but i think in those early seasons that original judging panel having -- having the expertise of simon cowell because the thing about simon was he was mean, but more often than not he was right. so, that sort of impeccable taste clearly creates stars. >> let's go out to our stars right now, fantasia, take us back to your first moment, that first moment of your first audition. >> well, i'll have to say there was a lot of powerhouses in that building in atlanta. a lot of people that were very, very talented and so, you know, i was very nervous and i wanted to do my best. i always heard a lot about simon. had never seen him. gave all that i had. >> i want to hear from ruben. hi, ruben. how are you? great to see. >> you hey, how are you? >> i want to ask you about your first "idol" stage moment. what do you remember most? >> i just remember, you know, coming on stage and, you know, being in the room with, you know, the fans that were in the room, how excited they were and i remember first coming into the building watching everybody outside waiting for their chance to get in the building was just

>> larry: i don't care about simon cowell!ead as "american idol"? (imitating seacrest) we'll find out... after the break! ♪ "nightly!" >> larry: grace! please put your leg down. i want to discuss the panama papers' global impact. i mean, they expose suspicious ties to vladimir putin. >> grace: that's right, larry. and they expose putin's long- awaited foray into hollywood action films. >> larry: grace, he's not trying to be an action star. >> grace: think about it, larry -- sexy tax evasion? rugged shirtless photos? mmm, mmm! i'd say this russian bad-boy is one more assassination away from the next expendables sequel! ♪ "nightly!" ♪ >> larry: stop it, enough! this is a serious issue. >> grace: yes, it's serious, but it's also dry! you can have serious and sexy, but not serious and dry. look, do you think people care about boring holding companies? or the fact that jackie chan has one? >> larry: (excited) wait... jackie chan was named in the panama papers? >> grace: yes, larry. it may be 11:30 in new york, but do you know what

. >> reporter: simon cowell knew talent when he heard it. >> i will make the prediction, not only willu will sell more records than any other previous "idol" winner. >> reporter: he was right. carrie underwood has gone on to sell more than 58 million albums and win 13 grammys. >> i love that she's gone on to be a big star and he had predicted that, simon. >> reporter: cowell's signature snarkiness was a trademark. >> amazingly dreadful. >> reporter: chemistry part of the early success. >> i will bow to the god of paula abdullah. >> reporter: paula abdullah got a spinoff reality show "hey paula." the star's odd behavior led some viewers to question whether she had a substance abuse problem. >> i am exhausted! >> reporter: allegations she addressed on "nightline" in 2009. >> i've never been addicted to any prescription drugs. i've never been drunk. i have worked my whole life. i'm not the girl that's in those tapes. >> reporter: paula, simon, and randy eventually moved on themselves replaced by a revolving door of celebrities. among them ellen degeneris, steven tyler, jennifer lopez, and

simon cowell. billy was so distraught over idol ending he had to take the day off. look

then i probably dropped off a little bit after simon cowell. i liked j.nd harry connick jr., what a cutie. >> i don't think i've ever watched the show. it indulges the worst behavior. there are a lot of lonely people who think they can sing. and they don't have anybody who can tell them they can't sing. >> this is why it is important with friends and family who try to dash your dreams. your dreams need to be crushed before you embarrass yourself in frochbl millions of people. >> you sing. >> do i. >> not only was it phenomenal to see people lined up to get the chance to go to hollywood. in my home, man, the ladies. they just crushed it. they would set up. it would be a party. peel in the neighborhood want to watch american idol. . >> all right. now that's not easy. >> you just proved my point. he just proved my point. >> he is having a good time. >> that should be illegal. >> he already did his dream. >> are you sure? >> he is already a winner. we're pretty certain. >> who is he again? >> he is relate to do this guy eli. >> i got it. >> but, dana, by your

carrie clarkson and carrie underwood are scheduled to perform, and rumors that simon cowell may return during the finale. >>> 4:26 am is the time. >>> new admission numbers at the university of california and what has changed. >>> controversy in san francisco where the well-known adult film studio is looking to branch out and turn into a concert venue. we will tell you why some neighbors are pushing back against the plan. >>> good morning and welcome back to mornings on 2 on this tuesday, april 5. can you believe it's april? >> i cannot believe it's april, it is flying by, and good morning, and i am pam cook. we need to figure out the middle initial, but not "w." as in whiz kid. >>> i'm trying to update a graphic on the record highs. me and my army of one will have to do that. we will have temperatures on the rise, cooler for some with a northerly breeze, and san francisco 57 on sunday, 65 yesterday, 75 today and peaking at 88. warm tomorrow, with a northerly breeze. there are some signs out in the valley, and santa rosa had some wind but that has fallen apart. if you get that breezy c

