7 News Features: Men of Idol

WSVN -- "This was a really bad, hammy audition for you. To aspire to something you want to be, which obviously isn't a singer."

We all know Simon can cut down a singer with his wicked British wit.

Simon: "It was just rubbish."

But he does not hesitate to lay the smack down when he thinks the other 'Idol' guys are getting out of hand.

Ryan: "We got spirit, yeah! We got spirit, yeah!"

Randy: "They got the whole marching band?"

Simon: "Tell him he didn't get through."

Ryan: "Rah, rah, rah."

Simon: "Shut up!"

Randy: "We're trying to audition people in here."

Simon and Randy -- not quite in the spirit during one of this season's auditions and giving Ryan a hard time about the ruckus in the hallway.

Simon goes out door: "I'm not being rude, but, can you shut up?"

Ryan comes in: "Someone's being a !@#&* today!"

Simon: "Well, we're trying to do auditions."

Randy: "Excuse us, Ryan!"

Seacrest -- ouch!

But this behavior is nothing new and goes all the way back to Season One, which wasn't always a "summer of love."

"Two losers."

"Oh, come on, Simon."

"No, no let me finish."

"Oh, Simon."

"Simon, I've been sitting here week after week listening to you insulting people. You can't call them losers."

"Damn right."

"Yes, I can, I can call them whatever I want."

The argument got more heated, and Randy was ready to take it up a notch -- bam!

Randy: "You want to do something about it? Come on, come on, come on!"

Simon: "Randy, we'll discuss it later."

Randy: "Dude, you are in America -- you can't do this."

But Judge Dread's insults keep on coming.

Simon: "You look like one of those creatures that have massive eyes, what are they called? Bush babies."

Paula: "Simon, you are sick."

Randy: "Simon, you crazy."

Paula: "You're sick, you're sick, you're sick."

These days, the others say if you can't beat him, join him.

Randy: "Oh, with the big eyes."

Simon: "Massive eyes."

Paula: "Oh, my God."

Some of the on-air attacks between the boys have been downright personal.

Simon: "With respect, I'm not trying to look like someone out of Desperate Housewives."

But those on-air spats seem to be about getting ratings.

Get the guys away from the set, and they're best pals.

Even a serious interview turns funny:

Simon: "We give them a lot of advice that you don't see on camera. What you see...

Ryan: "Simon, have you ever been to the bush?"

The boys of 'Idol' would not shut up -- and joked about their on-air spats.

Simon: "Is the camera on?

Randy: "Yes!"

Simon: "Wait till the cameras are off."

Ryan: "We actually get along fine."

Randy: "We do."

Ryan: "I think all of us are friends."

Simon: "They actually miss me when I'm gone."

Ryan: "He misses me more."

Randy: "They both miss me."

Simon: "They miss their little Simon."

And even with skyrocketing ratings and the world at their feet, this trio is keeping it real -- sort of.

Randy: "I think humility is coming soon, and we've invited Simon."

Ryan: "I know I am."

Simon: "You're the least humble person, and don't you do my look."

Randy: "Listen, listen, listen."

Ryan: "Speaking of humble, 'don't do my look.'"

Randy: "Listen, we've invited Simon to Seacrest Manor, so it's going to be a very humbling experience."

Sweet -- party at Ryan's.

And even on-air, once in a while, we get a glimpse of how close the men of 'Idol' are.

Like this night when Simon had to publicly admit he was wrong.

Simon: "I think I was unfair to one person last night, and I want to apologize. I don't think this person got the right appraisal, and that person is Katherine."

Ryan: "That was a very classy move."

American Idol footage courtesy Fremantlemedia North America, Inc./19TV LTD./FOX Broadcasting.