|
Digital News Report – Simon Cowell, the condescending judge on American Idol, will be leaving the show after this season. Cowell, a music executive, television producer and celebrity, will be bringing the hit replacement for Pop Idol in the United Kingdom, X Factor, to the United States.
X Factor is a talent show which will air on Fox Television in the fall of 2011. It is already a hit in the UK. The “x-factor” comes from the undefined quality that makes an average person a star. In the UK they offer a recording contract to the winner. X Factor talent winners are sometimes older than their American counterparts. One winner, Steve Brokstein won was 35 when he won the contest.
Franchised from India to South America to Europe and Asia, the X Factor is already all over the world. Finally it will be coming to the United States.
Cowell has been with American Idol for 9 seasons. According to USA Today, the deal was reached at 11:30 a.m. PT today (Monday). He signed the agreement on stage at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena, California.
Cowell will also be a judge on the U.S. version of X Factor. When asked why, Cowell said: because of that, this will be my last season on American Idol… I don’t think it was right to do two shows in America.”
It is uncertain whether the new show will be open to all ages.
By: Jael Kirk