. ♪ >> original judges paula abdul, sandy jackson and simon cowell showed up to congratulate everyonen the long run and we are live in l.a. with a full break down. that is coming up. can't wait for that. >> yes. the time is now about ten minutes after the hour. trampled. >> as soon as he started running towards me i knew he was going -- he meant business. >> an escaped bull on the loose running down people and creating chaos on the highway. >>> and a flight of the future equipped with more space and high tech entertainment systems. >>> oh, and this one is such a tear jerker, the amazing moment that a baby sees his mother for the very first time. >>> while campaigning in new york today hillary clinton rode the subway and had to swipe her metro card five times before getting through a turnstile, though if you know hillary clinton you know she'll keep trying until she gets in. for fan emily skinner, each day was fueled by thorough preparation for events to come. well somewhere along the way, emily went right on living. but you see, with the help of her raymond james financial advisor, sh

threerr judges performing and therminan original paula abdul, randybduld jackson and the infamous simon cowellt's crazy, man.azy, it's like a lot of emotions.moti a lot of tears.ears a lot of people sad. it was amazing that simon showeo up. we didn't think he was going to. that kind of blew us away. so we were actually really shocked at that moment. >> i shed some tears because itu meant a lot. i was very very blessed andnd fortunate to and beyond gratefua that was one.e. ♪ >> reporter: in the end the ground-breaking show sang its sg last note leaving a lasting and historic mark on the industryndy forever.ve >> you really get to see what an impact american idol has had ono the music industry over the lase 15 years.ea i mean, there have been so manym big names to come out of this ot show it's really -- it's almosts over will ming i think.mi >> somebody will make movieody about this one day. one d. i mean, idol -- idol is a machine that pumps out super stars you know i'm just blessed to be able to have thatt opportunity to maybe go be one. ♪ >> reporter: in hollywood,, michelle polino, fox news.

. >> simon cowell was back joining the show's other original judges, paula abdul, randy jackson on stageabdul why she was so mean to the contestants while he was trying to be helpful. cowell had said he wasn't going to attend the show and obviously he did. and so did this guy. ♪ she bangs, she moves an she stings like a bee like every girl in history ♪ >> she bangs. >> you guys have similar singing voices. >> hey. we sound good. twitter blew up when william hung made it to the stage. >> he proved t bust out a stirring rendition of "she bangs." >> yes. enrique -- not enrique but ricky is jealous. it was kind of like free bird only bad. it was awful. but it's what we would expect from william hung. >> totally right. >> before we wrap up american idol coverage, there's actually a new "american idol." he's 24-year-old trent harmon who calls himself just a dude from mississippi. he won a recording contract in addition to being named the show's final idol. it will be interesting to see what happens. people have done so well. not just the winners but even the people who came in number two or th

harmon was crowned the winner of the show's final season, carrie underwood and original judges simon cowelld paula abdull and saluted ryan seacrest the only cast member to be part of every season. >>> looking live now from dillworth park, look at all the folks waiting for the villanova wildcats to come. we are 4 minutes and counting from the start of the parade. it's an exciting afternoon. still on the chilly side as melissa magee tells us but these folks don't seem to care. >> they are too excited waiting for the action later on. we'll show you the numbers, we are maxing out on the cool side a high of 55 and and winds 12 to 20 miles per hour. and 51 in allentown un52 in cape may and 52 in lancaster, we are dry this afternoon but we are tracking snow as we head into saturday. rain and wet snow i want to say, we'll have more details coming up today on "action news" starting at 4:00. >> that will do it for "action news" at noon, don't forget to join us for "action news" at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00. for the entire "action news" team i'm rick williams we'll be back with the victory parade for villan

ended its 15th and final season with a bang last night on fox live from the infamous former judge simon cowelle an appearance. before the curtain went down it crowned its final new idol. >> trent harvin. he wins tonight. >> well, there were quite a few blasts from the past including idols most misfit contestant william hung. he proved that he can still belt out a rendition of "she bangs." >> william hung for "american idol." forever. ♪ she bangs >>> devastated grade schoolers in england are pleading for help to find their dog sam who's literally lost in space. >> he is an adorable stuffed toy. the students used it in an experiment while studding space exploration and rigged him with a gopro, a tracking device and decided to launch him with helium balloons. >> sam actually hit an altitude of about 82,000 feet. then he had equipment failure and the equipment fell to earth and he hasn't been seen since. they've issued a missing poster happy friday! but if are planning on spending your weekend out doors... you better bundle up. a freezee warning is in effect.. and this chilly weather is sticking a

