American Idol Adding Online Voting Via Facebook

Will you accept American Idol‘s friend request?

The Fox hit will soon announce that it’s adding online voting for the first time.

Here are the details: Users will be able to use their Facebook accounts to reach a dedicated Idol voting page that will include all the current contestants. Each fan will be able to vote 50 times during a telecast’s voting period. Viewers will still be able to vote via text messaging and toll-free phone calls as well.

The Idol plans have been in the works for awhile, though Fox hasn’t commented. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe leaked plans to introduce a form of online voting earlier this week, followed by somebody leaking plans to introduce Facebook voting for next fall’s The X Factor.
Idol creator Simon Fuller has been pushing for the show to embrace online voting as part of its widespread overhaul of season 10. With Idol still dominating in the ratings and viewers embracing Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as judges, the industry consensus seems to be that the show has managed to pull off something that many thought impossible — soldiering on successfully in the wake of Cowell’s departure.

This latest change, online voting, is expected to go into effect during the performance show on Tuesday, March 1th.

American Idol May Allow Contestants to Tweet

We always know what the judges think, but next season on American Idol the contestants may also be allowed to speak out during the competition for the first time.

Among the changes being considered for season 10 is a lift on the social-networking ban that has silenced competitors once they leave the stage.

"Contestants may be allowed to Tweet throughout the show," a source has stated. "But there are still logistics to be worked out."

Another change: Unlike last season, the top 12 contestants will be living together in a house in Hollywood. The move is a fresh idea for the next batch of hopefuls, although Idol has done it sporadically in previous years.

What's uncertain, the source says, "is whether they'll film any of it."

The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the changes, and claims they're being made as part of a new "transparency" production theme – the idea being to give fans a peek behind the scenes.

FOX declined to comment on the reports, as did a rep for executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.

American Idol Shifts to Wednesday & Thursday Schedule for Season 10

The changes just keep coming for "American Idol."

FOX's top-rated series, which has aired on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for most of its life, will switch to Wednesdays and Thursdays this season. The move also means a number of other shakeups in the network's midseason schedule.

The "Idol" move will give "Human Target" and "Bones" new timeslots on Wednesday and Thursday nights, push "Fringe" into the dead zone of Fridays and, FOX hopes, serve as a launching pad for its new comedy "Breaking In" later in the spring. It's also an acknowledgment that "Glee" is doing well enough on its own on Tuesday nights that it no longer needs "Idol's" help in the ratings.

"Fringe" is probably the biggest loser in the shakeup. The show finishes fourth in its current Thursday timeslot, averaging around 5 million viewers per week. It gets one of the biggest bumps, percentage-wise, of any show on TV when DVR viewing is factored in, but it's likely to lose some audience at least in the overnight ratings with the move to Fridays. It will be paired with "Kitchen Nightmares."

"Bones," meanwhile, is likely to get a bit of a bump when it moves to 9:00 pm Thursdays behind "Idol." "Human Target" may as well, but it won't have much time to show itself. The network is running back-to-back episodes on January 5th and 12th, and after "Idol's" two-hour January premiere on January 19th, "Human Target" will have only three weeks with an "Idol" lead-in before going off the schedule again.

The new shows in FOX's midseason lineup are a pair of live-action comedies, "Mixed Signals" (which premieres at 9:30 pm Tuesday, February 8th) and "Breaking In" (9:30 pm Wednesday, April 6th), animated comedy "Bob's Burgers" (8:30 pm Sunday, January 9th) and crime drama "The Chicago Code" (9:00 pm Monday, Febuary 7th).

The schedule shift for "Idol" is the latest in a series of big changes for Season 10. The show has two new judges (Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler) and is tweaking its format by, among other things, skipping the Top 24 stage and going straight to a Top 12.

