Simon Cowell Is Leaving ‘American Idol’!

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell the man who started the ‘American Idol’ phenomenon in 2002 will be leaving the show when his contract ends after the 2010 season.
But don’t worry, he is not taking any vacation. We will be able to see Simon judging and producing an American version of his British hit music show, ‘The X Factor’, on Fox in Fall 2011.
“Because of that this will be my last season on ‘American Idol’. I felt like doing something different. I want to leave Idol this year bigger and better than it’s been before”, he announced Fox’s Winter Television Critics’ Association press event at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California on Monday.
Asked about Simon Cowell’s departure, Ellen DeGeneres said: “If Simon goes, I go!” she said. Cowell laughed and answered: “Oh, Ellen! … That’s quite a tricky situation you’ve put me into! I think right now we have to concentrate on the next season and just get through that and worry about everything else afterwards.”
DeGeneres joined the ‘American Idol’ judging team after Paula Abdul left in September last year. The show’s host Ryan Seacrest renewed his contract for the next three seasons. Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson are under contract until the end of the current season. According to Frobes, Simon Cowell, was the top earning man on prime-time U.S. Television earning an $75 million last year.