I’ve never been a fan of “American Idol,” but like Don Surber, I do appreciate a man like “Idol” judge Simon Cowell who speaks his mind, come what may. I appreciate him even more after reading that he is a fan of “family entertainment” and doesn’t like to hear cussing on television.

The only thing I insist upon — and always have done — is that all my shows are family entertainment. People of all ages can sit down and watch them together, so I will not tolerate swearing. At all.

Why? First, because I don’t like it. And, secondly, there is no place for it on prime-time television.

The Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand affair made me realize that, in some horrible way, we have become anesthetized to that kind of bad language.

Twenty years ago, you would never find the stars of the day, like Peter Ustinov or David Frost, using words like that on air. No one is going to do it on any of my shows, either.

Perhaps I should give “American Idol” a chance, or at least Simon Cowell. Despite his British accent and proper ways, he’s definitely enlightened redneck material.