Neil Patrick Harris On Judging American Idol in Dallas

By On 08/28/2009 · 39 Comments · In AI S9 Auditions, American Idol

Neil Patrick Harris spoke with EW about guest judging American Idol in Dallas last week.

He swears the audition rounds aren’t fixed, and that coming up with a new vocabulary is pretty tough. Plus, Simon is intimidating! Read more HERE.

I’d still perfor performers who aren’t in the music industry mentor rather than judge, but NPH seems to have taken on the challenge with the right attitude:

ETA: NPH will be hosting the upcoming Emmy’s.   He’s a big fan of So You Think You Can Dance and talked the Emmy producers into incorporating some dance into the show. SYTYCD’s lyrical hip-hoppers, Napoleon and Tabitha have been tapped to choreograph… Maybe we’ll see some former SYTYCD contestants performing, which would be awesome. It would almost make up for SYTYCD not being nominated in the Best Reality Series category….

Did you pick a role? Were you the stern-but-kind taskmaster? Were you snarky?
I was more than a little intimidated by Mr. Cowell. It’s his show, you know, so when you’re on that panel, I was wondering if it’s impolite to disagree with him, on a business level. He could wander over to the producer and whisper something and you’re suddenly gone and Joe Jonas is back. But I asked him, ‘Is it okay if I disagree with you?’  And he said, ‘Yes, do whatever you want. The one thing that you should know is that we’re totally winging it. We have no idea what’s going on. We have no idea what we’re doing here. We just judge the people as we see them.’  Which I kind of thought was a joke. In point of fact, it really isn’t. I thought there was a lot more shady dealing going on in there. I thought they would say, ‘This is one that we held for two years, this is a ringer, we want to keep him in,’  or, ‘Go to town on this one.’  There’s nothing going on. It’s exactly like it is. There’s the four of you on the table with the red Coca-Cola cups.

I feel like that goes away when you get on the panel for whatever reason, though, and you just start saying the same five words over and over again.
It’s hard when you’re up there to come up with different vocabulary. Nice. Good. Fantastic. I mean, you say those things over and over. They don’t have ghostwriters who come in. I think now that there’s only one girl on the panel, Kara’s taken on a more feminine role. She seems like a nicer and kinder Kara. But when someone sits outside for 11 hours in Dallas, Texas, to audition for American Idol, a show that they’ve seen, they know the beratement. They know the caustic judgment. And then they come out and they sing and they’re terrible. And they seriously think that they’re talented. They must be told that they’re terrible. They don’t need to be embarrassed. I would never tell someone that they’re ugly, or that they should be ashamed of themselves. But it’s now time for the family that’s always told them that they’re the best singer and that they could win it ‘” it’s time to let them know that they should probably not audition for this show anymore. And I had no problem being the guy to say that.

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  • oceana

    He could wander over to the producer and whisper something and you’re suddenly gone and Joe Jonas is back.

    Ha! I love NPH. And it’s fun to hear what the guest judges think.

    (but of course – if there is a plan they’re following, they aren’t going to let the guest judges know about it)

  • will

    There’s also this part of the interview, where he talks about hosting the Emmys:

    Will there be musical numbers?

    Yes. I love the So You Think You Can Dance show. I love it. I think it’s some of the best hours on TV. I think those dancers are extraordinary and, more so, I think those choreographers are uniformly amazing. So I pitched bringing back some sort of dance element to the awards show, which had been done away with because it seemed tepid. You have superstar dance people now that are outrageously talented. It’s like Cirque du Soleil level. They are doing things that are just sick. And so I got two of who I think are the best choreographers on SYTYCD ‘” Tabitha and Napoleon ‘“ to be involved in some movement elements. Because I think when dance is mediocre, it’s painful. But when dance is really impressive, it destroys.

    So that’s a point in his favor, right MJ?

  • CRB

    Why Neil Patrick Harris exactly? It seems like a bit of a strange choice.

  • http://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/ Starrlight

    Because NPH is teh win.

  • Yss

    He really loves the show so I’m very excited to see his episode…
    And I can’t get enough of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsLwpSZ0IfI …his paula impression is hilarious, yes, even better than Lisa Simpson’s…

  • spinastory

    Neil Patrick Harris to replace Paula.. yeah he has my vote.. oh wait that would mean I would have to watch AI this year..