who will be the idol all of it announced tonight and we do know that simon cowell is going to be partf it. so dawn and iain, all kinds of crazy logistical nightmare issues happening which means that this show is only going to be much more exciting. we do know that brine dunkelman who starter it all 15 seasons ago with ryan seacrest is going to open the show. we expect a couple of moments of levity there. we also know that ryan seacrest parents have been flown in. originally simon was supposed to surprise ryan but we tmz and all the different outlets, ryan obviously knows that his old buddy sigh upon could you well is here for the last show. dawn and iain back to you guys in philadelphia. >> sounds super exciting. thanks so much, jenn. good don't miss the final american idol tonight on fox 29 followed by a full wrap of the days, news, weather and sports on fox 29 news at 10:00. >>> howard? >> those phillies still find ways to lose baseball games. not pretty again. and sam hinkie decided he didn't want to be told what to do and said i'm done. brett brown looks at what this means for him

. >> what are you, simon cowell? >> it sounded a little pitchy for me. >> tough to impress. right. >> we'll listen to it a little bit later on in "the skinny." >> kendis throwing down the gauntlet. >> great, fantastic. >> we begin with some history on the hardwood in oakland. the golden state warriors crushed the single season wins record set by the bulls in '95-'96 season with the victory number of 73 and, of course, kobe bryant walked away from the game after 20 seasons in front of a very appreciative hometown crowd. >> you know it's a big night for nba when this happens. even the president tweeting about it. he's a big fan of basketball and he tweeted big night for basketball. warriors chasing 73 and a farewell for an all-timer kobe bryant. you see little dance. >> steve curry dance. >> yeah, exactly. two extraordinary endings there in the nba. take a look. >> overnight not one but two historic moments in basketball with the nba saying good-bye to one legend and crowning a new one. the golden state warriors making history becoming the first team to go 73-9 breaking the le

even infamous former judge simon cowell made an appearance, but before the curtain went down, the show its final new idol. >> trent harmon. he wins tonight. >> well, there were quite a few blasts from the past including "idol's" most infamous misfit contestant william hung. he proved that he can still belt out a strong rendition of "she bangs." >> oh, man, william hung for "american idol" forever. ♪ she bangs ♪ >> okay, some devastated grade schoolers in england are pleading for help to find their dog sam who's literally lost in space. >> sam is an adorable stuffed toy. the students used it in an experiment while studying space exploration, so they actually rigged sam with a gopro, a tracking device and decided to launch him with helium balloons. >> okay, so sam actually hit an altitude of about 82,000 feet, then he had equipment failure, and the equipment fell to earth without him, and he hasn't been seen since. they've issued a missing poster with specifics just in case anyone who finds him or his remains, shall we say. >> oh, my gosh. well, we hope that there is a good ending to thi

simon cowell, paula abdul and randy jackson.course, the crowning of the final winner, 25-year-old trent harmon took the stage. he sang as the last "american idol" winner. what a good run. i'm sure many will miss that show. >>> let's go to politics now. hillary clinton was in new york city yesterday. the former senator was in new york and she rode the subway, nine blocks with residents. she greeted fellow passengers before struggling to swipe her metro card five times before making it through the turnstile. that's an experience that every new yorker can relate to. speaking of swipes she said that during the first term they went from tokens to metro cards. bernie sanders said, you get a token and you go in. if you thought that was an interesting ride, wait until you see this. two suspected burglars leading police on a wet and wild chase through los angeles. at one point dropping the top on the stolen mustang convertible in the rain no less. and doing doughnuts in the middle of hollywood boulevard. then on the freeway, a tmz tour b

dynamic played out well on television's the one who could forget her love-hate relationship with simon cowell? we will have a one-on-one with paula abdul. dari: and the latest body how women are using iphone six >> it was the ultimate american idol reunion. a trip down memory lane. they hit the stage to kick off the series finale and crown the last american idol. julie chang has a more in los angeles right now. very emotional night. >> it is so good seeing you all the way in new york. i don't think they realize where we are talking to right now. we are live in new york. [cheers] >> we are waiting for the american idols to come out. in the meantime let's talk about this historic journey. tens of thousands of people tried out the season and millions have tried out over the course of last 15 years and all of that history wraps up to the contestants tonight and this very moment. >> the winner of american idol season 15 is trent harmon. [cheers] to i was inside the theater for that crowning moment. i could not help but think back to a story that he told me not to long ago. he said that his journey

we're live in five, four, three, two, one. [ cheers and applause ] simon cowell, ladies and gentlemen!

