Simon Cowell’s show “The X-Factor” has officially made it’s way to America, kicking off it’s first judging rounds in Los Angeles just last weekend and only settling it’s judging panel moments before the auditions began!

Ryan reveals, “Paula [Abdul] signed on in the last hour,” adding, “the deal was done just moments before they started the auditions with Paula.” With the judges of Simon, Cheryl Cole, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, and Paula now secure, the buzz which remains is whether Mariah Carey will be partaking in the competition show or not.

Ryan took the rumor into his own hands and phoned Simon himself, who clears up for us, “whatever Mariah wants, Mariah can get. All she’s got to do is call me, and I’ll work out a deal.”

Simon adds, “she can honestly do whatever she wants, but you know, she’s got to tell me when she wants to do it.”

Listen to the clip to hear more from Ryan, direct from Hollywood!