Simon Cowell ‘Very Sad’ About Leaving American Idol

American Idol judge Simon Cowell told host Ryan Seacrest he is “very sad” to be leaving the show. Not sad enough, however, to stick around for another season. “I think you gotta know when it’s time to go,” Cowell told Seacrest on his KIIS-FM morning show Tuesday.

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell will be leaving American Idol after this season to play judge on the U.S. version of The X Factor. Cowell said he’d always intended to bring The X Factor to America and initially thought he would do both shows. “But, you know about overexposure Ryan, you can’t be on TV too much,” Cowell said. “So that was really the decision. I thought about staying on and doing both shows, but then I thought people would genuinely get sick and tired of me.”

As for rumors former American Idol judge Paula Abdul will be joining The X Factor judging panel, Cowell refused to comment. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he said cryptically.

So Simon Cowell will be leaving one television reality talent competition for another television reality talent competition. Pretty much we think Cowell realizes American Idol is on the fast road to the cancel heap in another season or two and he hopes moving to The X Factor will give him a reboot in TV fame and fortune – without having to learn how to do a new job.

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