Justin Bieber Not Quite American Idol Mentor Material, Says Producer
Justin Bieber turns to the young brunette in the American Idol practice room. “Yea, I mean it was great and all,” he drawls.”But I don’t know, it just needed something more, like, maybe — more swag.”
This hypothetical conversation will never happen, if American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe has anything to do with it.
Lythgoe, 63, a British film and television director and producer of Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, was recently doorstepped by TMZ on his way to a Los Angeles restaurant.
Asked if he would ever consider inviting Bieber on the show as a mentor, the 63-year-old quipped back:
“Er, well, yes, I’m just trying to figure out what he’d mentor on.”
Persisting TMZ said: “Do you think it would help ratings?”
To which Lythgoe laughed, then replied: “It certainly would.”
It says something that even the idea of one of the most successful young male artists in recent musical history being considered as a mentor on a TV talent show is now a feeder line for a joke at Bieber’s expense, and could be a sign of where music industry perceptions are heading unless his run of bad press stops.
Bieber is currently being investigated by Los Angeles detectives over a battery allegation made by a neighbor in the Calabasas, Calif., gated enclave where the singer lives. The neighbor claims the 19-year-old spat on and threatened him during a heated argument last Tuesday concerning his alleged reckless driving in the area.
And the list of dramas continues.
Most recently, New York music manager Peter Mensch whose roster includes Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallica, Josh Groban, Muse and Snow Patrol to name a few, told The Sun: “I’d take Bieber to the woodshed and spank him.”
The 60-year-old music business veteran added:
“His manager Scooter Braun is scared s***less. I don’t know what Bieber’s problem is. His career is over in three years anyway.”
Then there was Mally. After jetting into Munich’s airport on Thursday ahead of a concert at the city’s Olympiahalle, Bieber tried to take his new pet capuchin monkey into the country.
There was only one snag. The 19-year-old had forgotten to bring Mally’s health certificate and other necessary papers. Customs officials promptly whisked the monkey off to quarantine and Bieber now faces a fine of $15,000 and possible prosecution.
Previous eyebrow raising incidents occurred during the London leg of Bieber’s Believe world tour. They included a “worst birthday,” parental and fan anger after a delayed stage show at London’s 02 Arena, persistent shirtlessness, gas mask wearing, and an expletive-filled clash with a British paparazzo in what the singer later called a “rough week.”
With Fox’s 12th season American Idol now in its finalist stage, show organizers will already be thinking about who will step up as next year’s mentors to help the new judges put singers through their paces.
However, it doesn’t sound as if Canada’s biggest export will be getting the call any time soon.
Is Lythgoe wrong? Would Bieber make a great American Idol mentor?
Sound off below.
[Image via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]
