Ever wonder what "American Idol" would be like without judge Simon Cowell? That day may be coming soon as Cowell has hinted he may leave the show after his contract expires next year.
“Most people do one show a year and I do three and they involve a lot of traveling. One may have to go. I don’t know which one. That is the problem, I like all of them. I can’t imagine not doing "Britain’s Got Talent" and I can’t imagine not doing "X Factor." But I guess America is more likely to go because I have got one year under contract. Maybe that will be the end,” Cowell told the Mirror in the UK.
Cowell has been the cornerstone of "Idol" ever since its launch in the summer of 2002. His harsh critique of young hopefuls has been a huge hit with the audience. Some value his brutal honesty. Others say he is downright mean.
Either way, "American Idol," now in its eighth season, is still getting high ratings as one of the top watched shows on TV. It has not tinkered with its winning formula much, but if Cowell decides to leave that could leave a huge hole in the "Idol" juggernaut.
Cowell, 49, also owns a music label and television production company which keeps him very busy and a regular in airports. He can make as many as four transatlantic flights week, according to the Mirror.
“But there is a point where I am not sure we can keep this schedule up," Cowell said. "It takes longer and longer to make these shows because you have to put more into them, and I am not sure we can sustain me doing three shows a year, with the record label and the TV production company."
