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 of a key personality to the series, and the addition of another music competition program on Fox that may result in fewer “Idol” viewers.
I’m absolutely devastated wondering what Idol would be without Simon Cowell. I’d hazard a guess that it wouldn’t be anywhere near as popular as it has become if it were only Randy and the now-departed Paula.
Either way, I’m still looking really forward to the first episodes of Post-Paula Idol, which gets underway in a few weeks.