Simon Cowell May Leave 'American Idol' to Focus on 'Factor'
You'll be hearing
Simon Cowell's biting critiques of aspiring singers on U.S. television for years to come, but after 2010 it may not be on
'American Idol,' according to a report in the
Times of London.
Cowell is reportedly considering standing down from his post on 'Idol' after next season and switching his focus to bringing the hugely successful British show
'X Factor' to the USA. Ironically, the report states that Cowell is in talks with FOX to be the home of 'Factor,' meaning he would remain on the same network as 'Idol.'
He is said to have told Fox Entertainment's Peter Rice about his thoughts on leaving 'Idol' at meeting in London six weeks ago. Officials from FOX and 'Idol' yesterday refused to comment.
Cowell has been the star of 'Idol' for its entire eight-year run and made $36 million last year alone. His salary for season nine is reportedly about $45 million.
Without his influence and star power, it's unclear if 'Idol' can maintain its spot as the most popular show on television. It would also end his long and fruitful relationship with Simon Fuller.
According to the Times, Cowell is doggedly determined to make 'X-Factor' a hit in America. Unlike 'Idol,' judges on the show not only pick the singers but also coach them to stardom.
"It has to go to America. There has to be an American version of the show," he has said. "To not take 'The X Factor' to the biggest market in the world would be crazy."
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Simon Equals ...
For his work on 'American Idol,' Simon Cowell gets one of the biggest paychecks in the biz ($45 million/year). That's 1.6 Angelina Jolies! ... financially speaking, of course. See How He Stacks Up Against Other Superstars >>
WireImage
WireImage
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 1.6 Alex Rodriguezes, who makes $28 million per year.
WireImage
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 2.3 Charlie Sheen, who banks $19 million per year from 'Two and a Half Men.'
WireImage
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 3 full Katie Courics, who earns $15 million per year as the anchor for 'CBS Evening News.'
WireImage / AP
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 1.6 Angelina Jolies, who pulled in $27 million in 2008.
WireImage
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 4.5 Paula Abduls, who reportedly wanted $10 million per year to stay on 'American Idol.'
WireImage / Getty Images
At $45 million a year, Simon Cowell = 112.5 Barack Obamas, who gets paid $400,000 to be the President of the United States.
WireImage / AP
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Im Happy Simon wants to go to X Factor. I will watch that show. Hes good at what he does, or he wouldnt make the money he does.
I should think his replacement would be Drew Carey. What the heck, they replaced Paula with "ed".
So with that move FOX station, I will no longer be watching AI. You took All the fun out of it.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ADAM!!!!!
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Paula is gone and half the REAL viewers are gone with Ellen joining. Add Rosie O. and the rest will be gone soon too. And, for those that think Simon would not be missed, you are idiots.
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As soon as I saw Paula leaving, I knew it was about at an end. They should have given her the money she wanted. They really underestimated her value. Simon and Paula together really clicked. The best idol show they could do would be the tryouts. That is what so many of us really want to see. They could fill a show every week with them for the next ten years and have strong viewership all the way.
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Well........Dog.....the only consistent surprise was how Paula was going to make a bad singer perk up before Simon slams 'em.
I think with Paula leaving, I'm going to give Idol a rest anyway. I'm not crazy about Ellen and Di Girardi (or whatever) really wrecked the show anyway.
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I wouldn't watch it anyway with Ellen on it. Who wants to watch a lesbian...
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Your being judgemental Diane H. And it's dumb not to watch Idol just because Ellen is a lesbian which I have no problem with Ellen being gay.
idol is done,
loseing paula was the end stroke.
beside in all the years its only produced
one major star. carrie underwood..
clarkson made it to a point , then bombed out
and reba took her over and pushed her career..
out of all of it.... only one superstar
has ever been produced...
sent it packing... it done
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With Paula gone and that new addition last season yacking all the time, and now Ellen being added to the mix I just dont know if show can take another big hit with Simon gone. Its going to be a train wreck as it is. Too bad they messed with something that was working but like they say NOTHING lasts forever.
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Without Paula and Simon there is NO SHOW. That would only leave Randy saying "Yo Yo Yo Dog-Dog" and the other nobody what's er name as boring and talnetless as can be and the disgusting lesbo Ellen Degenerate who is scheduled to replace Paula. For that reason alone I was not going to watch IDOL even if Simon stayed. Time to call it quits Idol!
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I gave up on "Idol" when ellen degenerate replaced Paula Abdul. The chemistry was interesting with Cowell, Abdul and the other guy. With Abdul and Cowell gone, it will be an entirely different show and I am sure "ellen" will do all she can to make it a pro-gay soapbox.
jim coster, pittsburgh, pa
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If Simon goes, Idol goes. He IS Idol. That's it.
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Maybe Simon didn't like the way they treated Paula. AI should get rid of Kara DioGuardi and Ellen (no offense) and, BRING BACK PAULA. If it's not broke, why fix it???
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When they decided to put Ellen on AI, that was it for me.....cannot STAND her in any form.
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the show is not ganna be interesting because he is the mean guy and honest one
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So Simon Cowbell may leave "American Idiot." Gee, what will all the mush heads do now? Maybe Chuck Barris (creator of the old Gong Show) can get back in the groove and take Simon's place. Chuck can get the old gong set up behind the judges and arm them each with a giant mallet ready to gong those atrocious American Idiot acts. If you're old enough to remember how pathetic the old Gong Show was, you'll see that American Idiot is merely a revised version of the Gong Show, except with a fancier set and greater budget. Yet just as pathetic!
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Every year it's the same RUMOR... "SIMON IS LEAVING IDOL!" LEAVE ALREADY! Go ahead! They'll find someone else to be the voice of hatred / reason. I always find it funny that people call Simon mean. He's honestly just being HONEST!
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after DAVID COOK won, i really dont like Idol.
Everytime i would watch it it was not the same without DAVID COOK!
i still watch it but when they went to 4 judges , now that was just over the top!
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Simon is an obnoxious little bastard who should have been taken out of television years ago. Kinda reminds me of another obnoxious little bastard, Gordon Ramsey.
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If all that is left is Randy and the Industrial Diesal Dyke I will have no interest in the show. Simon & Paula brought class to the show so with them gone there is no reason to watch. It was a great show but stooped real low when it added Mr. Ellen.
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Smart man. Grab your lifesavers boys, its a sinking ship.
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