It’s none other than bad-boy judge Simon Cowell! Can you believe that especially since Simon had been specially scathing to David Cook? No worries there as the American Idol champ prefers his tough love than sugarcoated judging comments =) David Cook shares,

“The first couple of weeks I was on the show, Simon and I did not see eye to eye. As soon as I took a step back and realized that everything he said was constructive, as mean as it might be, we got along fine. So if anybody asks me who my favorite judge is, I’m always going to say Simon.”

Carrie Underwood, one of David Cook’s “mentors”, also prefers Simon Cowell. She says, “He’s always been pretty nice to me, and I think it’s really good that somebody will give you a dose of reality, even if it might be said in a harsh manner. I can think of nicer ways to say things than he tells them, but it’s nice that he’s got a very strong opinion, and he does voice it.”