I wonder if he knows Simon isn't on anymore

A hotel guest held two co-workers he was staying with at knifepoint when they refused to change the TV channel to "American Idol," Neptune Beach police said.

Barran Prakash, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was talking to his wife on the phone while he was preparing a meal when his wife told him the show was on TV, according to police.

Prakash then told his co-workers he wanted to change the channel, but they refused, which incited a heated argument, police said.

Police were called to the Days Inn in the 1400 block of Atlantic Boulevard just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said when they arrived, they found Prakash in the hallway outside the room the three men were staying in, and they ordered him to the ground, but he refused. The officer said he performed a leg sweep to take Prakash down and place him into custody.

Police said while the victims, Michael Pooran and Sean Huggins, were arguing with Prakash, Prakash grabbed a large butcher knife and held it to Huggins' throat.

Pooran told police he intervened and was able to take the knife from Prakash, when Prakash attacked him, police said.

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Police said they found the knife in the trash can in the room.

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The victims told police they thought Prakash was going to kill them.

Prakash is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. He was being held in the Duval County Jail.

"American Idol" was not on TV on Tuesday night.