MANILA, Philippines?Simon Cowell may be notorius and controversial for his acerbic, brutally frank nature as a judge on ?American Idol,? but it?s his pronouncements that audiences around the world await.

Cowell, who runs his own music label and produces other reality TV shows, is on his last season as ?Idol? judge. He?s launching the US version of ?X Factor? in 2011.

In a conference call with the entertainment press from across the United States, Cowell was asked about the chances of a woman winning ?AI? this year, Paula Abdul, Ellen DeGeneres and his future replacement:

Is it important to you that a woman should win ?American Idol? this year?

It depends, what she?s like. We?ve had a few years now of guys winning the show and I would say there is definitely a better chance of a girl winning it this year, certainly than last year.

What would be the right type?

Somebody who represents what is going on at the moment. I?d love to find a Taylor Swift, somebody relevant, rather than just a contest winner.

How do you balance what?s good for the TV show with what?s good for the music industry?

We put a variety of people through primarily on [the basis of] talent and interest in them as people. If you just pick everybody because they look the way you think they should look, it happened a few years ago. I remember every blond girl in the competition looked identical. I think it?s important that you can recognize talent, personalities, so I think it?s good that we have a mixed bag this year.

There are stories about you and Ellen DeGeneres not getting along.

I wouldn?t say that? It was a difficult position for her because she started work on the Hollywood Week. There was one story I read that I turned up an hour late or something and that she wanted to film. The truth was, I turned up 15 or 20 minutes late because I did a press conference earlier in the day and they did start filming, but that wasn?t a particular problem. There was no fallout. I was trying to guide her through the week and that was about it.

Do you miss Paula?

Paula?s my friend. I mean, amazingly, even though we used to argue a lot, she was somebody I just got very close to over the years. We?d hang out together after the show. She always made me laugh. I do miss her.

How much music experience should a judge have?

It?s interesting that when we first started we had a record producer, an artist and an A&R man, so you?ve covered pretty much everything you need to do. I would say somebody who?s had managerial experience is always very helpful, but in simplistic terms? you genuinely need to know what you?re talking about.

Are those comments directed at Ellen?

I?ll tell you why I think Ellen was a good choice. She actually is very responsible for people performing on her own show. And she loves music and she?s been an artist, so no, it wasn?t meant to diss her credentials.