Here's how FOX's midseason schedule will shake out (no changes to Saturday nights):

Mondays
8:00 pm "House"
9:00 pm "Lie to Me" (through January 31st) / "The Chicago Code" (premieres February 7th)

Tuesdays
8:00 pm "Glee"
9:00 pm "Million Dollar Money Drop" (January 4th - February 1st) / "Raising Hope," "Mixed Signals" (starting February 8th)

Wednesdays
January 5th and 12th
8:00 pm "Human Target" (back-to-back episodes)

January 19th
8:00 pm "American Idol" (two-hour season premiere)

January 26th - February 9th
8:00 pm "American Idol"
9:00 pm "Human Target" (new timeslot)

February 16th - March 30th
8:00 pm "American Idol" (two-hour episodes)

Starting April 6
8:00 pm "American Idol"
9:30 pm "Breaking In"

Thursdays
8:00 pm "Million Dollar Money Drop" (January 6th and 13th) / "American Idol" (starting on January 20th)
9:00 pm "Bones" (new timeslot starting January 6th)

Fridays
8:00 pm "Kitchen Nightmares" (premieres January 21st)
9:00 pm "Fringe" (new timeslot starting January 28th)

Sundays
7:00 pm "The Simpsons"
7:30 pm "American Dad"
8:00 pm "The Simpsons"
8:30 pm "Bob's Burgers" (premieres January 9th)
9:00 pm "Family Guy"
9:30 pm "The Cleveland Show" (new timeslot)

It's "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" Tonight!

It's Halloween. What's a Gleek to do? Let's put on The Rocky Horror Picture Show is what Will (Matthew Morrison decides to do!

The reason that New Directions is putting its spin on the 1975 cult classic (at least according to the plot) is that Emma's (Jayma Mays) a big fan and Will wants to impress Emma, so... it's time for "Time Warp."

That's Kurt (Chris Colfer) underneath the bald Riff-Raff wig, by the way. Movie alums Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf are in the guest cast, playing station managers at the TV station where Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) hurls her "As Sue Sees It" darts. And, yes, Sue's scheming to stop the show.

The Halloween-themed episode will be broadcast tonight at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

Fox Shelves Lone Star After Two Episodes

Fox has shelved Lone Star after just two episodes.

The network announced that Lie to Me -- which originally was scheduled to premiere in November — will take Lone Star's timeslot, beginning Monday.

Lone Star creator pleads for "stunning upset" from fans.

Lone Star is not officially canceled, but likely will be after two weeks of abysmal ratings. Network officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday about whether the series' remaining episodes will air.

The critically acclaimed drama, about a con man married to two women and leading two different lives, is the first freshman series of the 2010-2011 season to be removed from the air.

The show failed to connect with viewers despite a heavy promotional campaign from Fox. Lone Star premiered September 20th to 4.1 million viewers and a 1.3 rating in the 18-to-49 demographic. The series' episode this week dipped to just 3.8 million viewers — despite an open letter to fans from series creator/executive producer Kyle Killen.

"For us to survive we're going to have to pull off a minor miracle. Statistically, new shows tend to lose viewers in their second week. We're aiming to gain them," Killen wrote on his personal blog Thursday.

I'm personally sorry to see this show disappear from our televisions. It was truly a great show, with a great deal of support from the TV critics. Hopefully it get's picked up by another network.

Jennifer Lopez: I Won't Be a Diva on American Idol

Will having Jenny on the block drag down the neighborhood?

No way, says Jennifer Lopez, who laughed off reports of outrageous diva-like demands during negotiations to become a new judge on American Idol.

"After as many years as I've been in this business, I'm used to that kind of stuff," Lopez said Wednesday at an Idol press conference in Inglewood, California. "I'm used to speculation."

If anything, Lopez says, she felt she was dragging FOX into negative headlines.

"I was calming the FOX people down," she explained. "I was like, 'Listen, it'll be gone tomorrow. Once they hear who we are and what we're doing, it's going to be fine. Don't worry about it.' I was just looking forward to getting started."

Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe even poked fun at her reputation.

"I said to Jennifer today, we heard that she only likes yellow M&Ms," he said. "I'm thinking, 'Who's going to pick them all out for her?' She said, 'No, where did that come from?'"

Adds Mike Darnell, head of alternative programming on FOX: "I can tell you from the Fox standpoint, the deal was not tough. There were no diva demands. It was a really easy, comfortable deal with both parties."

Fall TV Premieres: Tuesday, September 21st

Here we are on day two of the official 2010/2011 Fall TV premiere week which includes the return of last year's FOX sensation "Glee", followed by the series premieres of "Raising Hope" and "Running Wilde", both also on FOX.

