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Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell has become one of the most famous music pundits in the world after his scathing rejections of the young hopefuls who appear on not just the UK show but the US equivalent.
Simon has become a hate figure for many but there are fans who love him. Paula Cook from Oklahoma set up a website entitled Simply Simon in his honour.
She says: "I think Simon is sexy and brilliantly funny. Other than that, I do agree with most of what he says."
Cook first fell for Simon when she saw him on American Idol, the US version of Pop Idol. She tells us: "I liked his broad shoulders and chest, dazzling smile, and a sexy voice helped.
"All of this was reinforced when he got up on stage on American Idol and did push-ups with Josh, a contestant who was a US marine."
She says he's harsh but fair in his judgments of young hopefuls. "If Simon isn't the one to tell them they aren't cut out for the music business, someone else down the line will. The only difference is this happens on national TV so millions of people can see it and form their opinions about it.
"Sometimes he is rude, I won't dispute that. But generally I don't think it's unjustified. He has the guts to say what most of us are thinking but wouldn't have the courage to say ourselves."
Cook reckons he appeared on US TV at exactly the right time to make him a star across the Atlantic.
She says: "American Idol premiered at the height of the reality TV craze and Simon got lucky. I know several people, like him or hate him, who tuned in just to see what Simon would say next.
"I also know there are a lot of women in the US who find the British accent sexy, so I'm sure that helped."
Cook admits she's not impressed by the star's high regard for himself. "I don't think arrogance is an attractive quality in anyone. I do pity the women who fall for Simon. He seems to be a die-hard bachelor. It will certainly take a one-of-a-kind woman to rein him in!"
Her admiration for Cowell means she's not bothered by jibes about the star's high waistband, which critics say is designed to hide his waist. She says: "I never paid attention until I read one of the scathing Simon reviews on the internet."
She is also unconvinced by those who cast doubts on Cowell's sexuality. "I don't believe he is gay, but if it turned out to be true it wouldn't affect my opinion of him," she says.
