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By Suzanne

Interview with Randy Jackson of "American Idol" on FOX 2/13/14

Final Transcript
FBC PUBLICITY: The American Idol XIII Conference Call
February 13, 2014/10:00 a.m. PST

SPEAKERS
Jennifer Reed
Randy Jackson
PRESENTATION

Moderator Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to The American Idol XIII interview call with Randy Jackson. As a reminder this conference is being recorded.
I would now like to turn the conference to Jennifer Reed for opening remarks. Please go ahead.

Jennifer Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for joining us today for the American Idol XIII conference call with our in-house mentor, Randy Jackson. As a reminder, he’s here to talk about American Idol XIII and, as always, if we feel anyone is harping on any one subject we do reserve the right to jump in and move the call along.
So, with that being said, Lois, let’s go ahead and take the first question.

Moderator Thank you. The first question will come from Jamie Ruby from Scifivision.com. Please go ahead.

Jamie Hi, Randy. Thanks so much for talking to us today.

Randy Hey, how are you?

Jamie Great. So, can you talk about what made you decide that you wanted to be a mentor as opposed to judging?

Randy Honestly, after 12 seasons in, as a judge it felt like I’d said and done everything that I really ever desired and needed to and wanted to do as a judge and I just felt like it was just time to do something else. I’m a big evolution guy. So, I felt like there’s no other way I could say it and do it and whatever.
So, I said, you know what, I think it’s time to kind of step away and I’m really excited to step into the mentor role because I get a chance to work more hands on with the kids and help impart some of the wisdom that I’ve gained over my 35-year career to them, you know.

Jamie Right. I assume, though, you’ve been watching it so far. Do you, though, sometimes kind of want to tell what you think to the people since you’re not up there judging them?

Randy No. Listen, I think the judges are doing an amazing job. I think Harry, Keith and Jennifer are amazing. They’ve got such a natural, great chemistry and they’re all dear friends of mine for a long time. So, you know, I love them.
And I think they’re doing an amazing job. Once I kind of walked away from it I was kind of done with that, you know what I mean?

Jamie Okay, great. Well, thank you so much.

Moderator Thank you. And we’ll move to the line of Michael Slezak from TVLine. Please go ahead.

Michael Hi, Randy. Just sort of a two-part question for you. You’ve got, obviously, 12 years of experience on the show so you’ve seen in the live shows that contestants tend to gravitate towards songs that have been done to death, “Hallelujah,” those songs that get done over and over. As a mentor, will you try and discourage them from maybe making some of those done to death song choices?

Randy Yeah, I will because I think you’re absolutely right and you’re very astute to pick that up because, especially if contestants have really sung it on the show, you can’t help but get that comparison from the audience and from people that are on the show and watch the show. So, you always want to try and come off a little unique and a little different, unless you’ve got a really different twist on that song.

Michael Right. And I guess as a follow up to that, some of the most beloved contestants like Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, David Cook even Candace last year gave us unexpected arrangements of songs. And it seems like something we’ve had a little less of over the last few seasons. Do you feel like you can help them get back to putting an interesting twist on something?

Randy Yeah, I’d love that and I want more of that. We just had like an intense workshop with them and I talked about that. That’s what I mean, if you take a song; for instance, if you want to do “Hallelujah” do you have a different version of it? Can you do something else different with it?
And I think also what it does for the judges and for the public is let you know the real range of their talent. If they can take something and move it around like that and make it really creative, you go, wow, I didn’t know your talent was that deep. You know what I’m saying? So, I love that, yes, of course, I will definitely try and help encourage that.

Michael Cool. Thanks.

Moderator Thank you and our next question is from Gina Scarpa from Thatsyourreality.com. Please go ahead.

Gina Hey, Randy.

Randy Hey, how are you?

Gina I’m good, thanks. So, you talked a little bit about that great chemistry that the three judges have this season and it’s definitely a different vibe from the minute the season started. Can you talk a little bit about what you’ve been feeling when you watch the episodes back on TV thus far?

