One of the biggest talent competition reality TV shows in history is definitely American Idol. The show premiered in 2004 following the lives of singing hopefuls willing to perform as beginner-level contestants against thousands of other individuals chasing the same dream. Simon Cowell was one of the judges on the panel and he definitely made an impact on how the show will always be remembered.

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Despite the fact that he hasn’t been a judge on the show for a very long time, when people think of American Idol they think of the original cast--and he is one of the first faces people remember. Here’s what his life was like during his time on the show.

10 His Time On 'American Idol' Is Comparable To His Time On 'America’s Got Talent'

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Simon Cowell left American Idol and started working as a judge on America's Got Talent. The shows are different but still fairly similar. He said, “Funny enough, [AGT] reminds me of when I was on Idol in around about 2003 and 2004 when it was so much fun and there was just this great energy on the show on those couple of years. When I came and did this show, after a few days I thought, 'this reminds me of the same thing’ — it’s fun, it’s crazy, the panel is great. There’s an energy that reminds me of that." Working with amazing panels to judge and witnessing raw talent is something he experienced for both shows.

9 As A Judge, He Was Just Keeping It Real

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Simon Cowell was always known for being a bit... brash. And that is something he acknowledges. He said, “I know I have a reputation for being a bit rude — and I can be at times — but the thing I’m most excited about is the fact that we do actually find stars. If I come over as harsh at times, it’s only because I’m being real." He truly did always keep it real. Watching his judging scenes was always the most intense.

8 He Hated 'American Idol' Age Restrictions & Obnoxiousness

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Simon Cowell didn't necessarily approve of the age restrictions on American Idol. He said, “How can you say, ‘You can’t be a star [because of your age],’ And I found the word ‘Idol’ obnoxious to be honest with you. And why isn’t a 35-year-old as great as an 18-year-old? I just got to the point where this is not real, which is why I moved on.” He is absolutely right! Talent can be showcased from people at any age, below the age of 18 and above the age of 35.

7 He's Still Friendly With Some 'American Idol' Artists

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Simon Cowell is known for being a tough judge but that doesn't mean he didn't leave the show on good terms with some of the contestants. He said, “I mean I still like the show, but I was lucky because I went through the purple period with the artists that I am still friends with now. And we have remained amazingly good friends, we speak, hang out, and talk. So I had the good years!” Rumors went around that he was angry about his time on the show but that is false.

6 He Was Never Mean To Kelly Clarkson

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Kelly Clarkson is the first singer to ever win on American Idol. While Simon Cowell harshly critiqued other singers, he never critiqued her. She explained, "After one show, I asked Simon why he was never mean to me because he was so horrible to everybody else. He just told me that being mean wouldn't have inspired me."

RELATED: American Idol: The Most Successful Winners, Ranked By Net Worth

She continued, "So he never said one bad thing to me. Every week, I braced myself for it, but it just never came. I can be as insecure as the next person, but I'm different on stage. Up there, I'm more confident." There was never anything negative to say about Kelly Clarkson during her performances anyway. She was always a powerful singer.

5 He Was Never Mean To Ruben Studdard Either

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The same way Simon Cowell kept his lips sealed from saying negative things about Kelly Clarkson, he also never said a single bad thing about American Idol's second winner, Ruben Studdard. Simon must have known early on that Ruben was going to be great and that is why he avoided saying anything overly critical. He might have guessed that Ruben would come out on top. Ruben's singing abilities were clear from the first episode.

4 There Was Definitely Flirty Tension Between Him & Paula Abdul

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Fans of American Idol were constantly questioning if something romantic was going on between judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. in 2011, he had an interview with Barbara Walters and revealed that his relationship with Paula started off rocky.

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They didn't get along too well at the beginning but later on, something flirty sparked up between them. He said, "I think it was the sexual tension on her part. A million percent.” When Paula was asked about it she fully denied everything.

3 He Has Always Been Friends With Fellow Judge Randy Jackson

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Randy Jackson was on the original American Idol judges panel alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. Randy said, “[Simon] Cowell’s my boy, you know I mean I love him." It's obvious that all fans of the original reality show would totally love to see some sort of reunion including the original cast of judges.

2 He Predicted Success For Fantasia Barrino Before Her Third Season Win

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Before Fantasia Barrino won, Simon Cowell was already expecting she would thrive. He said, "She definitely has the potential to be a big recording artist. She's arguably the best contestant we've ever had on any Idol around the world." That is a huge compliment to receive from someone as picky and particular as Simon Cowell. He saw her potential and he spoke on it.

1 He Also Predicted Carrie Underwood's Future Success

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Simon Cowell predicted the success of Carrie Underwood the country-music-sweetheart before she won the fourth season of American Idol. He said, "The whole show was in what I call gray and white. It was nothing. And then, this shy lady walks in and sings 'I Can't Make You Love Me' and the show turned into full color at that point. I thought, 'We may have found a great artist here—and we did." He was right. Country music was never the same. She made huge waves in the music industry after her win.

NEXT: Which 'American Idol' Judge Has The Highest Salary?