Neil Patrick Harris an Idol Favorite

Is he Idol’s best guest judge yet? Everyone’s praising Neil Patrick Harris’s appearance on American Idol Wednesday—in which he eclipsed the guest judge for the second half, Joe Jonas, who uttered all of 40 words on air. Harris seemed to have struck the golden combination of irritability and appreciation, offering advice and praise while not holding back when the occasion demanded reprimanding an awful audition. And speaking of auditions, Harris’ stint was so strong that some are urging Idol to bring him on as a permanent host. “Neil Patrick Harris wld make a great replacement for Simon Cowell on americanidol. Someone shd start a campaign going!,” one fan tweeted. A Facebook page was set up demanding that users to “VOTE here for Neil Patrick Harris to replace Simon on American Idol!” But it wasn’t only fuzzy feelings and compliments for NPH, as CBS announced that it had acquired the British game-show sensation The Cube, and—surprise, surprise—Harris was set to host the American version. The show features contestants entering a glass box that is designed to induce stress that makes the simple tasks they must complete for money much more difficult. The How I Met Your Mother actor will fly to London this year to tape the pilot for CBS (which he will also produce).