Randy Oh yeah, listen, what you look for on the judges panel always to me, it’s what me, Simon and Paula and Ryan kind of naturally had. We didn’t even know we were looking for it, but we kind of naturally had it, to be honest with you.
You look for that natural chemistry because you can’t really force that because you know, you are individual judges, but you’re as a team, as a panel so it has to work well that way. I mean, they’ve done sensational. I love them all as people and friends in the industry anyway, but I think they’ve done an amazing job.

Gina Watching them choose the top 30 or 31, they said they have to let some really amazing people go home and we’re seeing that. What do you think of the level of talent this season?

Randy I think the level of talent is amazing. I think they’re very young. It’s a very young pool for the most part and I think it’s a very different pool. And what I’m so impressed about the show, that people just continuously turn out for Idol, it’s just really talented kids that this season it’s more different than I think any other season, but some really, really unique kids I love. I love this talent.

Moderator And our next question is from Michele Angermiller from the Hollywood Reporter.

Michele Hi, Randy. It was so great seeing you on the show last night. I missed you.

Randy Thank you. I made a little impromptu; I was just saying hi to them. Actually Keith (and Harry) got up and sang, because they’re both so silly and funny guys. It was funny. It was a good time.

Michele Yeah, it came across that way. We talked about Adam Lambert as a mentor. I want to know what Adam and Chris brought to the table in the workshop because we know they’re coming up and everybody is excited. And we want a little sneak peak of what we can expect from those guys?

Randy Well, listen, I wanted to have them there because I’ve been doing the show since it started so I have a wealth of knowledge, but they were actually in the trenches of people that we were actually judging so they could tell it from a completely different side.
And the two of them are so different, but they’re also equally really, really talented and I think both of their seasons, I thought both of them would win. During the season you just never know and they both have had amazing careers thus far, so I really wanted them there.
So, they were able to impart a lot of wisdom on what they go through. We talk about everything in this workshop, because I really wanted to break it down for the kids, like, when the judges say this, are you really hearing what they’re saying? Are you retaining 20%, 30%, what are you listening to? Because you’ve got cameras in your face, you’ve got 500 people in the audience. You’ve got all the chatter from social media. You’ve got your friends and family and you’ve got millions of people watching on TV.
We really broke it down and went through everything that we could and I think it really helped the kids a lot. And Adam did a great job.

Michele What do you miss most about being behind the judges’ table?

Randy You know, honestly, to be honest with you, I don’t really miss it at all.  When I walked away I was really done with it. I had done everything I thought I could do. I couldn’t even figure out another way to say stuff, so I was really happy that I was on for 12 seasons as a judge.
And I’m happiest now about this new role as a mentor because that’s kind of what I do anyway as a record producer, as a manager of artists and a talent manager. It’s what I do is nurture talent, so it’s what I do every day. So, this is the most natural fit for me.

Michele You see any of these kids as being somebody you’d want to work with?
Randy Yeah, you just never know. You’ve got to see how they blossom. But I get a chance to work with them now in this role and it’s really amazing. There are some very uniquely, great talented kids in this batch this year.

Michele Thank you, Randy.

Randy You’re very welcome.

Moderator Our next question is from Caryn Robbins from Broadwayworld.com.

Caryn Randy, how are you?

Randy Hey, how are you?

Caryn I’m good, thanks. We’ve already seen some changes this season on Idol and I was wondering if you can kind of give us some hints about other changes that are coming up for the live shows that are new to the show?

Randy I think you’ll see some twists and changes in the theme weeks. I think you’ll see a little bit more twists and changes as we go along. I mean, it’s Idol 2.0. I think the show needed a refresh and I think it’s gotten one and I think the judges’ panel is one of those things that’s doing amazingly well.
I think me and the mentors, a very different thing. It’s different for me and it’s something that I welcome and love actually. And I think it needed a little bit of a lift, you know what I mean?

Caryn Yes, well, we certainly see that already. So, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.

Randy All right. Thank you very much.

Moderator Thank you. Our next question is from Tiffany Lane from Synergistic Productions.

Tiffany Hi, Randy, how are you?

Randy Hey, how’s it going?

Tiffany Good, thank you. I want to know, do you see any frontrunners this season and what do you see as far as strengths that we see this season vocally?

Randy As far as what?

Tiffany Like strengths vocally that we see this season.

