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| Who will replace Simon Cowell? | Who will replace Simon Cowell? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter | By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter |
| Simon Cowell on why he is quitting American Idol. | Simon Cowell on why he is quitting American Idol. |
| Will anyone be able to fill Simon Cowell's high-waisted trousers when he leaves American Idol at the end of the current season? | |
| That is the question being asked all across the US media this morning, after the archetypal straight-talking talent show judge announced he was stepping down. (With characteristic media savvy, he dropped the bombshell the day before the ninth series began, practically guaranteeing record viewing figures). | That is the question being asked all across the US media this morning, after the archetypal straight-talking talent show judge announced he was stepping down. (With characteristic media savvy, he dropped the bombshell the day before the ninth series began, practically guaranteeing record viewing figures). |
| Bookmakers have already started offering odds - with British journalist Piers Morgan the surprise favourite. | Bookmakers have already started offering odds - with British journalist Piers Morgan the surprise favourite. |
| Other contenders include Sean "Diddy" Combs, Quincy Jones and Cowell's former American Idol co-host, Paula Abdul. | Other contenders include Sean "Diddy" Combs, Quincy Jones and Cowell's former American Idol co-host, Paula Abdul. |
| Some commentators have snarkily commented that TV network Fox's big new signing, also announced yesterday, was being prepped to take over. | Some commentators have snarkily commented that TV network Fox's big new signing, also announced yesterday, was being prepped to take over. |
| That would be former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. | That would be former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. |
| 'One of a kind' | 'One of a kind' |
| American Idol producers will be looking for an established music industry expert with a sideline in withering put-downs. | American Idol producers will be looking for an established music industry expert with a sideline in withering put-downs. |
| Cowell's vicious barbs ("you have the personality of a handle" is a personal favourite) carry even more weight in the US, where the other judges prefer a softly-softly "you go, girl" approach to criticism. | Cowell's vicious barbs ("you have the personality of a handle" is a personal favourite) carry even more weight in the US, where the other judges prefer a softly-softly "you go, girl" approach to criticism. |
| With that in mind, it is possible that the quick-witted comediene Ellen DeGeneres, who has just joined the series for its ninth run, may already be being groomed as Cowell's heir. | With that in mind, it is possible that the quick-witted comediene Ellen DeGeneres, who has just joined the series for its ninth run, may already be being groomed as Cowell's heir. |
| Ellen DeGeneres has just joined the American Idol line-up | Ellen DeGeneres has just joined the American Idol line-up |
| However, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment at TV network Fox, admitted it would be impossible to completely replace the sarcastic music executive. | However, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment at TV network Fox, admitted it would be impossible to completely replace the sarcastic music executive. |
| "We're not going to find a Simon clone who can do what he does because he's one of a kind," Rice said. | "We're not going to find a Simon clone who can do what he does because he's one of a kind," Rice said. |
| "We have to take our time on that," he continued. "We have to make sure the chemistry of the judges is as good as it can be." | "We have to take our time on that," he continued. "We have to make sure the chemistry of the judges is as good as it can be." |
| But the real question is whether Idol and The X Factor can peacefully co-exist. | But the real question is whether Idol and The X Factor can peacefully co-exist. |
| In the UK, Cowell's rival singing contest, which expands the entry criteia to admit over-25s and groups, effectively killed off Pop Idol. | In the UK, Cowell's rival singing contest, which expands the entry criteia to admit over-25s and groups, effectively killed off Pop Idol. |
| It led to a protracted legal battle, with Idol's creator, Spice Girls impresario Simon Fuller, arguing that the X Factor had blatantly copied his format. | It led to a protracted legal battle, with Idol's creator, Spice Girls impresario Simon Fuller, arguing that the X Factor had blatantly copied his format. |
