We're pretty sure no one saw this coming.
The outspoken and abrasive Simon Cowell was asked his thoughts on the new incarnation of "American Idol" - which replaced the infamous judge with musical A-listers Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler - and the man known for being brutally honest was...actually kind?
"I personally think it is a better show than last year," he tells TV host Piers Morgan, in an interview set to air next week.
"It feels to me they've got their energy back," says Cowell, adding that the show now feels "confident" and "competitive."
Cowell is currently working on bringing his hit UK reality series "The X Factor" to the U.S. next year.
The complete interview will air on "Piers Morgan Tonight" on March 14th.
U.S. & World
Selected Reading: CNN, The Daily Mail, Entertainment Weekly
