Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol: Will The Show Survive?

Tony Cowell, brother of American Idol judge and main stay Simon Cowell, announced on his pod cast ‘The Cowell Factor’ that the upcoming season 9 will indeed by the British Bully’s last on the show.  “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 [his British talent show] X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011.”  Reports from Fox and 19 Entertainment appear to confirm the siblings report.

     So what does this mean for the future of the show?  American Idol has become a part of the very fabric of American pop culture; the ratings perennially are at the top, and the show has spawned a nearly endless parade of pop stars; Adam Lambert, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Jordin Sparks, David Cook…. the list goes on and on.

     But questions of the show’s longevity have been circulating for a couple of years now.  Just how long will the show go on?  A significant part of the show’s appeal has been the odd chemistry between the lovable but ditsy Paula Abdul, the just short of cool Randy Jackson, and the ever cynical Simon Cowell.  The addition of Kara DioGuardi in season 8 received less than stellar reviews, in large part because it threw off the element of chemistry the existing judges had built up over the first 7 seasons.

     Paula’s leaving has left a void, and it’s a hole that Ellen Degeneres may not be able to fill.  For all of her intoxicated idiocy, she still maintained a touch of credibility, having herself been a major recording star at one time.  But it might still work without her.  The loss of Cowell, however, will likely be, in retrospect, the beginning of the end for the show.  The concept itself isn’t enough to maintain the level of interest, there is no way to truly replace a Simon Cowell, and lord knows we’re all tired of Ryan Seacrest.

     It won’t happen immediately;  Fox will of course milk the franchise for every penny it can before it dies.  But it’s safe to assume that the juggernaut level ratings will fade over the 3 ramining contracted years of American Idol, and it, like everything else in the television world, will fade away.  So enjoy it while it’s here.