Fast forward 20 years. I think something serious happened the other day. It looked like this.
You may think it's just an innocent scene, but dear readers the devil himself is at work here. Oh yes. Simon Cowell, one of the richest and most influential people in entertainment appeared on the Oprah show. Oprah is one of the richest and most influential people in entertainment. Between them, they have a pretty strong grip on the attitudes and buying power of their fans and followers. Simon was on the show to promote American Idol. While he was there, he happened to also give away £80,000 of his own money to pay off the mortgage of a family who are caring for a sick child. It looks better in dollars: $162,000. By doing this random act of kindness, Simon has ensured that the Oprah show has hit the headlines around the world. Mr Nasty has a soft side. Massive publicity. People are watching the programme on Oprah.com, YouTube... all because he has done something nobody thought him capable of.
Or at least thats what we are supposed to believe.
While he was there, Simon also took the time to introduce a certain Leona Lewis to the Oprah show. Number of viewers: 13 million. Leona gets wheeled out, sings her song (amazingly as usual.. this is not a Leona bashing post I think she is a great singer). Oprah then gushes about how amazing Leona is. Simon calls her the nicest person he has ever met.
What happens on US iTunes within 24 hours?
Now, that's great for Leona who I am absolutely sure is making just as much money as Simon Cowell. I am sure she gets a bigger % of sales than he does. Actually, I don't believe that at all. Through her appearance on Oprah and subsequent sales, Simon has probably had the £80,000 paid back several times over.
Still, it's a win-win-win-win situation so who am I to complain.
3 comments:
While generally agreeing with your blog and your view on Cowell the anti-christ, thought it worth pointing out that Leona Lewis had already hit #1 on US iTunes before appearing on Oprah on Monday. Bleeding Love had overtaken Usher's "Love In This Club" sometime on Sunday evening.
Also according to Billboard Bleeding Love had the second highest sales in the USA last week (the sales week runs from Monday to Sunday so the "Oprah effect" will show up in next week's chart).
John
Thank you for your sagely words John. I am grateful for your corrections :)
Cowell can also write the money he donated off as a tax thingie (don't know the official word). He said it made him feel good...I bet it did! Actually I'm a big Cowell fan because he does do good deeds -he even has his own dog rescue centre (and I'm not talking about his girlfriends).
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