Today's Spotlight: Glee

Third place at Regionals just didn't cut it, and season two begins with the glee kids back in the dumps. Time to call in reinforcements. Two possibilities: transfer student Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) and exchange student Sunshine Corazon (Charice). Meanwhile, Figgins is threatening more budget cuts, and he has an ally in the new football coach, a woman name Shannon Beiste (Dot Marie Jones), who looks upon the gleeks and the Cheerios with equal disdain. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Will Schulster (Matthew Morrison) and Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch)? We'll have to watch and see.

Today's premiere schedule:

8:00 pm
CBS - NCIS
FOX - Glee
NBC - The Biggest Loser

9:00 pm
CBS - NCIS: Los Angeles
FOX - Raising Hope

9:30 pm
FOX - Running Wilde

10:00 pm
ABC - Detroit 1-8-7

All times are based on Eastern Time zone.

Fox Orders Second Season of Masterchef

Fox announced Tuesday that it has ordered a second season of Gordon Ramsay’s newest series, Masterchef.

The reality show is the No. 1 new program of the summer among adults 18-49. “Gordon Ramsay is an incredible talent and the biggest culinary star on television today, so we’re very happy to have Gordon and Masterchef back for another season on Fox,” said Mike Darnell, Fox’s president of alternative programming, in a statement. “Masterchef has resonated with viewers this summer, and we look forward to seeing where Gordon takes the show in Season Two.”

“It’s amazing and refreshing to see how much passion and raw talent there is from amateur home cooks across America,” added Ramsay. “It’s extraordinary the amount of energy and excitement the show brought in Season One, and I’m thrilled to be back at Fox for a second season.”

The first season finale of the show will air September 15th, when the remaining four home cooks go head-to-head and battle it out to become the Masterchef. The winner will earn the title of America’s Best Home Cook and win $250,000 and a cookbook-publishing deal.

Second Season of “Glee” Starts on September 21st

The second season of Glee is about two months away! The official premiere date is on September 21st.

Creator Ryan Murphy and the show’s writers shared that and other second season tidbits at an event Monday night at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills.

Emmy nominated for one of her two guest appearances on the show last season, Kristin Chenoweth will return! Also, Murphy has written a role for Oscar winner Javier Bardem.

Murphy was asked about the phenomenal success of the show which earned an astounding 19 Emmy nominations last week: “I feel very stunned that people got it in a big way… because I do think it’s a very unusual show and a very unusual tone…There’s never been a musical on television that has worked, so the fact that it is embraced as much as it has been is just amazing to me.”

Glee Gets Reality TV Spin-off

Hit musical comedy Glee is getting the reality TV treatment, an unscripted spin-off is reportedly set to debut next year.

Bosses at cable TV network Oxygen have acquired syndication rights to the Fox channel's high school musical series starring Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch, with plans to begin airing reruns in 2013.

And network executives are planning to launch a reality companion series in the mean time, reports Entertainment Weekly. Details of the spin-off show have yet to be released.

A proposed Glee reality show, in which unknowns would compete to appear in episodes of the fictional show alongside its stars, was reportedly scrapped by Fox bosses last week.

Tonight's the Season Finale of “Glee” with Guest Stars, Olivia Newton-John & Josh Grobin

Not that this show needs any guest stars to make it special, but tonight’s season one finale on FOX will feature Olivia Newton-John (her second appearance this season) and Josh Grobin.

The finale has some high stakes drama with the gang competing in Regionals and pregnant cheerleader, Quinn (Dianna Agron) will have her baby. But there will be plenty of laughs, Jane Lynch told E!.

“It’s our kids, New Directions, or as we like to call them, nude erections,” she says with a laugh. “Don’t think we didn’t have fun with that name immediately. Then there’s Vocal Adrenaline, which is Jesse St. James’ group. And then the third group is called Aural Intensity, which I think is the best ever. It all sounds like something else. But it’s “aural” with an “A.” You gotta love our writers. They keep you thinking.”

Fox Announces 2010-2011 Fall TV Schedule

Fox's new primetime lineup will feature more comedy and a little less American Idol, the network announced Monday. Fox will take the bold step of cutting the long-running show and will introduce three dramas and four comedies, including one that pairs Will Arnett and Keri Russell.

The show, Running Wilde, will join Glee as part of the network's new Tuesday night comedy block.