Randy I think so far I think there are some frontrunners there. I don’t want to name anyone just yet, but I think the edge seems to me to be in the girls’ favor, but I think the boys could come up and surprise everyone. There’s some really very talented unique boys, too.
I think as far as song-wise, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens because I think we’ve put a little bit of a twist on the themes. I don’t think the themes are as narrow as they used to be. I think you’ll like where we’re going with the themes this season.

Tiffany And as far as Harry, you spoke a little bit about the judges already, but what do you think about his style? Some people have called harsh. Do you think he deserves to be given that name? What do you think about him being so blunt all the time and kind of really giving what his thoughts are?

Randy No, I love it. I said to them, all of them, before they started the season, you know, as a judge you always have to call it as you see it. And people, a lot of critics and stuff will always criticize judges, I don’t know if they’re hard enough or are they too hard or this or that or whatever, but you have to call it as you see it. I think he’s doing an amazing job. I think he’s hilarious. He’s funny. I think he’s being harsh when he has to be.
And it’s not really just being harsh, it’s like, what people fail to realize is you walk into a typical audition today in a room and there weren’t cameras in there, you might not even comment. You might just go, next. So, I think you’ve got to call it as you see it always and I think they’re all doing it. I think they’re doing an amazing job. I mean, I’m loving what they’re doing.

Tiffany Thank you.

Moderator Our next question is from Andrea Dresdale from ABC News Radio.

Andrea Hey, Randy. I think that definitely one of the changes we saw this year was on last night’s show we had our first openly gay on camera contestant. Is that something that you welcome, a change that you’re glad to see on the show?

Randy I’m really proud of her and I’m really happy for her and I think, who would have thought in 2014 you’d have to do that. I’m just always surprised. But we should have come a lot further a lot faster, but it is what it is. But I think, yeah, we’ve never said you can’t do this, you can’t do that. It’s never about who you are or what you do or what you choose and where you’re from. It’s always really about the talent.
So, she’s a natural, so I mean I’m really happy for her that she’s able to say that. You know what I mean?

Andrea Yes, and here’s my follow-up. The day that we see you return to the show is also the day that last year’s champ is finally releasing her debut album. Have you heard Candace’s album and what do you think about her prospects for future success?

Randy I haven’t heard the album, but I just heard a little bit of a single that sounded good to me the other day. I didn’t hear the whole thing. I heard about a minute of it. I wish her all the best and I wish her all the biggest things. She’s definitely one of the greater singers that we’ve had on here and I hope the record is amazing. If the record is amazing she’ll do well, but the success of contestants after the show is all about great songs.

Andrea Okay, thanks. She told me that you were her favorite judge, by the way.

Randy Well, we love her. Her talent is just, wow. She’s a wowser.

Andrea Thanks a lot.

Moderator And our next question is from Hannah Satherstrom from CTV.CA.

Hannah Hi, Randy. Thank you for being here.

Randy Hey.

Hannah I was just wondering. You were talking about how you have this wealth of knowledge from being a judge for so long on American Idol. I was wondering what else can you offer as a mentor that you’ve taken from being a judge?

Randy Well, I think everything from being a judge, I mean, you’ve seen when the kids crumble, you’ve seen when, for instance, when you’re judging people it’s a very interesting thing. You’re talking to them and you’re wondering who gets the information that you’re actually giving them in your minute critique because if you really would pull back and listen to, not every time, but most of the time when a lot of the judges speak they’re really trying to give the kid some insight on what to do and where to go.
The song is too big for you, it’s the wrong song for you, it’s the wrong key, stop singing so many runs, you’ve got to work on your vibrato; I mean, you’re really giving them coaching advice, but I wonder how much they actually retain of that because you can’t tell. They’ve got so much going on in their minds and in their hearts and in their heads as they’re on that stage that maybe they only retain 10% of that.
So, it’s also what is really working, what has worked for past contestants, what songs. I mean, there’s just so much. There’s movement help, there are clothing choices, performance help, where does the star meter come for you, you know, the arrangement, is it unique enough? Is it too unique? Is it way too musical?
I mean there are so many things that go into the dynamics on the show that it’s from being a judge for 12 years on the show and also having a 35-year career working with the Arethas, the Eltons, the Springsteens, the *NSync, Destiny’s Child, Madonna, Mariah; that’s what I’ve done.

