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Simon Cowell confirms his “American Idol” exit
by Natalie James - January 12, 2010 - comments
‘American Idol’ suffered yet another loss yesterday after the celebrated judge Simon Cowell confirmed his plan to depart as soon as his contract expires
Los Angeles, CA, January 12 -- ‘American Idol’ suffered yet another loss yesterday after the celebrated judge Simon Cowell confirmed his plan to depart as soon as his contract expires.
Simon Cowell is leaving "American Idol" at the end of this season for his other reality competition, "The X Factor."
The reality TV mogul confirmed his “Idol” exit Monday, saying he’s leaving the massively popular show after the season-nine finale in May.
Cowell, whose ‘Idol’ contract will expire after the ninth run of the top-rated talent hunt show, has struck a deal to take an American version of ‘The X Factor’ to Rupert Murdoch's Fox TV.
According to MTV, new “Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres has branded the Cowell’s exit news "very, very sad."
Idol loses its driving force
“I want to leave Idol this year bigger and better than it was in the past,” Cowell told reporters at the Television Critics Association tour Monday, according to miamiherald.com.
“I’m thrilled that we have put a date on the launch of the U.S. version of The X Factor, and delighted to be continuing to work with Fox,” he said. “We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this.”
The X Factor coming to America
Starting in the fall of 2011, Cowell will appear on the American version of Fox show, The X Factor, which is one of the most popular shows on British TV.
The British-born Cowell, who earns a reported $36 million a year for judging Idol, will be both executive producer and judge on the new “X Factor” show, the Miami Herald reports.
"We reached an agreement formally this morning," Cowell said at the press conference on Monday. "What we have agreed is that The X Factor will launch in America in 2011 with me judging the show and executive producing. Because of that, this will be my last season on American Idol this year.”
"I was offered a lot of money to stay on but that wasn't the reason behind it," he said at the Television Critics Association. "I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge."
Paula and Cole may join Cowell in judging panel
Paula Abdul, the first “Idol” judge to bid goodbye to the show, may reunite with Cowell on the new show.
“I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity. Because I miss her,” he told the scribes, the Boston Herald reports.
The Internet has been abuzz with speculation that Cheryl Cole, a judge alongside Cowell on the English version of The X Factor, is to join him on the judging panel of the U.S. version.