Simon Cowell: I'm Leaving 'American Idol'Simon Cowell will no longer be crushing terrible singers' dreams on the most popular show on television.
Cowell just announced this will be his last season on "
American Idol" -- and that he's leaving the show to be a judge and executive producer on FOX's upcoming American version of "
The X Factor" ... the British talent show that launced
Leona Lewis' career.
Cowell just made the announcement during the semiannual
Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena.
UPDATE: Cowell said he was "offered a lot of money" to stay on "American Idol" ... but he "wanted to do something different." BTW, Simon reportedly makes around $36 million a year on "A.I."
That sucks! I can't imagine AI without Simon! I guess this will be my last year too!