American Idol could be one season away from jumping the shark as evidence continues to mount that the show's signature barb-slinger is preparing to leave the show.
Cowell's brother, Tony, is the latest harbinger of doom for Fox's singing contest, announcing in his podcast, The Cowell Factor, that his little sibling is as good as gone.
"A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011," Tony dished out in this week's installment.
The X Factor is Simon Cowell's hit UK series that, like Idol, uses viewer votes to find new singing talent, most notably Leona Lewis. It even led to a legal battle between Cowell and Idol producer Simon Fuller that was eventually settled.
A week ago, the Times of London reported that Cowell has had conversations with Fox honchos about leaving Idol when his contract expires at the end of 2010, with an American X Factor set to debut in 2011 on Fox.
Cowell's brother, Tony, is the latest harbinger of doom for Fox's singing contest, announcing in his podcast, The Cowell Factor, that his little sibling is as good as gone.
"A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011," Tony dished out in this week's installment.
The X Factor is Simon Cowell's hit UK series that, like Idol, uses viewer votes to find new singing talent, most notably Leona Lewis. It even led to a legal battle between Cowell and Idol producer Simon Fuller that was eventually settled.
A week ago, the Times of London reported that Cowell has had conversations with Fox honchos about leaving Idol when his contract expires at the end of 2010, with an American X Factor set to debut in 2011 on Fox.
Cowell, who's pocketing a reported $45 million for the coming season, has played hardball before in previous contract years, so there is one more sign of hope for Idol fanatics that Fox might work out a time-sharing deal.
But for now, neither Simon Cowell nor Fox Company is speaking out.
No comments:
Post a Comment