| I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity because I miss her Simon Cowell hints at a TV reunion with Paula Abdul | I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity because I miss her Simon Cowell hints at a TV reunion with Paula Abdul |
| The pair ended their spat when Cowell agreed to take a seat on American Idol. | The pair ended their spat when Cowell agreed to take a seat on American Idol. |
| But a repeat looks unlikely in the US. | But a repeat looks unlikely in the US. |
| The Los Angeles Times suggested on Tuesday that Fuller was planning to quit as chief executive of production company 19 Entertainment, for a job at its parent company CFX entertainment - which has a stake in Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and the licensing rights to Mohammad Ali's name and image. | The Los Angeles Times suggested on Tuesday that Fuller was planning to quit as chief executive of production company 19 Entertainment, for a job at its parent company CFX entertainment - which has a stake in Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and the licensing rights to Mohammad Ali's name and image. |
| Falling ratings | Falling ratings |
| However, industry watchers will keep a close eye on the ratings for both X Factor and American Idol when the two go head-to-head next year. | However, industry watchers will keep a close eye on the ratings for both X Factor and American Idol when the two go head-to-head next year. |
| Both will be screened on the Fox network, with X Factor running in the autumn, finishing just in time for Idol to pick up the reality TV baton in the new year. | Both will be screened on the Fox network, with X Factor running in the autumn, finishing just in time for Idol to pick up the reality TV baton in the new year. |
| Fox executives insisted on Monday that Idol would continue for at least three seasons without Cowell. | Fox executives insisted on Monday that Idol would continue for at least three seasons without Cowell. |
| Simon Fuller managed Annie Lennox and S Club before launching Pop Idol | Simon Fuller managed Annie Lennox and S Club before launching Pop Idol |
| "I wouldn't put X Factor on if I didn't think it could exist separately," Cowell said. | "I wouldn't put X Factor on if I didn't think it could exist separately," Cowell said. |
| Nonetheless, Idol's ratings have fallen in recent years after a peak of 30m viewers in 2005 - although it is still the highest-rated programme in the States. | Nonetheless, Idol's ratings have fallen in recent years after a peak of 30m viewers in 2005 - although it is still the highest-rated programme in the States. |
| And Cowell may have another ace up his sleeve - bringing pop star Paula Abdul with him to the X Factor. | And Cowell may have another ace up his sleeve - bringing pop star Paula Abdul with him to the X Factor. |
| "I adore Paula," he told reporters on Monday. "Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity because I miss her." | "I adore Paula," he told reporters on Monday. "Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity because I miss her." |
| UK viewers may also have raised an eyebrow at the timing of X Factor's US launch - which will clash with the show's slot on ITV. | UK viewers may also have raised an eyebrow at the timing of X Factor's US launch - which will clash with the show's slot on ITV. |
| Cowell could, like Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli - who judge on both Strictly Come Dancing and its US counterpart - divide his time between the two shows, clocking up frequent flyer miles as he goes. | Cowell could, like Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli - who judge on both Strictly Come Dancing and its US counterpart - divide his time between the two shows, clocking up frequent flyer miles as he goes. |
| However, that would damage the X Factor's unique twist, whereby the judges mentor their acts. | However, that would damage the X Factor's unique twist, whereby the judges mentor their acts. |
| The alternative, of course, would be for Cowell to pack up his acerbic wit and quit the UK altogether. | The alternative, of course, would be for Cowell to pack up his acerbic wit and quit the UK altogether. |
| At the end-of-series press conference for the X Factor last month, he told journalists: "Where we stand is we have no deal [for] next year". | At the end-of-series press conference for the X Factor last month, he told journalists: "Where we stand is we have no deal [for] next year". |
| Although that seems unlikely, it could be the cause of a few stress headaches at ITV this morning. | Although that seems unlikely, it could be the cause of a few stress headaches at ITV this morning. |
| American Idol premieres in the US on Tuesday night, and in the UK on Thursday, 14 January at 2000 GMT on ITV2. | American Idol premieres in the US on Tuesday night, and in the UK on Thursday, 14 January at 2000 GMT on ITV2. |