Fox has led in ratings for the past six seasons, and the new slate attempts to fill the rare holes in its lineup: The Tuesday night shows give it a new foothold in comedy, and Steven Spielberg's dino-centric Terra Nova may take the place of the departing 24 as the network's action-adventure calling card.

"With three daring new dramas, a fresh new animated series and three new live-action comedies, we're positioned to rebuild the Fox comedy brand, introduce the next generation of unique characters and deliver an even more compelling experience for our viewers next season," Fox president of entertainment Kevin Reilly said in a statement.

Fox also announced that a special episode of Glee will follow Super Bowl XLV and that the show will air in the spring on Wednesdays after Idol. The network also plans to reduce the Tuesday Idol performance shows to 90 minutes and the Wednesday results shows to 30 minutes.

New shows include:

Raising Hope: A comedy from Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl) about a good-hearted screw-up (The Beast's Lucas Neff) who tries to raise his infant daughter with help from his unusual family. Other stars include Martha Plimpton (How To Make It In America), Garret Dillahunt (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Cloris Leachman.

Running Wilde: A romantic comedy from Arrested Development's Jim Vallely, Mitch Hurwitz and Will Arnett that stars Arnett as an immature playboy the network describes as "trying desperately to win (or buy)" the heart of his childhood sweetheart, a liberal humanitarian played by Russell.

Lonestar: A drama set in the Texas oil industry and premiering this fall stars newcomer James Wolk as a man caught between two lives and two women. It's created by Chris Keyser and Amy Lippman (Party of Five).

Terra Nova: A Steven Spielberg produced action-adventure series follows a family back to prehistoric Earth as they try to save humanity. The series has yet to be scheduled.

Ride-Along: A new cop drama from creator Shawn Ryan (The Shield) about Chicago's most notorious cops. Stars include Jason Clarke (Public Enemies), Jennifer Beals (Lie to Me) and Delroy Lindo (Kidnapped).

Mixed Signals: An ensemble comedy debuting in the spring and created by Bob Fisher (Wedding Crashers) about three longtime friends trying to balance relationships and freedom. Stars include Nelson Franklin (I Love You, Man), David Denman (The Office), Kris Marshall (Human Target), Liza Lapira (Dexter) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Family Guy).

Bob's Burgers: An animated series joining Sunday's animated block from creator Loren Bouchard (Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist) about a family with a struggling burger joint.

NBC has already announced its Fall TV line-up. ABC, The CW and CBS will be announcing their's later this week.

Olivia Newton-John Gets "Physical" on Glee

Were you looking for Sandra Dee on Tuesday’s episode of Glee? Instead you got Olivia Newton-John in her "Physical" era.

For her guest appearance on FOX’s hit musical comedy, Olivia Newton-John showed off “the dark side of myself,” the Grease star said. “I’m not terribly nice. It’s a mixture of mean and diva. I don’t believe I have this side but it’s amazing how easy it came out!”

Playing herself, the singer called up McKinley High’s ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester after spotting a remake of her “Physical” video that the Glee club posted online. The two then join forces to improve on the project.

“It was really fun to see the set. They redid it exactly the way it was in the original video!” says Newton-John, 61, who put in a 12-hour day with Jane Lynch. With one exception: “We have our own version of the headband.”

“Just the experience of being dressed up in exercise gear and dancing and singing with Jane was funny,” continues Newton-John, who gave her costar Lluvia skin products as a thank you at the end of the shoot. “I’ve never laughed so hard, my jaw was sore by the time I left.”

The singer admits that she wasn’t a true “gleek” until recently, and growing up in Australia she was never a show choir kind of girl.

“I was part of the drama club. But I avoided choir because they always wanted me to do solos so I tried to get out of it,” says Newton-John, laughing. “I was shy.”

FOX Cancels Kiefer Sutherland's 24!

After eight seasons, Fox has decided to cancel 24!

Series star Kiefer Sutherland reflected on the show’s run: “This has been the role of a lifetime, and I will never be able to fully express my appreciation to everyone who made it possible. While the end of the series is bittersweet, we always wanted 24 to finish on a high note, so the decision to make the eighth season our last was one we all agreed upon. This feels like the culmination of all our efforts from the writers to the actors to our fantastic crew and everyone at Fox. Looking ahead to the future, [executive producer and showrunner] Howard Gordon and I are excited about the opportunity to create the feature film version of 24. But when all is said and done, it is the loyal worldwide fan base that made it possible for me to have the experience of playing the role of Jack Bauer, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Gordon told Variety, “Kiefer and me and the writers had (a decision to make). What’s the creative? What do we do? Is there any more story left to be told in this 24-hour format? We turned over every stone, and really determined that the story has come to an end in this 24-hour format.”

