He quickly caught the attention of the female judges by talking about his fitness regimen and his trademark long hair. The audience—and some of the judges—were clearly amused by his soaring notes and bold stage antics, but opinions on the panel were divided. Mel B and Heidi Klum praised the act for being fun and “magical,” while the male judges were less impressed by the exaggerated style. Simon Cowell called the performance “too corny,” likening it to an overload of sugar and arguing that Bell’s striptease-style moves overshadowed his real vocal ability. Although Howie voted “No,” Mel B and Heidi enthusiastically supported him with “Yes” votes.