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Does Simon Cowell’s recent announcement that he will quit “American Idol” after this season indicate the beginning of the end for the nation’s favorite singing contest?
You may loathe Simon but you have to admit, it ain’t much of a show without the brusque, acerbic British judge. Without doubt, Mr. Cowell is the star of the show, which pulls in approximately 30 million viewers.
First, Paula, now Simon. What will we do?
Simon, 50, plans to launch an American version of his successful Brit talent show, “The X Factor,” of which he is a judge and executive producer. “X Factor” has no age limit on contestants, while “Idol” has an age limit of 28. “X Factor” places singers in different categories that change from season to season—under 25, over 25, groups and solo artists, males and females, etc. Judges mentor and coach the 12 finalists.
Among the past judges on the Brit version have been Sharon Osbourne and UK muy caliente pop star Cheryl Cole. The best-known winner of “X Factor” so far is singer Leona Lewis. (Note to the Abdulists out there: “Idol” judge Randy Jackson recently hinted that Paula could appear on the American “X Factor.”)
Simon, meanwhile, stands to make a fortune with the U.S. version of “X Factor,” which will premiere in the fall 2011 while “Idol” – now in its ninth season—is on hiatus.
In other silly talent show news, you may have heard that Howie Mandel will replace David Hasselhoff as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.” (Sure, makes sense to replace one idiot with another.) After all of his bad publicity and alleged substance abuse woes, The Hoff was dropped like a burnt latke by the AGT folks.