24 regular Mary Lynn Rajskub confirmed the news, tweeting, “Just found out we got the word officially. This is 24’s last season.”

The final two-hour episode will air May 24.

Busy Friday for ABC, NBC and Fox

Fox, NBC and ABC went on a Friday frenzy, picking up several more pilots.

Fox greenlighted the procedural drama "Breakout Kings," the laffer "Most Likely to Succeed," and the comedy "Traffic Light," while ABC's latest pilot is the drama "Edgar Floats." At NBC, the network added the offbeat family comedies "This Little Piggy" and "Nathan vs. Nurture."

Separately, Fox also announced that new mystery series "Past Life" will get a nice primetime boost -- airing on Tuesday, February 9th behind "American Idol."

"Breakout Kings" is a procedural about marshals who pair up with ex-cons to find criminals who have broken out of prison.

Show comes from Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora, who know a thing or two about prison breaks -- having been on "Prison Break." Olmstead and Santora, whose credits also include "Lie to Me," will serve as writers/exec producers.

Also attached is Gavin Hood ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine"), who will direct. 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.

Also at Fox, "Most Likely to Succeed" centers on a group of friends who were superstars growing up and are now dealing with the reality of adulthood.

Dave Walpert ("Scrubs") is exec producing the comedy, which comes from 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV. Imagine's David Nevins and Brian Grazer are also EPs.

Then there's "Traffic Light," which is based on an Israeli TV format.

Project, adapted for U.S. auds by scribe Bob Fisher, centers on three male friends in different stages of relationships. 20th Century Fox TV is the studio.

Fisher will exec produce, along with Avi Nir, Ran Telem, Adir Miller and Elad Kuperman. Miller created the Israeli series, which has scored the highest sitcom ratings in that country's history.

Over at ABC, "Edgar Floats" comes from Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, who were previously behind NBC's "Life."

"Edgar Floats" centers on the world of a police psychologist who becomes a bounty hunter. Warner Bros. TV is the studio.

Peacock's pilot stable now includes "This Little Piggy," from "Scrubs" scribes Stephen Cragg and Brian Bradley.

Laffer centers on a married man whose family life is upended when his siblings move in.

Cragg and Bradley are EPs on the comedy, which comes from ABC Studios.

Also, NBC greenlighted "Nathan vs. Nurture," from Moses Port and David Guarascio ("Aliens in America").

Comedy follows Griffin Birk, a heart surgeon who reunites with his birth father and slacker brothers, 35 years after being given up for adoption.

Sony Pictures TV is behind the sitcom.

As for "Past Life," the show will now benefit by Fox's and Mark Burnett's decision to yank "Our Little Genius" from airing.

With that Tuesday, post- "Idol" slot open, Fox has opted to give "Past Life" a preview on February 9th. The show then moves to its regular Thursday 9:00 pm (ET) slot later that week, on February 11th.

Fox had originally planned to launch "Past Life" with a two-hour episode on February 11th. With that first hour now moving to Tuesday, the net will air a repeat "Bones" at 8:00 pm on February 11th instead.

The Richard Schiff starrer, from David Hudgins and Lou Pitt, is based on MJ Rose's novel "The Reincarnationist," about investigators who study past lives to solve crimes.

Fox said it's still mulling what to air in the Tuesday 9:00 pm slot on February 16th and March 9th. Two-hour "Idol" episodes will air on other weeks. "Past Life" will also get several more "Idol" boosts, as special editions of the talent competish are set to expand to Thursdays for a few weeks in February and March.

A Glee Romance: Will Emma and Will Couple Up?

Get ready for a full-blown Gleek-out! Not only are the stars of the FOX’s hit musical comedy singing about plot twists and guest stars — Olivia Newton-John! Idina Menzel! More Kristin Chenoweth! — the show’s launching a nationwide talent search to add gifted future stars to the cast.

