The Elvis Idol?

March 20, 2005 | People

Simon Fuller, the mastermind behind the Spice Girls, and the Pop Idol Television show (he most successful TV format in entertainment history) has sold his entertainment company in a deal worth more than £100 million, it has been announced. Fuller has struck a deal with the entertainment company CKX, which has a controlling interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises. Who knows if the two major assets of this company are combined we could be in for an "Elvis Idol" contest.

Source:Various

Crawfish wrote on March 20, 2005

This was only a matter of time I am sorry to say. Disappointing news; let's brace ourselves ready for those who can't wait for some reason to make Elvis a laughing stock. An early bad publicity move by CKX in my view!

doctor wrote on March 20, 2005

Let's wait and see. I don't for a minute believe that anyone or anything can ever diminish Elvis. His essential talent is too apparent and strong to ever be overshadowed by anything or anyone. Why are so many so ready to be naysayers and jump on the negative bandwagon? Elvis survived the tawdry, godawful merchandising that went on after 1977. He's above and beyond anything or anyone. If someone wants to have an Elvis Idol, great. It will be fun to watch people try it out. Remember "Honeymoon In Vegas"? A whole plane load of parachuting Elvi did not damage his reputation. Life is too short, and we should have as much fun as possible. ELvis had a great sense of humour and so should his fans. Long live rock and roll and long live the Elvis heritage!

mtm1a wrote on March 20, 2005

I`m obviously oblivious to something here,bit i can`t see why the above news is in any way related to The King?! I understand the company now has a controlling influence,but why does what they have just acquired affect Elvis?! Does it say anything at all about an Elvis Idol-not that i can make out,and if they did do that,then no i wouldn`t really like it,but i guess there may be more clips of the King showing how it should be done,maybe leading to more re-releases,more fans,and more NO.1s...?

caseyiodine wrote on March 20, 2005

This is a good thing. Don't worry about all of this. In the end, Elvis is only going to get bigger, trust me...

bikepark wrote on March 20, 2005

i can understand peoples reservations about this but maybe it will get the right records released with radio air play if s f can get g g and w y and d to number 1 on a regular basis what could he do for the king yours bikepark

Tina S wrote on March 20, 2005

if it happens all elvis should not wacth it

asd123 wrote on March 20, 2005

Go and get your bathrobe and sunglasses, colourize your hair and prepair for being king! lol... oh my god...

SendToTodd wrote on March 20, 2005

Hey good old Simon Fuller got $200 million for his Pop Idol TV Show, that's FOUR TIMES MORE than Lisa ended up with for the entire Elvis Presley Enterprises business, including the music publishing. Yes she got a few share and her debts consolidated, but am I missing something? In the UK Elvis is everywhere, in TV ads, in the charts, on stage in the West End, on tour in the singalong show, and in arenas with Elvis: The Concert, and always in the press. In the States, there is NOTHING, so perhaps an "Elvis Idol" show would at least get the man talked about. There is always a cringe factor with impersonators and tribute artists, but that comes from us fans. To the general public it's just someone singing Elvis songs - and it might be fun.

Lamar Fike wrote on March 20, 2005

This is just redicilous! No more, no less.- Mathias, DK

pacer1965 wrote on March 21, 2005

I dont know whats more redicilous Elvis Idol or Lisa selling Elvis for 50 million pounds.It does not sound alot for Elvis when you compare it to what Simon Fuller got for Pop Idol.Just my opinion

Bill E. Burk wrote on March 21, 2005

No sooner had Robert Sillerman's new company paid $200 million for Simon Fuller's Pop Idol TV show than the rumors -- and that's what they are, rumors! -- exploded that Sillerman would be originating an "Elvis Idol" series, much like the "American Idol" series that now dominates American TV. Readers of our ELVIS WORLD will know -- having heard from Sillerman himself, via EW -- that this is NOT to be! Quoting Sillerman from our EW exclusive interview: "That thing about 'Elvis Idol' was a joke. Someone asked me about developing an 'American Idol' series (based on Elvis) and I replied, "That is exactly what we are NOT going to do! . . . but they left that part of my quote out." My interview with Sillerman, in the current EW #75, is, I believe the first and only one he has done with an Elvis publication. This interview, plus my communications with him since, have me firmly believing this man knows how Elvis is thought of by his fans and will do nothing incredulous to mar that image. More rumors were flying here in Memphis about his this past week. I contacted him and he forthrightly laid all those rumors to rest. These will be addressed in EW76 soon. == BILL E. BURK, Publisher, ELVIS WORLD magazine, Memphis

dailyone wrote on March 21, 2005

try all you like there is only one voice like elvis and that is elvis .

ranger wrote on March 21, 2005

I apologise if this doesn't have too much to do with Elvis, but is it strictly correct to describe the guy behind The Spice Girls and Pop Idol...'the mastermind'.

weberv41 wrote on March 21, 2005

Simon??? What the heck? Anyone that has seen American Idol knows that Simon doesn't like Elvis one bit. Simon thinks Elvis is a joke! They've never even had an Elvis song section in American Idol. This is stupid. Simon has no intention of keeping this respectful for Elvis, he just wants money. I wouldn't be surprised if Simon hurts Elvis' image for the show's benifit.