The World According to Simon

Figuring out Paula is probably a lost cause, but do you ever wonder what makes Simon Cowell tick? Why is he so mean? Does he ever get to revel in being right? How does he come up with his signature lines? We check in with the American Idol judge and let him speak for himself.

After you've heard what he has to say, you can chime in, in our ongoing debate: Has Simon Gone Too Far?

Why do you get perceived as mean? Is it the accent?
Yeah, I think it probably is a bit. The baddies in American film now are always English.

Do you feel pressure to be meaner this year?
The public always says, "Please say what we're thinking." And I genuinely think now when we're doing the audition shows, "What are the people at home thinking?" And I think that [the viewers] think they're terrible. So I tell [the contestants]. Maybe I say things in a slightly different way than other people, but the intention is to say what people are thinking when they're watching at home.