Simon Cowell May Leave “American Idol”
Nobody really had a Paula Abdul-esque breakdown when Paula Abdul left American Idol. But Simon Cowell? How could the show go on without him?
According to E Online, it may have to. Cowell’s brother Tony revealed in his podcast, The Cowell Factor, that his baby bro is about to vote himself off the ratings powerhouse. “A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011,” Tony said.
The X Factor is Simon Cowell’s hit UK series that uses viewer votes to find new singing talent (like love bleeder Leona Lewis). My question is: what exactly is different about X Factor and American Idol? He is leaving his post as a snarky judge on a pop star competition show to be…a snarky judge on a pop star competition show?
A week ago, the Times of Londonreported that Cowell has had conversations with Fox about leaving Idol when his contract expires at the end of 2010, with an American X Factor set to debut in 2011 on Fox.
Cowell, who’s raking in a reported $45 million for the coming season, has been a tough negotiator in previous contract years, so it’s possible that Fox could work out some kind of deal to keep him on Idol. But for now, neither Cowell nor Fox is talking.
American Idol has to end eventually, right?
