Twenty years ago, in April 2002, a little show called American Idol began its first “Search for a Superstar.” Jackson was tough on Idol contestants, but of course not as tough as controversial center judge Simon Cowell, and he confesses that he was taken aback at first by Cowell’s harsh commentary in those early days. But now he Jackson believes the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, and singing show judges are too afraid of hurting contestants’ feelings.