Who is Simon Phillip Cowell? What does American Idol and Nasty have in common?

Brutal honesty comes to mind.

He is known as Mr. Nasty or Judge Dread in England. Mr. Cowell was born in Brighton, England. He is as short as you have heard it. It is true he stands only 5' 9" (1.75 m) tall as so many contestants have said on Americas American Idol.

For a high school drop out at the age of 16 he sure learned some smarts in the business savvy sectors of the Entertainment industry. Working his way up the latter as a mail boy at EMI.

He is　most recently noticed as one of the judges on American Idol and is quoted after being asked if he feels guilty about his harsh criticisms towards the contestants