we'll we see simon cowell one last time? >> you tell me.ey don't tell me anything. i know there will be amazing performancing there and i know i'll be performing and jenny and keith also. but, boy, it's like for knox there. >> looking back over the years of idol, even before you were involved, what were some of the greatest hits for you? was it the judges in the beginning? some of the names who are superstars today? >> two words, four sill syllables. >> i want to take a moment meant talk about your new variety show coming later to fox this fall. >> i can't wait. this is very, very exciting. i'm probably more fired up about this than anything i've ever done. on september 12 i have a new daytime show called harry, and it's comedy and live music and i'll have my band there everyday, spontaneous and celebrating every day, folks, all over this great country. i'm beyond excited. i can't wait. >> i imagine you will do some singing yourself on harry. >> yes. the thing, it's going to be unpredictable. we'll get this audience in a room everyday and h

number one question for you, mike jerrick, is this: will simon cowell show up? controversy here. no one really knows what's up. we don't know what will happen. i mean, you can expect paula and randy, and j-lo, obviously, and maybe even ellen. but the big, the big mama question for this mama, is simon coming? >> there is only one person i want to see, brian suckelman. >> he better show up. here is a fact, ready? brian dunk he willman's cousin is the guy that chops the wood where my in-laws have a ski house. so, just follow me. when brian dunkelman and ryan seacrest were the first hoses and he looks just like the wood guy, right? jack, my father-in-law, is like, is that the wood guy on that tv channel with jen? dollars wood guy. do we have to worry about wood? it is july, remember? jack, the wood guy, like you can't be the wood guy and on the show. >> we sent her 3,000 miles for that report. >> we'll see you tomorrow, jen. >> winning shot, winning shot. one of the networks had charles barkley and kenny smith at a table just like this, at the corner of the arena, a

the three original judges randy jackson and paula abdul and simon cowell made annance in the final showporter: it wasn't just the end of a reality show. it was the end of an era. a number one show in its early years, "american idol" has been stuck in idle the last few seasons as viewership declined. thanks to the return of the show's winners, they rekindled good-bye. ♪ >> reporter: from season four winner carrie underwood, to season one winner kelly clarkson. ♪ since you've been gone >> reporter: the "american idol" finale not only provided a who's who of idols past but who is that? performance after performance reminding music fans of all the talent that crossed the show's stage over the last 15 seasons. not only winners like fantasia. ♪ >> reporter: but also successful stars who didn't win like jennifer hudson. ♪ you're not going to lose it no, remember the music ♪ >> reporter: and chris daughtry. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: some of show's most touching moment came from the original judges, paula abdul and randy jackson expressed surpr that simon cowell joined them for the sendoff. >> thank you,

simon cowell and randy jackson and paula abdul reunited. and keith urban performed with winner carrie underwood. trent harmon beat porshae. >> if you got runner up, sometimes they did better. >> congratulations to both of them. >> i'm sure they will do just fine. >>> new video of the brussels airport bomber on the run. what investigators are revealing about the terrorists coming up next. re y cking your edit score?" "you don't want to live with mom and dad forever, do you?" "boo!" (laughs) "i'm making smoothies!" "well...i'm not changing." "so, how can i check my credit score?" "credit karma. don't worry, it's free." "hmmmm." "credit karma. give yourself some credit." >>> brussels police releasing new images of the third suspected bomber walking calmly from the crime. take a look. authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying him. they believe he left a bomb at the airport. police are confident he is the same man seen in the images in the terminal moments before the bombing. >>> happening now, u.s. and coalition troops prepari

