American Idol producer Simon Cowell is said to be teaming with former Menudo member, Ricky Martin, to discover the world's next Latin One Direction. According to the latest gossip news update, Lauren Silverman's baby daddy has created a new TV show for Univision that sets out to find the perfect 5 Spanish-speaking fellas to form a group ultimately to be managed by Martin. If the series takes off, maybe the BBC will soon be beating down Syco's door to buy the show the same way Si reports they did for Britain's Got Talent and the X-Factor back in 2013.
If everything goes according to plan Simon Cowell will soon be living la vida loca with Ricky Martin by his side on the Spanish speaking Univision channel.
Cowell is using the former boy band member to helm his American TV version of La Banda -- set to bring Spanish-speaking male contestants from the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico together for a singing contest to create the ultimate 5-man group.
Martin told People that when Cowell came calling, he jumped at the opportunity to provide Latin singers with a venue for success that he never had when he was rising through the Spanish-speaking pop ranks:
"The phone rings, and Simon Cowell calls and he says, 'Ricky, I would like to meet with you.'
"It's an amazing platform that I wish I had when I was starting in my career.
"I said, 'Of course I want to be a part of this! Thank you for inviting me.' "
Ricky explained that although he certainly appreciates Cowells penchant of telling it like it is on his other shows, he plans to be a bit more diplomatic when critiquing the future contestants:
"We started throwing ideas and I was fascinated by this concept.
"Simon is a brutally honest judge, which is very important...[But] I'm a little bit more nurturing."
If the new show takes off like Simon hopes, maybe more major networks will be vying for his American offerings the way they fight it out in England.
Simon signed a deal back in 2013 to keep Britain's Got Talent and the X Factor on ITV until at least 2016, but The Daily Star claims that Cowell revealed that everyone wanted the programs at the time -- including the BBC:
"Other people want X Factor and Britain's Got Talent -- that's why I don't get nervous when I meet with ITV.
"As long as I know others want them I don't feel too worried.
"But right now ITV like us and want to work with us."
Who knows...maybe he can even find a suitable replacement for the Daily Show.
