Mr Nasty is back! Simon Cowell unleashes his acid tongue on X Factor USA as contestants AND judges feel his wrath

Cowell slates almost every act other than his own
Brands LA Reid 'the devil' and Paula and Nicole 'witches'
Host Steve Jones also put in his place and told to 'shut it'
But wins favour with fans, proving most popular judge in Twitter poll

By Sarah Fitzmaurice

Last updated at 8:01 AM on 17th November 2011

He made his name by being music’s Mr Nasty, and it appears Simon Cowell has gone back to his highly critical roots.

The music mogul and X Factor boss proved to be as catty and disparaging as ever to the acts, except for his own of course.

While the contestants found themselves on the receiving end of his bitter disappointment Simon didn't appear to hold back with the other judges either calling them 'witches' and even host Steve Jones was told to 'shut it'.

Harsh words: Simon Cowell didn't hold back on tonight's episode of X Factor USA and was happy to criticise the other judges as well as the acts

While LeRoy Bell, Melanie Amaro and Lakoda Rayne faced the strongest criticism, the Syco boss also used every available opportunity to slam his fellow judges, calling them 'witches' and LA Reid 'the devil'.

But despite his acid-tongue it appears Simon is proving popular with fans and was named the favourite by fans of the show on Twitter.

The song choices proved to be the hot topic of the evening with the rock songs picked by the mentors proving to be the most contentious remarks made by Cowell.

Rocking out: Nicole Scherzinger took to the stage in and all-black leather ensemble before she introduced Le Roy Bell as the first contestant in rock week

As the Welsh presenter told the audience:'All the acts are performing rock songs or songs in a rock style,' it appeared the genre of music was interpreted loosely by the judges.

LeRoy Bell opened with Bob Seger’s We’ve Got Tonight but his performance left the judges including Simon disappointed.

The 60-year-old took to the stage in a leather vest, with his sleeve tattoo on show but despite Nicole’s fervent clapping the other judges seemed less than impressed.

LA Reid appeared unimpressed with LeRoy's performance and he said: ‘We’re no longer simply trying to get through to the next round we are now looking for stardom.'

'You look great you sound great but you're still not working it like a rock star. You're good man, but I need more, $5million this is the big time.'

Paula Abdul added: 'There is no mistaking you have a beautiful voice. I think what LA is saying is that it’s live television and it needs to be more of a connection.'

Unoriginal? LeRoy Bell failed to impress the judges with his version of Bob Seger¿s We¿ve Got Tonight

Simon agreed and said: 'Nice song, good voice, but in terms of originality hearing a new version of this song zero this is my problem.'

But Mr Cowell couldn't pass up an opportunity to criticise Nicole and quipped: 'You are being mentored like a session singer. We have heard the same type of songs four weeks in a row.

You should have been like a shark, you were like a dolphin. Right now you can’t win this competition.'

Feisty: Simon Cowell told LeRoy he was more like a dolphin than a shark and he also interjected while Steve Jones was trying to speak and told him to 'shut it'

Meanwhile Nicole simply told her act: 'I believe in you,' she added: 'Thank you LeRoy for being so courageous for going after your dream.'

As Steve Jones tried to talk to LeRoy Simon cut in and told him to 'shut it' saying his comments weren't 'horrible'.

After the oldest singer in the competition opened the show, the youngest singer took to the stage.

Simon will be satisfied: Rachel Crow gave a confident if not somewhat rendition of the Rolling Stones¿ Satisfaction with plenty of support from backing singers and dancers

Everyone likes you: While Simon was critical of the other acts he gave copious amounts of praise to his own acts and heaped plenty upon Rachel Crow

Rachel Crow gave a confident if not somewhat rendition of the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction with plenty of support from backing singers and dancers.

The judges took to their feet to congratulate the 13-year-old with a standing ovation.

Nicole told the teenager: 'So rock and roll originated from rhythm and blues so that was the perfect song choice,' before adding 'You made it look so easy up there.'

Standing ovation: Simon lead the other judges who stood up to congratulate Rachel on her performance

Cheeky chappy? Chris Rene sang No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley which left Nicole confused by the curious song choice

Paula congratulated her and said: 'Rachel you are one of my favourites there is no doubt about that.'

Despite it being Rock Week Chris Rene sang No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley which left Nicole confused by the curious song choices.

What WERE you thinking? Simon was critical of Chris's song choice and told LA that it wasn't rock it was reggae

She told the former drug addict: 'I love that song that was very original and I rocked with it, but it’s not my favourite performance by you, I was a little confused with the track the music and the hybrid.'

Simon also slammed the song choice and said: 'I love the performance but it would have been great if the theme this week had been reggae music. The theme is rock music, LA.'

He added: 'What’s the point in having a theme if you are going to disregard it.'

Failing to impress: Stacy Francis who sang Meatloaf's It's All Coming Back to Me Now, but the singer once again found herself in Simon's firing line

LA Reid challenged Simon: 'Ok lets do a hip hop week and see what Drew does?'

Next up was Stacy Francis who sang Meatloaf's It's All Coming Back to Me Now, but the singer once again found herself in Simon's firing line.

He slammed her by saying the good news was that her hair 'looks better this week'.

Not happy: Simon told Stacy her hair looked better but the compliment was followed by a flurry of negative comments

Sticking up for herself: Nicole was once again left defending herself and her mentoring skills

However the compliment was followed by a flurry of negative comments.