Hannah Great, awesome. Also, in other terms, what challenges might you face?

Randy From the mentor role?

Hannah What challenges would you face just from the other side, like moving from the judge to the mentor, how do you think that might be a bit more of a challenge for you?

Randy I don’t know if it’s so much of a challenge for me because it’s kind of what I’ve been doing all my life with my own career and my own self as a musician and also I manage quite a few people and I’m a record producer, so when you take on those roles, those are mentoring roles and those are development roles that you’re trying to help become the best of who they can become.
So, what I hope is that a lot of contestants try and take a lot of it to heart and I hope that it helps them. The sad part is that when you try and give someone that advice and it doesn’t always work the first or the second time or whatever. So, I just hope it helps them, you know what I mean?

Hannah Yeah, definitely. Thank you very much.

Randy You’re very welcome.

Moderator Our next question is from Jeff Dodge from BuddyTV.com.

Jeff My first question is you’ve been talking about the workshop that you did and working with Chris and Adam. Now, how does this come about for you to do a workshop for the contestants? Because I don’t believe this has been done before on Idol.

Randy No, it’s the first time we’ve ever done it and hopefully it’ll continue for a long time. It’s something I’ve wanted to do. I saw a lot of things being a judge over the years on this show when it started. I thought of a lot of ideas and a lot of things that I would possibly do different and also that I think would help enhance the show and now that we’re in the refresh, the Idol 2.0 mode, it’s something that I wanted to employ, it’s one of the things that I talked about when I first decided to be a mentor.
So, I think it was something that’s long been kind of needed and I think it’s going to help the kids a lot and I hope they think it’s helped them a lot because it was definitely great for all of us and I wanted to have Adam and Chris come in because they’re really two different guys, but they’re each equally successful and they weren’t the winners their seasons.
So, they’ve gone on to amass great careers that are still running strong and they weren’t even the winners, so I wanted the kids to see that, see their knowledge, see their sense of self where they are now, where they’ve grown, what they thought when they were on the show, auditioning. It’s such an insight that I think none of the contestants have ever really had. So, I’m really happy about the workshop.

Jeff Yeah. In the past few years Jimmy Iovine has been the mentor on the show. Is your approach to being the mentor going to be different to the way he was a mentor?

Randy Yeah, completely so. I love Jimmy and I think he was great and great on with us, but I think it’s just a different kind of thing. I really want to be a little bit more hands on and nurturing and try to really help them a little bit more rather than just, you know, the song coach; we’ll get into that in the arrangement. And I think we’ve got a different judging panel. It’s just a different set up this year. I think the whole thing is just a lot fresher, for me.

Jeff Okay, great. Thank you.

Randy All right, thank you.

Moderator And our next question is from Stephen Leng from Star Magazine UK.

Stephen Hi, Randy, how are you?

Randy Hey, very good. How’s it going?

Stephen Great. I just wanted to know, obviously, recently Simon Cowell’s U.S. X Factor got cancelled. Would you ever welcome him back on the American Idol panel? Would you like to see that?

Randy Oh, of course. He helped to born what this show really is. He helped to born what all these shows really are, so he is my dear friend for life. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it. So, of course, I mean, are you kidding? It would be amazing.

Stephen What do you think about his show being cancelled? Were you sad to have a bit less competition?

Randy I think, listen, I mean I’m sure it’s something he thought about, or whatever, wanted. I think he’s such an amazing talented guy and he helped to born what that is. I’m sure he’s plotting his U.S. return in a different, new way. He’s a real creator. Never count him out.

Stephen Okay.

Moderator Our next question is from Juliana Rasul from The New Paper.

Juliana Hi, Randy, how are you doing?

Randy Hey, what’s going down?

Juliana I’m good. I wanted to know a little bit about, this sounds like a follow-up from the last question, how do you feel about Idol outlasting other shows like The X Factor, which was just cancelled? What do you think is the special ingredient in the show?

