Who Should Simon Cowell Hire to Join L.A. Reid on ‘X Factor’?
Paula Abdul, George Michael, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger are all being considered, Cowell has said. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news Wednesday that Simon Cowell has hired Antonio "L.A." Reid, Island Def Jam chairman, to be a judge on Fox's The X Factor. Now, the next question: Who should join him on the panel? Reid’s hire is expected to be announced this week, sources tell THR, and Cowell has hinted about others who have made the shortlist, including his former American Idol colleague Paula Abdul. "We've taken it down to a smaller group of people and she's in that panel," he told Access Hollywood earlier this month. "But, you know, it's more than me who makes the decision." He said George Michael, former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Mariah Carey also are being considered. Jessica Simpson also has been in talks, People previously reported. Reid definitely won’t be sitting alongside Elton John. Cowell dismissed rumors that the “Rocket Man” singer was in the running: "Well, he's so grumpy nowadays, I mean, it would be like, he'd just be air yeezy moaning the whole time." A resolution to establish a no-fly zone over Libya in hopes of preventing Gadhafi from using his air force against the rebels appeared stymied before the United Nations Security Council. It wasn't immediately clear if Wednesday's attack in Bahrain involved Saudi troops, who on Monday moved into the island nation over a causeway connecting it to the Saudi mainland as part of a force under the aegis of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of six Persian Gulf states. The force was intended to help quell the protesters, most of whom are Shiite Muslims who complain of discrimination and lack of rights in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. More than 60 percent of the 550,000 Bahrainis are Shiites. "As they charged at us, we shouted 'peaceful, peaceful;' but they started firing tear gas," said Ahmed Abdullah, 22, who fled the scene. Another protester, Hayat Mohammad, said protesters were paralyzed by the tear gas. "They used a kind of tear gas that I hadn't seen before. It was black," she said. "It made people unable to move." After fleeing Pearl Square, many demonstrators headed toward Salmaniya Hospital, the country's only public hospital. But as they approached the hospital, troops fired on the ground to disperse the crowd. No one was injured, but protesters seeking medical treatment were blocked from reaching it. Witnesses said troops also blocked ambulances from picking up wounded protesters. At the hospital, soldiers, some wearing masks, sealed off entrances and refused to let anyone enter or leave. A tank was parked at the hospital's main gate.