Simon Cowell has just announced that he will be quitting his judging duties on American Idol at the close of this upcoming season. Never fear, tho, Cowell won’t be going far. He is bringing his AI-like show The X Factor to the US (which will also air on Fox) and will be acting as judge on that show instead:
Simon Cowell says that this will be his last season on “American Idol.” The cantankerous judge said that “The X Factor,” a show he created and is a hit in Britain, will join Fox’s schedule next year. Cowell will be on “The X Factor.” Cowell’s decision is the biggest threat yet to what has been the country’s most popular TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres. But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of “Idol.” Cowell said it would have been difficult for him to do both shows. While he makes a reported $36 million a year to be on “American Idol,” he owns “The X Factor” and could make much more if the show takes off.
Is this the beginning of the end for American Idol? Could be, especially if The X Factor is able to step in and steal all the ratings just because it’s newer. After the jump, read the just released press release announcing The X Factor‘s debut on US TV next year …
FOX announced today that THE X FACTOR will launch in the U.S. in the fall of 2011. Simon Cowell, who created and launched THE X FACTOR in the U.K. in 2004, will serve as both executive producer and judge on the U.S. version, which will be produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. THE X FACTOR is currently shown in 17 countries worldwide with a global audience of more than 500 million, and is the No. 1 TV entertainment format in Europe. Cowell will continue to serve as both executive producer and judge on the U.K. version. THE X FACTOR format is owned by Syco, a global music, television and film production joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. “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,” said Cowell. “We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this.” Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, said, “We have had a very successful relationship with Simon Cowell for many years, and we’re absolutely delighted to continue our relationship with him. THE X FACTOR has been a massive success around the world, and we can’t wait to bring it to the U.S. in 2011.” “THE X FACTOR has enjoyed an unparalleled success in its U.K. home market and globally,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America. “We are truly excited to bring it to the U.S. and look forward to building another entertainment franchise in the marketplace.”
Rumors are FLYING that Paula Abdul may be a judge on The X Factor but I wouldn’t necessarily put any money on that. The announcement of the other The X Factor judges is expected shortly but … yeah … things are really shaking up on the competitive reality TV scene. Thoughts?
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I am telling the show is about to really go down hill! Just you watch.
We had one season of X-Factor down here in Oz a few years ago. It was lame as. I heard a rumour that Aus Idol won’t be on this year…not surprising as the show hasn’t been any good for a couple of years now. Boring and predictable. We lost Big Brother (thank God!) two years ago. We still have So You Think You Can Dance though….and Top Model, which are still really popular. But I think that in general, reality TV has lost it’s lustre down here.
I knew it. The same happened in the UK a few years back – we had Pop Idol (aka American Idol) and when we started getting bored of it, it was replaced with The X Factor.
I personally think X Factor has a better format – people are split into four sections – under 25 girls, under 25 boys, over 25′s and groups – with three acts apiece in the live finals. The key thing with X Factor though is that each of the four judges is given a group to ‘mentor’ and it becomes as much as a competition between judges as the contestants.
A lot of the time it becomes quite political b/c a judge will root for their act despite them not being very good. Have a feeling the Americans will love it – us in the UK had Pop Idol for 2 season before it fizzled out, while you guys have had it for 9. If we’ve had X Factor for 6 seasons, how long will you…? Good luck!
So excited that X Factor is coming to the US – this 35-year-old “old fogey” can finally audition for one of these singing shows!!! But Idol won’t be the same without Simon…
Maybe Ellen will be able to carry American Idol- but I doubt it. I think this will be their last season.
I’m so confused, I thought AI and X-Factor were both practically the same show and produced by Simon Cowell?
@Diana – In a way, they are but different format. I’m excited. American Idol has been starting to suck and I hope Paula is the judge on X-Factor because it will really be great for her career but, if it’s produced by FOX then what’s going to be up for that? They won’t end up American Idol until 2 or 3 more years because didn’t Seacrest get a deal worth $46 million?
I think this is it for American Idol..It just won’t be the same without Simon..They’ve made do without Randy or Paula now and then, but Simon is the one people want to see! Don’t get me wrong, I’m super stoked to see Ellen, but Simon IS AI..
Goodbye American Idol. Hello X-Factor… Simon IS American Idol… also Ellen has already stated that she will absolutely not stay with AI if Simon is not on the show… EW.com
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I was an avid fan of AI but I refuse to have any part of it this year. Last year it was hard to watch, Ever since Kara, IMO, the show has sucked. She’s bitchy and the judges would say one thing to the contestants, the contestants would do as they were directed and then get ripped apart. It was frustrating and annoying. I love Ellen so much and wish she wasn’t going to be on the show so that she won’t get blamed for the downfall or have any ties to it at all.
This is the beginning of the end. I can’t say I am sorry. There have been some great artists come out of AI but last year was a joke when the best singer/best artist (with the album sales to back that up) didn’t win. Kris who? I think it lost a lot of credibility. Fox has also commercialed it to death (if you can use that noun as a verb). AI has become a little bit of singing in the middle of all of the commercials Fox can squeeze into an hour.
I go where Simon goes.
I followed The X Factor the past few months or whatever and it was way more entertaining to me than American Idol ever was for me.
Oh, thanks for the description Bridget. I’ve never seen an episode. I’ve only seen memorable youtube clips. :) Great move for Simon, I say.
AI is trough when Simon goes, he´s the appeal of the show. I´ve thought for some time now that Simon would leave because he´s so much happier when you see him in X-factor uk.
Love Ellen and hope this will be að good season but then it´s over
I agree with everyone here. I do not even know if I am going to watch this season. I only watched in the past to see Paula all up on you know what, and Simon tell the truth to the singers. I do feel bad for Ellen, because she probably will get the blame for the show’s fall. But I blame Kiara and them not bringing Paula back. If it is not broke, why fix it? The show was great with Randy, Paula and Simon, last season was not that great. This season will probably be worse. But good luck to Simon, I will be come a fan of the X-Factor because of him.
I watched the last season of X Factor on youtube and I love it. It is so much more interesting and fun to watch. Plus the show models what a singer would actually be encountering if they won, choreography and performances. I also like that we will be able to see groups now.