Cowell opinionated: 'I thought the song was a horrible choice. I knew when I saw the feathered microphone, I knew what was coming.'

'I wanted rock that was a pebble it was soft it was the sort of thing I would expect someone to sing at the Hilton Hotel. This is not a cabaret.'

Meanwhile LA Reid told her: 'You really sang that song really well. I’m going to leave it at that.'

Controversial: Melanie Amaro's rendition of REM's Everybody hurts left the judges arguing over the meaning of rock

Is that rock? LA Reid questioned the song choice and asked Simon: 'OK OK I get it, I was confused that was rock right? I love you that was so not rock'

Once again Nicole was left justifying her decisions and told Stacy: 'There is a genre of music called glam rock and you are glam rock diva tonight.'

While Simon was extremely supportive and positive about his act Melanie Amaro, the song choice of REM's Everybody Hurts left LA Reid hitting back at Simon.

Melanie put on a simple understated with a piano and smoke skirting around the stage she sat on a stool while Simon clapped enthusiastically from his judges seat.

I'm the boss: Simon ignored LA's comments and praised Melanie and her performance

But after the performance LA asked Simon: 'OK OK I get it, I was confused that was rock right? I love you that was so not rock.'

Nicole was equally unimpressed and said: 'You sounded beautiful this is one of my favourite songs and every time I hear it I cry and this time I didn’t.'

But despite the criticism the crowd were heard chanting: 'Mel-anie'.

Simon gushed over his act and told her: 'That reminded me of Adele, Alicia Keys'.'

Stellar set: Josh Krajcik channeled his inner Dave Grohl, performing the Foo Fighters' The Pretender

Overjoyed: Nicole couldn't stay in her seat as Josh performed

LA interjected and quipped: 'Adele and Alicia are rock?’

Simon dryly responded: 'Call up REM and tell them they aren’t a rock band.'

He added: 'Trust me the audience as you can here are really going to support you.

Josh Krajcik channeled his inner Dave Grohl, performing the Foo Fighters' The Pretender.

Crowd pleaser: All four judges got to their feet to congratulate Josh

His mentor Nicole, loved the performance and couldn’t stop headbanging along and for once the other judges were in agreement.

LA told him: 'You have the authenticity you have the stage presence and You're the only person that's really rocked this house tonight,' while Paula said his show was 'amazing'.

Simon told him: 'Josh never ever listen to a single person again. Because that was bloody fantastic.'

Paula even complimented her fellow judge and shouted: ‘Way to go Nicole’

Impressive young gun: Astro's rap left all the judges happy even Simon who praised the young star

The former Pussycat doll singer told her act: 'You are the ultimate rock star that is how its done America.'

Astro was the next to take to the stage and rapped about an old friend and the fall of hip-hop in the style of P. Diddy's I'll Be Missing You.

Paula gushed about his performance and complained: 'Can you just suck for once. You are phenomenal you are amazing.'

'Can you just suck for once': Paula couldn't help but praise Astro for P. Diddy's I'll Be Missing You

And Astro even commanded the compliments of Mr Cowell and he said: 'This is two weeks in a row, what’s amazing you have got more maturity than some of the other contestants in the show.'

'I think you have a shot of winning this young man.'

His mentor LA Ried told him: 'You have everything it takes to be a major international star.'

Paula's only remaining act Lakoda Rayne performed an energetic rendition of Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way.'

Big praise: LA Reid told his act he had 'everything it takes to be a major international star'

Go girls: Paula's only remaining act in the competition Dakota Rain sang the Fleetwood Mac song, Go Your Own Way

But despite his unusually optimistic comments to Astro he was back to being negative and Simon told the girl group: 'I thought tonight was a complete mess.'

He described parts of the performance as 'ridiculous' and 'gimmicky' which left Mr Reid telling his co-judge he was being 'mean'.

It was after this critical assessment that Cowell was revealed to be the most popular judge among fans with 53% of the votes on Twitter.

Mr negative? Simon branded parts of the girls performance as 'ridiculous' and 'gimmicky' which left Mr Reid telling his co-judge he was being 'mean'

More popular than ever: Despite his critical comments Mr Cowell proved to be the most popular judge according to fans on Twitter

Steve noted: 'Simon the meaner you are the more popular you are.'

With his bravado running high Simon quipped: 'I did join twitter this evening officially I'm just a bit confused why it is only 53%.' The music mogul used his new Twitter account to speak to fans and posted: 'I love being on twitter. Thank you for allowing me to beat the other 3 in the popularity poll. Paula looked like she'd sucked on a lemon!'

After Simon's ego boost his act Drew made her way onto the stage to perform U2's With or Without You, which was delivered in a style that verged on ethereal.

LA Reid told the teen she said the 'most original voice' in the competition but he was 'pushing for more'.

Soft Rock? Drew performed an ethereal rendition of U2's With Or Without You

Witches: Simon told Drew not to listen to the 'three witches to my right'

Nicole was critical too and said: 'Drew you know how much I adore you I love that song but I was waiting for the tempo to pick up. This is the slowest rock song. I’m a little frustrated.'

Once again Simon used the opportunity to slam his fellow judges and told Drew: 'Take no notice from the three witches on my right hand side.'

Last to perform to fight for his right to stay in the competition for the $5million recording contract was Marcus Canty who revealed he was apprehensive about performing a raunchy song given his religious beliefs.

Simon once again used to the opportunity to snipe at LA Reid and told Marcus that his mentor was the 'Devil' for choosing Janis Joplin's Piece of My Heart.