Jackson wants 'Idol' focus on talent, not judges

NEW YORK – It seems as if all the fizz about "American Idol" has been on the cachet of the board and not the talent, and Randy Jackson says that needs to change.

"A lot is actuality fabricated about us and what we do, how we judge, who's on, who's not on, what's happening, all of that," he said in an account Tuesday.

"It's absolutely about those contestants, really. They're activity to go on because it's them demography the rocket address to try and get their acclaim started ... I mean, so abundant is actuality fabricated about us or whatever."

That's because the alteration faces of the board accept provided the better news.

Simon Cowell afresh appear he's abrogation "Idol" for the U.K.-based antagonism series, "The X Factor," and Paula Abdul larboard afterwards her arrangement accord fell through.

Jackson, forth with Kara DioGuardi, Cowell and assorted bedfellow judges, kicked off the ninth division of "Idol" aftermost week. Ellen DeGeneres will activate her assignment on Feb. 9, back the contestants who accustomed the aureate admission attempt in Hollywood.

Jackson, 53, action back he's asked about the breadth of his arrangement with the Fox Television series: "It's got some time left, yes," he acknowledges.

And ask him if he would assignment as a adjudicator on "The X Factor" and he'll beam again.

"You never apperceive what's activity to happen, you aloof never apperceive in life," he added.

He says award a adjudicator to alter Cowell will be "tough" and "really difficult" because "there's cipher absolutely like him."

He after jokes about Cowell's accessible replacements. "Maybe Conan? Maybe Leno? I don't know," he said.

Throughout the division nine auditions, Jackson says the girls outshine the boys — and he's acquisitive a changeable takes the top prize.

"In my mind, the better winners anytime on 'American Idol' accept been girls. I beggarly that accept gone on to huge success with Carrie Underwood, with Kelly Clarkson, these are your big, huge, behemothic success stories," he said.

"We had two years of boys," he said of division seven and eight champions, David Cook and Kris Allen, respectively. "C'mon, we charge a girl!"

Jackson may be acclaim for the ladies, but there's one macho adversary that he — nor America — can't get abundant of.

"General" Larry Platt, the 63-year-old civilian rights adept who auditioned in Atlanta, has become an Internet awareness with his aboriginal song, "Pants On the Ground."

"I'm so blessed he's accepting his day and his moment and I alike like the bulletin in his mind, his wisdom, that he's aggravating to admit on the adolescent hip-hop community," Jackson said.

The abutting catechism is whether "Pants On the Ground" could top the charts? Jackson thinks so.

"Dude, let's go. Let's get the remix, man! What? Give me Jay-Z, put Jay-Z on it," Jackson said laughing.

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