Randy Jackson Feels "Idol"

I think so. I think that's why Simon walked out [last Wednesday]. It was a tough day in San Francisco, and he just couldn't take it. The heat got a little too hot in the kitchen for the boy. Some would say that maybe it was the time of the month for the dude. Whatcha gonna do? C'mon, you gotta hang in there, son!

What are you a sucker for in a contestant?

I don't care what you look like -- if you're blowing and you're singing in tune and you're great. Yo, this is what this competition is about. With Simon, the look thing is very important. And, I mean, it's important to me too, but it's secondary to the talent. Because I know as a producer that if I find someone that can blow and I've got a good song, we're gonna get some love.

How important is it for someone to be comfortable in their own skin?

I think it's extremely important. Nerves say to me that you haven't been doing this long enough and that you're going to fall apart at any minute. So I always tell people that one of the best things I did as a musician coming up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was I played a thousand million gigs. I mean, I played in bars for no money, weddings, bar mitzvahs, whatever. Anywhere I could play, I played. Because what that does is that helps you become more seasoned and also gives you a platform to try out everything: change your hair color, change your clothes, play differently, sing differently. That's like your rehearsal time. So when you get your shot, you're ready. And you're like, "Yo, I don't care. I'm ready for this! Ain't nobody going to stop me now!"

Among the new contestants, do you think Paris [Bennett] is a shoe-in? Or Katherine [McPhee]?

I think Paris is very talented. I think she has potential to be in the Top Twelve -- Katherine as well. But I don't think any of them are shoe-ins, because what you have to remember is that you have to be great every week. And America has to vote for you -- so that's also a wildcard. We comment, but some weeks America's with us and some weeks they're like, "Yo, those judges are crazy. I don't know what they're talking about, dawg!"