Randy I think the real thing about Idol, I say this all the time, I think it’s the best show of its kind on TV and I’m sure some critics, probably a lot of critics, hate when I say that sometimes. But the truth really is that it is. So, when you look at what the show set out to do, to find the next undiscovered star, superstar and we’ve produced a lot of talent.
We’re the only show that can say we have successful contestants from this format. So, no other show on TV that’s a singing competition can really, really say that. So, that’s the test of how well it’s done. And I think the idea of finding the best undiscovered talent that really needs a shot is what this show has really done and it continues to do it successfully.
So, I’m really happy about that and that’s made it stand apart and going into its 13th season. I don’t even know if any of those other shows will be on 13 seasons.

Juliana I also wanted to ask about the fact that we’ve already seen on other seasons that people come in and do very indie stuff or very out there stuff. And we’ve seen that on this season as well on Hollywood Week. But do you actually really feel that they can go really far and win, is one thing and, secondly, they can actually be mainstream popular artists?

Randy You mean indie artists?

Juliana Yeah, like the kids who come in and say, like Bon Iver or anything like that?

Randy Right. I think all of that is welcome. Idol was never about choice, it’s never about who you are, it’s never about indie, it’s never about gender, it’s never about color, anything. What it really is about is just great talent. If you’re great, you will go through and you will continue.
And remember, the public will decide, as they decide anyway for anyone that releases any record, anything, they’ll start to vote and decide what your fate is. I mean I love Bon Iver. Of course, I love all sorts of music and I think the indie music genre is one of the best and biggest and brightest spots of our whole thing right now. It’s produced a lot of amazing talent right now.

Juliana Thank you so much.

Randy You’re very welcome.

Moderator And our next question is from the line of Ali Rosenbloom from US Weekly.

Alli Hi, Randy.

Randy Hey, you are you doing?

Alli I’m good, thank you. So, you’re a mentor to the contestants this year, but I want to know what advice you gave to this year’s panel, and how you’ve been a mentor to them, especially to Harry and Keith?

Randy You know, I just mentor them all, you know, a call it as you really see it when you’re judging and whatever that is because, you know, they’re all professionals, they’re all extremely talented people and I’ve known all of them a long time and they’re all dear friends of mine.
Harry’s my home boy from Louisiana. He’s funny, he’s charismatic, he’s silly, but he’s very musically savvy and knowledgeable. Jennifer is the same way and the same goes for Keith. The thing that I’m really happiest about with them is they’ve got a great natural chemistry, which is what it takes for every judging panel, not a forced chemistry, but a natural chemistry.
You want people to really get on. They can have different views and different opinions, which they do and they can disagree, which they do. But at least they’re all for the greater good, you know what I’m saying, the whole, the greater good of the whole thing. So, I love them. That’s the only really tidbit that I gave them and they’ve found some amazingly talented kids this year. They’re very unique, very different. I think the show is off to a good clip, man. I love the refresh Idol 2.0.

Alli Thank you.

Randy You’re very welcome.

Jennifer Lois, we’re going to go ahead and take our last question now.

Moderator Thank you. And that last question will come from Kate Noble from new! magazine.

Kate Hi, Randy. How are you?

Randy Okay, how’s it going?

Kate Not too bad, thank you. I just wanted to know would you ever consider coming over the U.K. and sitting on one of our television show panels?

Randy You know, I love it over there. I love the music, I love the people. Of course, I would, I would consider that. It might have to be with Cowell, though.

Kate My second follow-up question I was going to say do you think he’s going to make a good dad?

Randy I’m still getting over the shock that he’s going to be a dad. Listen, I think it’s really going to help him grow and I’ve just been saying to him, Dude, let it happen, let it wash over you, come on! I think he’s actually going to be a good dad. I think surprisingly – and I’m surprising myself as I say this – I think he’s going to be a good dad.

Kate Fantastic. Thank you so much for your time.

Randy You’re very welcome.

Jennifer I want to thank everybody. Thank you, Randy, for joining us for the call today. As a reminder, American Idol XIII airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. on Fox and all artwork can be found at foxflash.com. At this time I’m going to turn the call back over to our Moderator, who will give replay instructions and then you can disconnect. Thank you.

Randy Thanks, guys.

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