Simon Cowell Leaving Idol

Who can believe Simon Cowell is leaving American Idol? First we had Paula leave and now Simon. Most people would say Simon makes the show with his mean, but truthful personality. Season nine, which starts tonight Tues. January 12th, will be the last season we see Simon an American Idol judge, but not the last time we see him. He announced at a Television Critics Association press conference in Pasadena, California, “I’m still going to be around, just doing a different show.”

That show will be The X Factor a talent competition he created in 2004 in the U.K. and he expects to bring it to FOX in 2011. The X Factor and American Idol are a lot alike. They both have public auditions and air the good and bad performances on TV. One main difference is The X Factor accepts groups and duos in the competition. The show also takes contestants age 16 and over with no upper limit, while American Idol caps the age at 28. Cowell states “I don’t like rules a lot of people wanted to audition for idol, but were too old.”

One possible throwback to Cowell’s Idol days could include the return of Paula Abdul, who was the first judge to leave the show last year. “I adore Paula,” Cowell said. “No matter what happens, I’ll be working with her in the future. You just have to watch.” As for reaction from current judges, Kara DioGuardi said on the radio show Valentine in the Morning, “I was a fan before I was on the show and he will be really missed.”