X-Factor” judge, L.A. REID makes an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Wednesday, September 19th. Ellen talks with L.A about working with fellow judge, Britney Spears and reveals that passing on Lady Gaga was one of the biggest mistakes of his life. Check out the highlights below. He sounds REAL thrilled he is working with Britney. I hope you sense the sarcasm.
ON WORKING WITH BRITNEY:
Ellen: …Which is why you’re trying to help these people. And when they’re good at something you encourage it and when they’re not you say, stop doing it.
L.A.: Exactly
Ellen: And how is it working with Britney so far?
Ellen: Ah, It’s wonderful.
Ellen: Why are you making that face?
LA : (Laughs)…I really enjoy working with Britney. I mean, she’s really responsive and it’s good.
Ellen: Responsive? Well, that’s good. That’s not really a compliment.
LA: No, it’s good. I’m having fun with her…
ON HIS BIGGEST REGRET:
Ellen: Like I said, you’ve been responsible for a lot of careers. A lot of big careers and one regret you have is …
LA: I like this. Everyone has to have one regret, right?
Ellen: This is like, you have to look at this and oh, go man. Lady Gaga. How did she get out of my office?
LA: Wow, I have to tell the story. So Lady Gaga comes into my office. She sits at the piano. She has white Go-go boots up to her thighs, right. And she is unbelievable. She sits there and she plays songs on the piano and sings and she finishes. And I tell her, you know what, you are going to change music, right. Ok, about two months later I forgot that I said that. And I heard her demo tapes and the A&R guy that was working on it and I said you know what? This is disgusting and you’re disgusting and I dropped her and I dropped him…It was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life.
Ellen: Wow, because you have to have people around you reminding you no, no. This is just maybe not a great demo tape. There is more to her but…
LA: Yea, it’s not for everybody. Gaga is better off where she is, right. She’s hugely successful the truth is…and it may not be the truth but it makes me feel better. To think that she probably won’t have been as successful with me….so it’s ok
Ellen: Well, because every label has a specialty. Some labels are better for certain artists, right?
L.A.: Exactly right. It’s really people, people and chemistry.
Photo Credit: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.
