Simon Cowell to leave IDOL

Simon Cowell to leave Idol for another show. Simon Cowell, who has helped give "American Idol" some of its sharpest - and nastiest - moments, will leave the hit TV singing contest after this season. The idol judge said Monday that "The X Factor," a talent show he created and which is popular in Britain, will join Fox's schedule next year. Cowell will be a judge on "The X Factor" and its executive producer.

Cowell's decision is the biggest threat yet to what has consistently been the country's top-rated TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres. But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of "Idol."

But an even greater challenge is posed for Idol producers. Without the show's biggest attraction and most critical judge, will "American Idol" lose steam and plunge even more in ratings? Simon Cowell has tremendous influence on how the audience votes, interesting to listen to and brutally honest.

Cowell also said launching a show that doesn't put an age limit on contestants - and allows groups along with individual singers - makes it very different from "American Idol." The top age for "Idol" singers is 28. Susan Boyle, 48, who was discovered on "Britain's Got Talent," is an example of why age should be irrelevant, said Cowell, a judge on the British show he created and executive producer of "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Boyle became an unlikely sensation and released one of the year's top-selling CDs.