09:13 AM EST on Thursday, February 9, 2006

By JACK PERRY
projo.com staff writer

American Idol wiseguy judge Simon Cowell might have met his match Tuesday night when he criticized Rhode Island's Kenneth Maccarone.

After hearing contestant Maccarone's version of Cher's "Believe," Cowell suggested that the 21-year-old Providence resident become a female impersonator.

Considering Cowell's comment "out of line," Maccarone went right back at him, saying, "Simon, if we're going to be dressing the way we act, why aren't you wearing the backside of a pair of pants?"

"I had to stick up for myself. I wasn't going to let somebody walk all over me," Maccarone said Wednesday.

Maccarone, a sales representative for an importing company, watched the hit Fox television show with about 70 friends Tuesday night at the West End Cafe in Cranston. The hour-long show dealt entirely with auditions held last year in Massachusetts.

Although he didn't advance to Hollywood for a contest that was aired Wednesday night, Maccarone considers his Idol experience positive. Starting with some 9,000 other area hopefuls at Gillette Stadium, Maccarone was among about 70 people who made it to the third round.

He was contacted Tuesday night by Access Hollywood and still hopes for an entertainment career -- even if not necessarily as a singer.

Maccarone, 21, said he was prepared for Simon's abuse because he had seen people walking out of the room with tears in their eyes. He wasn't too disappointed in missing the cut. He went to the tryout with a friend who is "amazing, and she didn't make it past the first round."

Missed the show? View photos of Maccarone, post messages and see a video clip of his performance on his myspace.com blog.