Simon Cowell may walk away from American Idol

Simon Cowell has publicly declared that he may walk away from American Idol when his contract expires after next season, hinting (repeatedly), "Maybe it's time for a change." That should have executives quaking in their loafers, as Cowell is the face of a show that's not only No. 1 in all of television, it's essentially Fox's ATM. (Portfolio estimated it brings in $6.4 billion a year for the network.) And though ratings are down 12 percent since this time last year, it's pretty much the only show that can consistently nab 25 million viewers. "It's like if Alan Alda left M*A*S*H or Ted Danson left Cheers," says Horizon Media analyst Brad Adgate. "How do you replace someone who's the essence of why people watch?" (Fox and Cowell declined to comment.)

The snark-master certainly has viewer sentiment on his side, and season 7 finalist Michael Johns agrees, telling EW that Idol sans Simon would be like "a golf tournament without Tiger Woods."

While Cowell has threatened to quit Idol before -- even over seemingly minor matters, like the season 6 Sanjaya debacle -- this time seems different. After seven years of intercontinental commuting between the L.A. Idol set and his London-based pet projects -- The X Factor and the increasingly buzzed-about Britain's Got Talent -- the 49-year-old megamogul sounds exhausted. And he certainly doesn't need the cash: Britain's recent Sunday Times "Rich List" pegged his net worth at a recession-proof $175.2 million.

Moreover, he's hinted that he's itching to bring The X Factor to the U.S., which his current deal prohibits. But that's hardly a surefire move. Yes, Cowell struck gold with AI and America's Got Talent (for which he's an exec producer). But remember the other reality shows he produced here? You know, American Inventor, Celebrity Duets, and Cupid? We don't either. And the prospect of finding a new monster hit gets dicier every day, Adgate says: "That's not an indictment of Simon Cowell -- it's more a comment on the TV landscape. I think there's only one American Idol."

From:hollywoodinsider.ew.com

"American Idol" throne are only going to get stronger and Video

The recent whirlwind of rumors and hearsay claiming Simon Cowell is itching to leave his 'American Idol' throne are only going to get stronger with a new interview from the brutal judge.

In an Associated Press interview, Cowell discusses his thoughts on the future of 'Idol,' and from what he said, longevity doesn't seem to be in his future. "The idea that for the next five years, I'd be doing exactly what I've been doing for the past five years ... the thought is just too depressing," he said.

Idol Video

"I'd go nuts, bored out of my mind. You have to evolve, you have to change. I like the challenge of launching something new."

With Cowell's deal with Fox expiring at the end of next season, that something new could be a U.S. version of his U.K. singing competition series "The X Factor." Any doubts about Cowell's role in the success of "Idol" disappeared when he launched "Factor" three years ago. The similarly formatted show became a massive hit that has since supplanted "American Idol" predecessor "Pop Idol."

The "Factor" success was worrisome enough for Fox to forbid Cowell from launching the show in the U.S. while he's under his current "Idol" deal. But all that could soon change. Between the continuing popularity of "Idol" and Cowell's ownership of "Factor," he's armed with both a carrot and a stick.

Asked if he would want to stay on "Idol" if the series ever slips from No. 1 in the ratings, Cowell burst out laughing at the apparent obviousness of the answer.

"Absolutely not!" he said, looking horrified. "Being No. 1 is verging on an obsession with me. I don't like being No. 2. I don't mind when you start at No. 10 -- people don't always go on as No. 1 -- and you've got somewhere to go. But if you're at the point you've reached it, of course you want to stay there."

Though the "Idol" audience has declined over the past few seasons, the show remains far and away the ratings champ, with about 22 million viewers per episode. No other program approaches its popularity.

Unlike many in the TV business, Cowell rejects the claim that "Idol" ratings erosion is inevitable.

From: www.popeater.com