  • movin2thabeet

    Why Neil Patrick Harris? Because he loves the show, because he’s an entertainer and knows what it takes to succeed, because he’s predisposed to tell the unvarnished truth – for starters. Out of all the guest judges we’ve heard about, I think he’s a great choice. I love that he’s moved out from the audience and onto the judging panel. It’s only natural, dawg.

  • http://mjsbigblog.com/voronas-ontario-american-idol-tour-recap.htm/feed/ vorona

    I’m happier than ever to have him guest judging this year. I love his thoughts and reactions. With luck, it will be legen…wait for it…wait for it…dary!

  • Susan M.

    I love this. Also, Yss, thanks for the flashback clip. Kelly, “Hear this, Sanjaya, hair and teeth will take you far …” Point.

    NPH won’t replace Paula, he has a hit sitcom to star in, but this was great insight.

    I didn’t realize he was producing and hosting the Emmy’s (did I read that right?) Wow. Love it. Little Doogie’s taking over Hollywood (and New York). He is smart, funny, engaging, honest and knows from talent.

  • LindaT

    “CRB
    Aug 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
    Why Neil Patrick Harris exactly? It seems like a bit of a strange choice.”

    One of the probable reasons that AI picked him as a guest judge is NPH has experience as a singer. He has appeared in Broadway musicals like Rent, Cabaret and Assassins. He also was in a concert verison of Sweeney Todd with Patti Lupone.

  • CRB

    Starrlight Aug 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Because NPH is teh win.

    Thanks for clarifying. I thought he was a washed out child actor. My bad, apparently.

    I hear Danny Bonaduce just luvs Idol, maybe he’s in the queue too. He could instruct the Idols how to lip sync for those great group numbers.

  • laurskaos

    Why NPH? Because he’s BFFs with Kara!! He talked about being friends with her when he was on Ellen sometime during last season. I love NPH and think he’s super talented, but I’m sure Kara had a little something to do with him being a judge :)

  • https://twitter.com/pmhowden undercooked

    I am so looking forward to NPH on AI. I love that he is an AI fan and therefore thinks like an AI viewer. We all have thought that the auditions were rigged and it’s nice that NPH addresses this.

  • isitoveryet

    Thanks for the YT clip. That was way too entertaining.

  • http://mjsbigblog.com/voronas-ontario-american-idol-tour-recap.htm/feed/ vorona

    Thanks for clarifying. I thought he was a washed out child actor. My bad, apparently.

    He hasn’t been Doogie to me for years. He’s too great on How I Met Your Mother. Now he’ll have to shake the Barney Stinson image, in my mind. ;)

    My sister met him in a Hollywood costume shop a few years back when he was returning an extra frilly pirate costume after Halloween. She joked with him about it, calling him Neil. When he left, he said, “Oh, and thanks for not calling me Doogie!” :tongue1_tb:

  • auntieaimee

    Also, Harold and Kumar… come on. He was hilarious in that.

  • RubySlippers

    One of the probable reasons that AI picked him as a guest judge is NPH has experience as a singer. He has appeared in Broadway musicals like Rent, Cabaret and Assassins. He also was in a concert verison of Sweeney Todd with Patti Lupone.

    Yes…and how about Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog..the Musical??????!!!
    http://www.hulu.com/watch/28343/dr-horribles-sing-along-blog

    He was awesome sauce in that.

    I think he is a great choice as a guest judge. Now Quentin Tarentino? that was weird.

  • sr4mjc

    That you tube is hysterical!

  • Susan M.

    He hasn’t been Doogie to me for years. He’s too great on How I Met Your Mother. Now he’ll have to shake the Barney Stinson image, in my mind. ;)

    He’s NPH, Broadway tour-de-force and Barney, for sure. I hesitated to refer to him as Doogie, I don’t think of him that way at all, but it was to only mark how far he’s come.

  • http://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/ Starrlight

    Yeah he’s so washed up he’s hosting the Emmy’s ;)

  • http://www.twitter.com/sarahruth3 Sarah

    LOL, NPH a washed out child actor? Can someone really be considered “washed out” when they’re on a hit tv show that’s been nominated for an Emmy, not to mention hosting both the Emmy’s AND the Tony’s?

    NPH, Kristin Chenowith (LOVE her) and Mary J. Blige will make the auditions worth watching for me.

