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Simon Cowell Recruiting Old Friend For X Factor Simon Cowell is talking to familiar faces to sit beside him at the judges table on Fox's "The X Factor." Cowell is in discussions with his former "American Idol" co-star Paula Abdul and his current "X Factor" U.K. co-star Cheryl Cole for judging positions on the show, which launches on Fox in fall 2011. Hiring Abdul and Cole would assure a certain degree of comfortable chemistry between Cowell and other judges on the new series. Abdul in particular would allow Cowell to reform the heart of the longtime "Idol" judging team, which was split when Abdul quit the show in August amid contract dispute. This is Cowell's final season on "Idol." The judges on "X Factor" are if anything more crucial to the success of the show than on "Idol" because each mentors a group of singers and effectively becomes part of the competition rather than simply grading from the sidelines.

Simon Cowell Calls It Quits On American Idol Cowell will quit the top-rated show on television at the end of this season as part of his plan to focus on launching a new series, "The X-Factor." Fox has picked up "Factor" for the fall of 2011, when "Idol" is on hiatus. Cowell's decision to walk away from his estimated $36 million-per-season "Idol" gig could have major consequences for the show, which has declined in the ratings in recent years. Given that Cowell was the most expensive part of producing "Idol," however, Fox could end up with a more profitable show, even if ratings drop due to losing its most popular judge. Fox chairman Peter Rice and entertainment president Kevin Reilly officially announced the "Factor" pickup and Cowell's "Idol" departure today at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena. "In my opinion it's like having a good player on a good football te

American Idol To Go On Without Simon Cowell Fox is near a deal to order more seasons of "American Idol" -- with or without its most popular judge, Simon Cowell. The network's current contract with "Idol" producer 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia extends through the end of the 2011 season. But the network is working on a new deal that includes three seasons of "Idol," though that number could still change. The announcement is expected to demonstrate Fox's commitment to its top-rated series, even as "Idol" faces its biggest challenge yet. The "Idol" franchise has been rocked by rumors that Cowell will depart the show after the upcoming season as he prepares to bring his hit UK music competition series "X-Factor" to the states. Cowell's brother Tony announced Tuesday on his weekly podcast that Simon will leave "Idol" at the end of 2010. The move could have a double impact on "Idol" -- the loss o