorship illustrate the fact she’s still not 100% there?
Also, I would like to point out Avril Lavigne has had 3 hit albums with multiple Top 10 singles…Demi Lavato or whoever she is, has had one Top 10 single (which dropped off the charts the next week…Avril can sing live & was very successful for years…
Demi could out sing Avril live, just sayin’. ;) And Simon and Demi have both basically said that she is there to pull in the younger audience and represent her generation. Avril wouldn’t fill that role anymore. Sorry, I’ve just been seeing so much hate on this girl. Let’s just give her a shot!
I think that the conservatorship is basically still in place to keep her from having to deal with Sam Lufti in court but I could be wrong. We don’t know what happens behind closed doors. Just because she does suffer from some sort of mental illness doesn’t mean that she can’t work though and offer her advice. Working on something like this could actually be very good for her. Like I said in an earlier post, she’s probably going to be nervous the first few episodes but once she gets into the grove of things I think that her personality is going to shine again. As far as a host goes, Lance Bass keeps popping into my head but I think its just because he reminds me of Ryan Seacrest. Haha!
I’m not hating on Demi Lovato, she just hasn’t made much of an impact on Top 40 radio or a Platinum album which is what the act/singer that wins X Factor wants to be…Miley by FAR isn’t my favorite singer but she’s had multiple Top 40 hits & has impacted pop culture…Let her or even Selena Gomez be the judge for the younger crowd then…And Avril sings amazing live…Yes her personality is annoying but homegirl can sing
I can’t wait for this show to start up now! I can’t even stress how envious I am of all of the contestants who get Britney as their mentor! If only I was musically inclined in the slightest. ;)
I’m sorry to the Brittany fans, and I honestly think she’s a sweet person, but this is the strangest selection of judges ever. Both girls are frilly pop singers with little to hold them up as credible artists. I know Simon wants ratings, it’s just a shame that in a singing competition they’ve chosen judges who’s image and music is already packaged in a box for them. Just blah, I definitely won’t be watching.
I’ll watch the first show just to watch the trainwreck. She’s definitely medicated, you can even see it in these pictures. There’s nothing wrong with that but I don’t think she’ll be able to give all of herself. Larry & Jason should have never allowed her to sign on the dotted line. She will last one season at most – and I fear she won’t even make it through that. This is just bad and we all know it.
Too bad Trent is more interested in seeing his “dear Britney” on TV every week than her well-being.
@Donny — You are absolutely free to your opinion but it’s not one that is shared by others.
It’s shared by plenty of others as other comments attest.
@Donny — Sorry, I should’ve clarified, it’s an opinion not shared by ALL others.
To the above posters. Maybe you’re to young to remember but Britney was on a little show called the Mickey Mouse Club which was on every day. Sure she looks nervous at the upfronts, who wouldn’t be with all the cameras and press waiting with baited breath for her to screw up. Once the show gets going she will be just fine. She’s been on TV before and I always see positive feedback.
I agree that this is a disaster waiting to happen. Both Demi and Britney suffer from mental illness. While people with their difficulties can and do lead productive lives, the pressure of doing this show would cause mentally fit people to break down.
It is sad that time and time again money is valued over health. I won’t be watching.
I really want the best for Britney but its no secret shes not okay. She gnawed her fingers until they were bloody just for this press announcement and went on tv with them bleeding. Thats so sad, she hurts herself like that, and she hurt herself in more way than one doing that and going on tv like that. I love the girl and its just so hard to watch her struggle.