. >> we were talking on harry connick junior, and a lot of people want to know if simon cowell was comingack and he would not answer, so i take that as a yes. a lot of people refer to simon and paula and randy as magic in a bottle, so we'll have to see. >>> the 49ers started their off season work-out program and quarterback kaepernick was there. he'll be paid $400,000 as a bonus for participating in 90% of that program. yesterday marked the first time the new head coach chip kelly was allowed to talk foothills with his player but he's not allowed to interact or watch them on the field for two more weeks. kaepernick said he wants a trade. talks have heated up with the broncos last week but appear to be on hold due to issues over kaepernick's salary. >>> he's being honored as a hero. they came out to welcome the soldier home who was injured in the iraq war. >> san jose, an american hero has returned home! [cheering-applause] >> ron hinkle was all smiles when he arrived at the airport in san jose yesterday, greeted by fellow military men and women and volunteers, all waiting to shake his han

three-part season finale kicks off tonight right here on ktvu channel to, 2 and there are rumors that simon cowell may return. he needs to since he started this entire thing. >>> one of the victims in a series of bb gun shootings in san leandro is talking now.>> i heard something go by and i dropped to the ground and i thought they were shooting. >> his response after he realized abb hit him in the head. >>> whether to increase rent, last night at the city council meeting in san mateo, and we will tell you the decision made and what will happen going forward.>>> the morning commute is getting a little bit busier on some of the major roads, and we will t more about this straight ahead.>>> starting off clear and cold for some, 40s and sunshine with warmer temperatures, we will show you coming up. ♪ ♪ maxx life in store and online. find brands you love at prices that work as hard as you do. maxx life in store and online. (music plays from one way or another )♪♪ ♪ i'm gonna find y♪ i'm gonna getcha ♪ ♪ getcha getcha getcha ♪ one way or another ♪ ♪ i'm gonna win ya ♪ i'm gonna getcha ♪ ♪ getcha getcha

simon cowell did make an appearance, big surprise, he what do you think of what he looks like right there> of course. >> a little scruff i. >> so we will meet you right back here a at this desk at 1:00 p.m. for villanova wildcats their parade, they are national champions. >> we have to celebrate. >> lets get this parade going, mike. >> they say there might be a hundred thousand people. is there a live shot at 20th and market down to city hall. we will see you at 1:00 everybody. >> announcer: live from new york city, it's the "wendy williams show." >> with all due respect, my girls have always turned out. i give it to you straight. now, here's wendy! >> wendy: ta-da! [ cheers and applause ] >> wendy: thanks for watching. say hello to my co-host, my

we hear that simon cowell will be there. >> i wonder if paula abdul is going to show up?els, belgium, are doing a push to find a suspect involved in the deadly airport bombing. plus we have new details surrounding a suspect in the paris terror attacks. we'll tell you what a judge in belgium is expected to decide today. >>> and a graffiti problem that has become a downtown epidemic, the extra layer of security being added at san jose city hall. we'll be right back. >> we are live in anitoch this morning. we are following a serious injury crash. coming up, the new details we just learned. >> also, how police are patrol a stretch of highway 80 in the east bay after a series of shootings. "mornings on 2" continues right now. >> 7:00 on this huge day for bay area sports fans. starting off with a live look at at&t park. this is where the giants' opening day is about to start. they take on the l.a. dodgers this afternoon. meanwhile, the oakland a's are playing the white sox. >>> the san jose sharks will play the jets. the warriors fans get to see the splash brothers face off aga

simon cowell was not here and people are curious about how he influenced all of you guys for the bettersimon as the face and voice of the the music industry. everybody would always be like how he would be in person. i always said simon, he was a pro. he knows what he is saying and doing. if you cannot handle criticism from simon you cannot handle this business because reality is this business is tough and you have to have thick skin. i started building up my thick skin on idol and he is definitely someone i admire because he is no nonsense. >> the new panel, jenny, keith, and harry, do you have a favorite among them. >> harry, absolutely. i think, besides his personality, that is always great for tv but way he brings things down from just a music perspective. he is such a genius, great musician, writer and i just love watching him, i think it is fantastic and someone i really want to work with too. >> you are here. you guys were here because there was a little dress rehearse aal here. >> i was lucky enough to sit in and watch all my friend get up there and do their thing. you guys are i

