“American Idol’s” Grudge Judge Lands Gig As “Extra’s” Special Correspondent

(August 20, 2002 – Glendale, CA) – Venom-tongued “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell isn’t too busy blasting contestants to take on an extra assignment. The forty-two-year old record exec has landed a job as special correspondent for the entertainment newsmagazine “Extra.” Beginning Wednesday, August 21st, Sinister Simon will have free reign to say what he really thinks about summer’s biggest hit – including the contestants, the backstage brawls and his fellow judge’s calls. Cowell’s segment, appropriately entitled “The World According to Simon,” will air every Wednesday and Thursday on “Extra.” Additionally, Cowell will help co-host the series’ weekend show airing August 24th & 25th. He will share the stage alongside “American Idol” co-host and fellow “Extra” correspondent Ryan Seacrest and the show’s weekend anchor, Dayna Devon. “Simon has already shown he can be acid-tongued and brutally honest – but, believe it or not, he says he’s been tame so far! Audiences will be stunned when Simon goes solo,” said “Extra’s” Senior Executive Producer Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey. Cowell, a former judge for the U.K. version of the show, “Pop Idol,” is a record executive who has more than twenty years in the music business. He has his own label through BMG Records called S Records and has produced over seventy top-thirty records. He helped catapult top British ‘80s bands to fame and has been involved with seventeen number one singles. “Extra” is a Time Telepictures Television production and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. For more information on “Extra” reports please visit “Extra” at www.extratv.com or AOL Keyword “Extra.” # # #