Simon Cowell Throws in the Towel, At Least for ‘American Idol’

Things have really been changing at the American Idol machine, haven't they? Prior to the last season, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe left and Kara DioGuardi joined as the controversial fourth judge. After the last season, Paula Abdul took off, eventually being replaced by Ellen "What Exactly Does She Have To Do With Music" Degeneres.

Now, just days before perhaps the highest-rated show of the last decade returns for a ninth season, Simon Cowell, the original mean British judge, has announced he will not be around for the tenth.

Why is Simon leaving? It's all because of Simon's other singing-star-seeking show, The X Factor. For those of you who don't know, Simon created The X Factor a few years after the original Pop Idol left the British airwaves after just two seasons.

While the similarities between the two shows are apparent, there are a few key differences. While contestants still must be at least 16 years of age, there is no age cap for The X Factor, unlike Idol. Vocal groups are also eligible to audition. After a certain point in the callbacks, each judge mentors one of the categories of contestants (boys, girls, over 25's, and groups) for the remainder of the season. The voting performances, which have much higher production values, begin at the top 12, and the judges vote to eliminate one of the bottom two until about the top five.

Anyway, the American X Factor will start airing in the fall of 2011, with Idol remaining in the winter and So You Think You Can Dance returning to the summer. Since Simon will be both judging and producing The X Factor, staying on Idol was not an option. If Simon can only do one show, it makes sense that he'd choose the one he owns.

FOX claims that having both singing contests on will not create an issue. I beg to differ. Many fans already feel the pool of undiscovered talent for American Idol is running a bit dry. The X Factor, despite the lack of age cap and the inclusion of groups, will take even more potential stars from Idol. Also, the ratings for Idol, while still very high, have been falling for a few years without another singing contest to tide fans over. If The X Factor becomes popular enough, American Idol may not survive much longer. I doubt it, but it's still a possibility.

Then again, a major reason why The X Factor worked so well in the United Kingdom is because of the lack of Pop Idol. Unless The X Factor completely takes over for American Idol, Americans may not take to yet another Idol imitator with the original still around. It certainly didn't help The One.

Speaking of The X Factor, another rumor that surfaced last week and then came back up again this week is that Simon is courting Paula Abdul to join him on The X Factor. Is this just a rumor gone wild or is there something to it? We’ll have to keep our eye on it to find out.

So far, no news of a possible replacement for Simon on American Idol has been made. Naturally, someone just as mean as Simon will have to do. I just hope they don't pull another Ellen and pick someone with no real music industry experience. I'm looking at you, Piers Morgan. Also, without Paula, the new judge could be a former chart-topper as well as an acerbic truth-teller. I would suggest Prince, but do you really think he'd do this job?

Whoever takes over for Simon in the future doesn't matter right now. We still have Mr. Cowell for one more Idol-licious season, which will begin in a matter of hours. Let's enjoy him while we can, because we won't see him again until The X Factor premieres.

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Tyler can be reached at tejayes@yahoo.com. What do you like? What do you hate? I mean, besides the thought of American Idol without Simon.

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