The Voice, The X-Factor, and Gaga, oh my! Can Idol stay on top?

It’s official! Paula and Simon will be reunited as judges on Simon Cowell’s American version of The X-Factor. Simon missed our girl Paula, and Paula is just excited to be working again — oops, I mean nurturing new talent. [Deadline]
Oh, and apparently Antonio “L.A.” Reid is even meaner than Simon on The X-Factor, which is starting to sound like America’s Got Talent, as contestants audition in front of a live audience. [Hollywood Reporter]

Randy Jackson Takes On ‘The Voice’
If you’ve been watching The Voice, then you may recall a certain remark Adam Levine made about Idol last week. Was it intended as a dig? I’m not sure, but here’s what he said: “The people we’re not turning our chairs around for could win American Idol.”

Regardless of whether or not that was an insult, Randy Jackson has come back with this:

“It’s a great thing when talent can be simple, honest and revered as opposed to spinning around with gimmicky chairs. Maybe Simon Cowell should have people opening doors. Like, ‘Knock, knock. Who’s singing? I can’t see you!’

“Look, none of these other shows could exist without somebody forging the path before them, I’m happy to say that Idol did that and paved the way.

“My only fear with all these shows coming is that people don’t tire of the format. I don’t know how much singing at you the public can take.”

I don’t know, either, Randy! So many singing shows … Randy sure does have a lot to say these days. At least, more than he said in the beginning of the season. Have you heard that he has pegged James Durbin as a favorite to win? [Hollywood Reporter]

Lady Gaga on ‘Idol’
So we were wrong about the “Judas” music video premiering during Idol, but Lady Gaga IS scheduled to perform on the American Idol finale, along with Stevie Nicks. In perhaps even more exciting news, Lady Gaga will be the guest mentor this week for the Top 4 as they take on the Leiber/Stoller songbook (they wrote most of Elvis’s songs, as well as “Stand By Me”). I wonder what she’ll say to/about Scotty McCreery? Or Haley Reinhart, who sang one of her unreleased songs? {Radar Online]

(Image courtesy of FOX)

Carla Patton

Writer, BuddyTV

Originally from Seattle, Carla recently took a husband and moved to Austin, Texas, where she is finally using her television “problem” to her advantage. It’s sort of like Dexter, but boring and less murdering. Carla’s favorite shows include 30 RockThe Amazing RaceProject RunwayModern Family, anything with murder, and pretty much anything gross and weird (CSIThe BachelorToddlers & Tiaras, etc.). Favorite canceled shows include: Arrested DevelopmentVeronica Mars and Average Joe. In her spare time, Carla leads tours of downtown Austin on a Segway (don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!), blogs about Netflix Instant, and visits elementary schools telling children they don’t need math to succeed (just kidding, stay in school, kids).