American Idol judge Simon Cowell isn’t the only one on the hit show to say exactly what comes to his mind. The big boss Nigel Lythgoe is taking his turn at causing a stir, slamming not only the contestants but President George W. Bush too.
Lythgoe spoke to OK! and compared new winner David Cook to alum Daughtry, saying that he has a chance at stardom only if he were to get some personality. OUCH! Not one to leave anyone out, he threw David Archuleta in the mix and said they both “suffer from a lack of on stage charisma.” Lythgoe is hoping that the boys use the American Idol Live tour this summer to “put a unique sparkle into their performances.”
The second annual Idol Gives Back aired in April and keeping with tradition, it didn’t go without a little drama. This time the drama was over the U.S. President taking part in Idol Gives Back.
The producers of the show were reportedly “embarrassed” to have George W. Bush on the show because of his disappointing efforts to combat poverty. Lythgoe said that there was some pressure from the White House and stated:
We didn’t ask the President this year to say anything because we are all a bit embarrassed about him, and the office insisted that, because the (primary) candidates were on it, the President would like to come on and say thank you.”
Give Back has raised $142 million that will go toward projects in the U.S. and Africa.
To see the top 10 Idol finishers in action, be sure to check out the Pop Tarts American Idol Live Summer Tour 2008. Tickets are on sale now.