  • deez

    Top 5 reasons NPH should do anything:

    1. He is awesome
    2. He is awesome
    3. He is awesome
    4. He is awesome
    5. See Above

  • http://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/ Starrlight

    Also, Harold and Kumar’ ¦ come on. He was hilarious in that.

    Oh he was totally epic in Guantanamo Bay

  • yinyang

    I’m not a fan of his, but enjoyed the article, and think I’d enjoy seeing him on AI, based on the article.

    He said that he brought signs to the AI show last season. Does anyone know what they said?

  • yinyang

    Just watched the YouTube video of NPH with Kelly, and that was great! If that’s what he’lll be like on the show, I want him on every week! (So much for saying that I’m not a fan of his. LOL.)

  • phildog716

    Starrlight Aug 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Because NPH is teh win.

    Thanks for clarifying. I thought he was a washed out child actor. My bad, apparently.

    I hear Danny Bonaduce just luvs Idol, maybe he’s in the queue too. He could instruct the Idols how to lip sync for those great group numbers.

    CRB, are you kidding me. NPH is one of the most relevant performers on television today. Additionally, He has appeared in no less than 7 Broadway musicals in the last 10 years, he hosted the Tony’s, is slated to do so again in 2010, and host/produce the Emmy’s.

    Comparing NPH to Danny Bonaduce, is like comparing you to someone knowledgeable with pop culture.

  • oceana

    I don’t see how Danny Bonaduce compares to NPH. NPH is multi-talented. I think some people remember him from Doogie Howser and don’t realize all that he is.

    He hosted the Tonys last June, and will host the Emmys in September. As people have said, he’s been in hit sitcoms, and in both musical and dramatic plays on Broadway.

    Danny Bonaduce is a reality-star regular. They are in different leagues.

  • NewFan

    The man is pretty stellar at everything he decides to do. And he seems like a good guy as well. I think he’s great. :biggrin_wp:

  • BootStar

    I’d tune in to watch NPH and Kristin Chenoweth guest judge pretty much anything, so this is just completely made of win IMHO. I consider them both first-rate talents, which is more than I can say for a lot of the hacks we’ve seen on Idol over the years, both as guest judges and mentors.

  • http://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/ Starrlight

    Ooo..givin’ Phildog two snaps up ;)

  • CRB

    phildog716 Aug 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
    CRB, are you kidding me.

    Yeah, I was, apparently, to no avail.

    Comparing NPH to Danny Bonaduce, is like comparing you to someone knowledgeable with pop culture.

    Given what I think of “pop culture” that is actually a compliment.

  • luvadamlambert

    Hahahaha I flove him!!!!

  • BestAI

    NPH. Luv the guy. He is extremely talented, and the industry is discovering how charismatic he is: hosting the Tony’s and now the Emmy’s. Wow! That is a huge gig. NPH also sounds very bright — really good in interviews.

  • http://absinthedreamers.blogspot.com/ Starrlight

    Given what I think of ‘pop culture’  that is actually a compliment.

    So then you are hanging out here on a pop culture oriented blog because…

  • useless

    To deez. NPH is not awesome. He is INCREDIBLY awesome. If he can host the Emmys as well as he hosted the Tony’s he will be in even BIGGER demand.

  • deez

    useless
    Aug 28th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
    To deez. NPH is not awesome. He is INCREDIBLY awesome. If he can host the Emmys as well as he hosted the Tony’s he will be in even BIGGER demand.

    I stand corrected :)

  • CRB

    Starrlight Aug 28th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Given what I think of ‘pop culture’  that is actually a compliment.

    So then you are hanging out here on a pop culture oriented blog because’ ¦

    Is that what MJ’s is. Back in the day this place was pretty much all AI5, all the time.
    I watch The Soup too, but don’t actually watch any reality television.

  • Grammie Kari

    CRB, I have a feeling you will enjoy NPH in the “judge” role! I also remember AI5. Quite the season on the forums, including MJ’s.

  • Grammie Kari

    It would almost make up for SYTYCD not being nominated in the Best Reality Series category’ ¦.

    (edit not working)

    Indeed, that was a major mistake, especially not recognizing the talent of Cat Deeley. As I said before, I hope AI can work in some of the SYTYCD dancers for the show. I wonder if the theme, Musical Theater will be used this year?