'Idol' judges, producer deny show is meaner

PASADENA, California (Reuters) - Days after "American Idol" stormed back onto the airwaves, the judges and producers of the hit talent show joined a top Fox TV executive in shrugging off viewer complaints the series has grown too mean-spirited.

Appearing at the network's semi-annual gathering of television critics, Peter Liguori, entertainment president for the Fox Broadcast Co., denied the show focused too much on the worst contestants or that the celebrity judges had become too harsh.

Simon Cowell, the British record producer known for his brutal honesty, has been criticized this season for being especially cruel toward some of the less-talented and offbeat contestants appearing on the show's popular audition segments.

Singling out one performer for his appearance, Cowell said the contestant resembled "one of those creatures that live in the jungle with those massive eyes ... what are they called? Bush babies?"

Liguori defended Cowell and the other judges when asked about the incident, which drew an outcry from TV talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell this week.

"I've actually had people say to me it seems Simon is somewhat toned down this year," he said. "More people are coming to the show ... they know what to expect. They have to appreciate the spirit in which that commentary is given."

Taking questions later with fellow "Idol" judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Cowell acknowledged there were times when he felt embarrassed by things he had said on the show but that he had no regrets.

"I feel more comfortable being on a show where we're prepared to show the warts as well as the good things, because truthfully, in auditions ... bad things do happen," he said.

Asked about comparing a contestant to a primate, Cowell said it was an "off-the-cuff remark. ... If he's offended, then I apologize. I might never call anyone a bush baby again."

Bad singers good for ratings

Executive Producer Ken Warwick made no apologies for dwelling on the delusional, the tone-deaf and oddballs among contestants, insisting he was giving viewers what they wanted.

"People like the bad singers," Warwick said. "It's more the bad singers that will bring in the ratings."

Indeed, Tuesday's two-hour premiere of the sixth season of "American Idol" drew 37.3 million viewers, the most ever for a debut episode of the show, and nearly 37 million more tuned in on Wednesday for another round of auditions.

Those kinds of numbers make "Idol" the most-watched show on US television, dominating the prime-time landscape for months at a time and giving Fox a powerful promotional platform for new and struggling series. Fox is a unit of News Corp.

Even "American Idol" rejectees have basked in the show's afterglow. Several, including the target of Cowell's "bush baby" remark, turned up on the talk-show circuit this week.

Abdul spent much of Saturday's session explaining an online video that emerged last week showing her slurring and gesticulating her way through a promotional TV appearance.

Abdul said her erratic appearance resulted from a combination of technical problems and fatigue. The interview, she said, was conducted over a remote linkup with multiple stations, was fraught with audio glitches and followed dozens of back-to-back interviews.

"It was very weird, because what you're hearing is not exactly what you think you're answering questions to," she said, adding she felt chagrined to see the video later. "I was watching it myself, and I'm like, 'Oh God."'