Friends in high places: JLS visited Simon Cowell on the set of American Idol and and quickly bonded with the show's host Ryan SeacrestHe turned down the chance to sign them to his record label after X Factor, but Simon Cowell is still happy to help JLS try to crack the States.
The British boyband, who came runners-up to Alexandra Burke in 2008, visited the TV and music mogul in his trailer on the set of American Idol in LA yesterday.
He had only the highest of praise for the group as he introduced them to American Idol host and U.S. radio presenter Ryan Seacrest.
Scroll down to see Simon Cowell introduce JLS to Ryan Seacrest...
Before meeting with Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan 'JB' Gill and Oritse Williams, Simon told Ryan: 'JLS were the runners-up on another show I do in London.
'They've sold about two million records and I think they might break in America.'
Simon, who is more accustomed to issuing insults that compliments, gush about the group as he made the introduction as cameras rolled.
If he was just a little bit disappointed he'd let the group slip through his fingers - and into the hands of rival record label Epic - he didn't let it show.
'This is the only group we've ever had on the show who had what it takes,' he said.
Hoping the break the US: Simon endorsed the group's effort to crack the notoriously tough American market 'They're hard working, they respect their fans, and they're super super talented.'
And the record, it's a fantastic record. The more you hear it the more you like it.'
JLS then performed an acapella version of their track Everybody In Love, after which Simon declared: 'Wow. That's the X Factor.'
The group have been in the US for just under six weeks building their profile and also working on their second album.
Back to work: Ryan later went on to host American Idol, which saw Casey James (right) eliminated from the competition After the reunion backstage, Simon went on to film American Idol's final three performance show.
The judge, who is leaving the show after the end of the season to launch a US version of the X Factor next year, watched on as finalist were selected.
Contestant Casey James was later eliminated from the competition, leaving Crystal Bowersox and fan favourite, Lee DeWyze, to battle it out for the crown next week.
source: dailymail