TORONTO - Straight-talking "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell has some advice for scandal-plagued starlet Britney Spears: get out of the media glare and try living a normal life for six months.
The caustic Brit, known for delivering the harshest barbs on the reality singing contest, says the troubled pop star needs to be reminded of all the good things in her life, including her kids and her success.
And Cowell says he's willing to help Spears gain some perspective.
"It looks to me at the moment that she's out of control and that she's got to have someone in her life who she's got to listen to," Cowell said Wednesday in a conference call from England.
"She's welcome to call me any time."
The television personality and record mogul says the biggest thing Spears needs is a sense of perspective.
"I'd take her out of where she's living at the moment and ask her to go and live with her family and live normally for six months because if you live normally and do normal things you suddenly find that the paparazzi aren't camped outside your door every day."
Cowell is just the latest celebrity to offer advice on Spears's startling downward spiral.
"Dr. Phil" McGraw visited the singer in hospital last week but later drew the ire of family members by talking to the media about the 26-year-old's mental health.
Spears was taken to hospital Jan. 3 after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in a standoff with police.
The following day, Federline was given sole physical and legal custody of one-year-old Jayden James and two-year-old Sean Preston.
The seventh season of "American Idol" kicks off Jan. 15 and 16.
The reality series is a ratings juggernaut. Cowell dismissed suggestions, however, that more people will be tuning in this season because of the dearth of programming due to the ongoing writers strike.
He said the quality of "American Idol" is what attracts viewers.
Among the dreadful wannabes vying for a slot this year was the brother of Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino, Cowell said.
Despite the phenomenal talent of his Grammy-nominated sister, it turns out that 24-year-old Ricco Barrino doesn't have the pipes to match.
"He was terrible. Absolutely dreadful," Cowell said.
"I remember (thinking) 'Oh, great, Fantasia's brother's come in.' And it was all fantastic until he started singing. And then I think we disputed the fact that he really was Fantasia's brother because he hasn't got his sister's talent."
