Jimmy Iovine: The New Simon Cowell?

THE NEW SIMON? American Idol fans have been hoping for a successor to the acerbic Simon Cowell, and one may well have emerged last night as Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine made his first serious contribution to the show. Introduced as someone who once worked with John Lennon for a Beatles tribute in Vegas, a grim-faced Iovine cast his critical eye on one trio’s version of “If I Fell,” offering: “You aren’t going to win singing that song.” Later on, sitting amidst what was described as “some of the top record producers in the business,” a deadly serious Iovine lectured another hopeful: “Are you singing it in a bar, or a wedding or as karaoke…that’s not what we’re looking for.” Stay tuned for more. (2/24p)