Television may never be the same: Oprah Winfery is calling it quits. After 25 years the iconic talk show host will be turning the lights out on her daytime talk show in September of 2011. American Television will also be saying goodbye to the Tyra Banks show. After five seasons the model turned talk show host will end her award winning show. However, the country seems to be grieving, not over Oprah or Tyra, but over Simon Cowell’s announcement that after this season he will be exiting from the ever so popular “American Idol.”
Despite being offered $100 Million dollars to remain as the cut throat and snarky judge of “American Idol,” Simon Cowell has officially announced that he will depart from “Idol,” after nine seasons, to pursue better things. Since 2002 viewers have tuned in to witness the crude comments that Cowell so effortlessly utters in his cunning British accent. He has truly become the “Idol” judge that all of America has loved to hate, yet now much of America is finding it hard to fathom the idea of saying goodbye. However, Cowell will not be out of the television spot light for long.
According to Cowell the main reason he will be leaving “Idol” is to launch the highly successful show of the United Kingdom, “The X Factor,” in the United States. The show which is slated to premier in 2011 will not only feature Cowell as executive producer, but also as judge of the show with a similar format to“Idol.” While no one can say how the shows will hold up against each other on net work television Cowell is very confident that “The X factor” will be highly successful in the United Sates, and will in no way hurt American Idol.
“Idol” fans do have another season with Cowell, but, that is not the case with the beloved and sometimes controversial Paula Abdul. The singer/ dancer and original “Idol” judge has not returned for this season. Abdul’s seat, however, is filled by a woman on the other end of the spectrum, funny woman, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Many fear that DeGeneres is inadequate for the job, but her witty sense of humor and love of music surly give contestants a new and interesting bit of critique on their music journey.
No matter how funny DeGeneres proves to be, fans of the show are sure to miss Abdul. The nicest and most caring judge of the group, always brought an extra flare to the show with the sometimes outrageous on camera moments that left the nation wondering, “What’s in Paula’s cup?” While it is uncertain the exact reason Abdul has left the top rated show, it is known that her attempts for a raise and new contract negotiations fell through in the fall of 2009, possibly leading to her goodbye, after eight seasons
“American Idol “turns out well seasoned singing stars, each less successful than their predecessor, but still very talented. The 2010 season of “Idol” is still very early in its run so it is hard to say how the show will fare with the loss of Paula Abdul and the addition of Ellen DeGeneres. It is safe to say that the show will definitely lack something important in 2011 with the absence of Simon Cowell at the judges table. American Idol has grown to be loved for the competition and talent but also the consistency of its judging panel season after season. With one of the original three already out the door and another on the way, “American Idol” may find it difficult to woo America into accepting new faces in the position of people they have grown to love.