“American Idol” maestro Simon Cowell doesn’t have much advice for the contestants on his latest reality show, Fox’s “Celebrity Duets.”

On “Idol,” said Cowell during a conference call with reporters Monday, “we normally say to (the contestants), “Be unique. Be original.’ On “Celebrity Duets,’ it’s “Shut your eyes. Hold your breath. And hope for the best.”‘

The show – which kicks off next Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Fox – pairs professional singers – including Macy Gray, Lee Ann Womack, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson and Aaron Neville – with celebrities not generally known for their singing chops, including Lucy Lawless, Leah Thompson and Cheech Marin.

“The fact that we’re teaming them up with some of the best singers in the world, Patti LaBelle and Smokey Robinson, that’s a nightmare,” he continued. “So there’s not much advice I could give them.”

He does expect the celebrity contestants to have a lot more to say to the judges critiquing them than the shrinking violets on “American Idol.”

“My experience of working with celebrities,” he said, “is they’ll be a lot more lippy.”

Music producer David Foster and Little Richard are among the judges, with a third judge to be named in the coming days. (According to Cowell, No. 3 will be a female and will be a recording artist.)

Cowell said he expects Foster, who has worked with many of the professional singers who will be appearing on the show, to be the linchpin, much like he is on “Idol.”

Meanwhile, Little Richard was chosen for his off-the-wall persona. “Somebody said, “Little Richard.’ And I said, “Book him,”‘ said Cowell. “He’s interesting. I’ve seen so many of these shows where the panelists are so dull.”

Cowell has somewhat of a Midas touch when it comes to formatted reality. “American Inventor” was a modest performer and “America’s Got Talent” did so well for NBC, the network ordered a second season.

But Cowell’s contract with Fox precludes him from appearing on shows on competing networks. But he may have an on-camera role on “Celebrity Duets,” he said.

He also acknowledged “Duets”‘ obvious debt to ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

“I really like “Dancing With the Stars,”‘ he said. “I thought it was a really fun show. To see Nick Lachey’s brother (Drew) … try to be a dancer, it was a great format. I always thought it would be a better singing show than a dancing show.”

Cowell said celebrities were clamoring to be on “Duets.”

“There were so many celebrities who wanted to come on this show who genuinely could not sing a note,” he said without naming names.

The winner of “Celebrity Duets” gets a cash prize to donate to their favorite charity. But they also may get something even better. Cowell said he expects the winner to walk away with a recording contract and a new career path.

“No matter what they tell you,” he said, “my hunch is that’s what they believe could happen at the end of this.”