. >> well, jen also catching up for danny gokey to get his take on the infamous judge simon cowell. >one the truth, sometimes that is kind. sometimes truth gross you, if you get offended by the truth, then hey, you ain't going to grow. so i think his negative or what came off as negative comments actually took us to stretch us and grow us and become better performers. >> i like that. >> season win. err, melinda told jen what her opinion was on the city brotherly love. >> like my favorite to the do shows in. you guys have the best audiences in the country. no lie. like even when i was a backgrounds singer and we would tour through philly, there is just something so hype about the audiences there, i'm getting chills thinking about it, like i love philly, love it. >> welcome on back. jen come back, too, she will be live on good day all morning starting at 8:00. >> yes. >> okay, there are only two contestant left fighting to be the next identify. >> okay? >> so listen to this. >> ♪ if you don't know me by now ♪ >> oh, you know her, that's la porche, then that's trent, daulton was sent hom

he wasn't quite simon cowell but he was pretty good with his constructive criticism. >> when it's a beatthree, two, one -- all right? >> a "lockup" producer takes one for the team. but first -- >> shabang is the only bags of chips you're going to get when you're incarcerated. you can't get them on the out. >> the unofficial potato chip of jails and prisons everywhere. io relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. this is humira helping me reach for more. doctors have been prescribing humira for more than ten years. humira works for many adults. it targets and helps to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone t

named in the "panama papers" is former "american idol" judge and professional t-shirt stretcher, simon cowellughter ] the documents name cowell as the sole shareholder of two british virgin islands companies set up to purchase land in barbados, where he apparently loves to jet ski. and this photo brings us to one of the most important but overlooked lessons from this scandal -- no one ever looks cool on a jet ski. [ laughter ] especially when you're standing. what are you trying to see that you can't see sitting? [ laughter ] if there's ocean traffic? [ laughter ] so those are the legitimate ways you can use an offshore company. but more often than not, these kinds of accounts serve as tax havens that allow the wealthy to anonymously stash their income offshore and shield it from taxes or other government supervision. transparency advocates like the former greek finance minister, yanis varoufakis, have celebrated the release of the documents. although in varoufakis' case, i'm not sure he's really capable of celebrating anything. >> well firstly i'm exceptionally pleased that there are many of

the names include simon cowell, movie director pedro on bolivar, sarah ferguson, actor jackie chan, chessr, all use offshore services from the firm. while there is no suggestions that and any of them broke laws, we do have uk's prime ministerdavid cameron whose father used the panama law firm . he is due to hold an international conference on offshore shells next month as president barack obama continues to argue that the problem is that a lot of this stuff is legal, not illegal. meantime the print treasury department once to do more to nail down the identities of shell owners and panama is now creating a new commission to improve transparency in the offshore industry and just within the past two hours russian president vladimir putin put out this statement. he is saying his name is not found anywhere in the panama papers, saying there is no corruption whatsoever connected to the office of the presidency in russia. back to you. >> but some of his cronies were. jon: the story is going to get bigger. new info on the fate of a woman known as the bridal burglar. police say denise burns dress-

so did movie star jackie chan, soccer phenom, lionel messy, and music producer, simon cowell.sonal wrongdoing. cowell and messy have denied doing anything improper or illegal. chan has not yet commented publicly. in all, the accounts are linked to 200 countries and at least 140 politicians and public officials from around the world. now we should make clear that just holding money in an offshore company isn't automatically illegal, but it does raise an antenna. such financial arrangements can possibly be used to commit illegal acts, such as money laundering or tax evasion. where are all of these americans on the list? according to mcclatchy, the records includes the passports of 200 americans and addresses of 3,500 clients. sounds like a lot, but consider that the law firm at the center of this set up a quarter million companies in all. and so far, we haven't heard of any americans that would match the international star power of the names we've heard overseas. but the justice and treasury departments are digging through these documents to double check and make sure. horry fri

simon. >> reporter: cowell's signature snarkiness was a trademark. >> amazingly dreadful. >> reporter: chemistrycess. >> i will bow to the god of paula abdullah. >> reporter: paula abdullah got a spinoff reality show "hey paula." the star's odd behavior led some viewers to question whether she had a substance abuse problem. >> i am exhausted! >> reporter: allegations she addressed on "nightline" in 2009. >> i've never been addicted to any prescription drugs. i've never been drunk. i have worked my whole life. i'm not the girl that's in those tapes. >> reporter: simon, and randy eventually moved on themselves replaced by a revolving door of celebrities. among them ellen degeneris, steven tyler, jennifer lopez, and of course nicki minaj who feuded with cojudge mariah carey. >> nobody said every moment, excuse me, that the -- can i make -- oh, doorling -- >> it was really fun to watch because they really are two divas. their feuds were all about themselves. >> this is "american idol"! >> reporter: the one constant on the show, perennial host ryan seacrest. >> i was terrified. i put on a brave face