Simon Cowell Blasts 'The Voice' on Premiere Showdown: 'Stupid Games'
September 06, 2012
The X Factor
"The X Factor" mastermind Simon Cowell lashed out at "The Voice" for crowding in on "X Factor's" premiere next week. During a phone interview with "Extra's" Terri Seymour on Thursday, he told her, “This is just people playing stupid games, and I hope it backfires.”
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“The Voice” creator Mark Burnett told TMZ on Thursday it never crossed his mind that he'd be pitting Christina Aguilera and the team directly against Cowell and Spears on her debut night.
Cowell, however, thought he had a “gentleman’s agreement” with NBC not to air on the same night and believes this move is a stunt. “100 percent. They don't want people watching this show. I think they've heard how good the first episode is.”
Simon said he is proud of “The X Factor’s” first episode. “The girls are fantastic; the talent is great. It's a really, really good show. This is where I get annoyed when people do this because I think it cheats the fans. There are people who like ‘The Voice,’ and there are people who like the ‘X-Factor.’ This way you don't give people the choice, and it’s like playing with the audience.
He added, “This is just people playing stupid games, and I hope it backfires.”
Seymour offered that people are saying this is like clash of the TV titans, comparing them to the rivalry between President Obama and presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Simon laughed, “Love it.”
“The X Factor” premieres Wednesday, September 12, on FOX. Watch a clips from the show!
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I think it’s pretty childish and obnoxious that The Voice and The X Factor are going head to head because someone decided they wanted to steal a little thunder. Both shows are good and while the different formats sometimes get on my nerves, I won’t pick which show I’d rather watch. That’s why I’ve got my Hopper recording both shows for me and I have a third tuner available should I decide to watch something else. A Dish co-worker recommended the upgrade when I told him about only being able to record and watch on my old DVR. Simon Cowell has a point about NBC playing games and the claim that no one realized that it would interfere with the premiere of The X Factor sounds like a joke. Then again, in this day and age where everyone is struggling for ratings I guess it’s normal for NBC to go in for the kill.