FOX executives have revealed that in February, the network will begin scouring the country for undiscovered talent between, ages 16 to 26, to fill three new roles in the show’s newly announced season 2. The search will be documented in a multi-part reality special, which will culminate in the unveiling of the new cast members on Glee’s season premiere in the fall.

“We were going to do a nationwide search regardless,” FOX president Kevin Reilly told reporters Monday, noting that some of the original cast, like Chris Colfer, were discovered that way. “So we decided to let the audience in as a part of that. There will not be formal voting. The audience will not decide, but the audience will certainly participate. They will give us their opinions on who they want and who they like.”

READY FOR ROMANCE?

When Glee returns April 13th, will choir director Will (Matthew Morrison), who was distraught after discovering his wife Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) faked her pregnancy, be on a fast track to romance with guidance counselor Emma (Jayma Mays)?

Not so fast, says Mays, who attended FOX’s Winter TCA party. “[Series creator] Ryan Murphy said that it’s his job as a writer to keep us apart,” she says. “I was like, ‘Actually, you know what? That’s right and that makes sense.’ Otherwise people won’t have anything to root for. Practically speaking, Emma’s a smart girl and she’s a practical girl, and so she wouldn’t jump into a relationship with a man that’s technically not even separated.”

On the other side of the romantic triangle, Gilsig hints that she may be exploring Terri’s more vulnerable side — possibly through song. “I think it’s going to happen,” says Gilsig. “I never say it’s done until we’ve shot it. I want just a little softer side of Terri … We’ll let her have a life outside of this panic that she was in. [But] I don’t think she’s ever going to turn into Emma. I think she’ll always have an edge.”

Meanwhile, the show choir’s internal dramas will continue to heat up McKinley High. Dianna Agron said her ex-Cheerio character Quinn is “still pregnant and just focusing on moving past the ‘woe is me’ moments of being pregnant, so it’s fun again! She’s back to her old spunky ways and we’re learning so much more about all the characters, whether it be at home with their families or in the school.”

GUEST STARS GALORE

In addition to more of Chenoweth, who appeared earlier this season as former glee-club star April Rhodes, the cast is excited to be joined by Menzel and Newton-John. Of former Wicked star Menzel, Cory Monteith says, “I haven’t gotten to meet her yet but she’s around. I could sense her extremely talented presence somewhere on set today.” But will Menzel being playing the birth mother of Rachel, as has been speculated due to her strong resemblance to series star Lea Michele? “No, not Lea’s mom,” declares Gilsig cryptically. “It’s going to be interesting.”

And Jane Lynch reveals that the show’s arch villainess, Cheerios coach Sue Sylvester, will perform a duet with another amazing guest star: “I have two songs this season,” Lynch says. “One is ‘Let’s Get Physical’ with Olivia Newton-John.”

Lynch is already plotting out her first meeting with the iconic star of Grease. “I’m going to treat it just like how I treated working with Carol Burnett, which almost made me have an aneurysm,” she said. “You just go there and you relax and you don’t ask any questions and you try to be as normal as possible. Carol Burnett was so lovely. By the end of it, we were friends and she had told me a bunch of stories without me even asking, because I was like a crazy sycophant-type person. My plan is the same with Olivia Newton-John. I’m just going to be as normal as I can be.”

What is the X Factor?

Simon Cowell wants to reassure fans that although he’s leaving American Idol after its 9th season this year, he isn’t leaving their living rooms.

“Don’t worry,” Cowell said after his announcement at a Television Critics Association press conference in Pasadena, California, that season 9, which premiered last night on FOX, will be his last as an American Idol judge. “I’m still going to be around, just doing a different show.”

That show is The X Factor, a talent competition Cowell created in 2004 in the U.K. and expects to bring to FOX in the fall of 2011. Peter Rice, chairman of FOX, said, “If we can have a show that can replicate the power of Idol in the fall, [that's] a big reward for us.”

How Is The X Factor Different From American Idol?

Both The X Factor and American Idol hold public auditions and air highlights of the good and bad performances. In last year’s X Factor, though, the auditions were held before a live audience. One key difference between the shows is that The X Factor accepts groups and duos in the competition; the show also takes contestants age 16 and over with no upper limit, while American Idol caps the age at 28.

“I don’t like rules,” Cowell said. “A lot of people over the years like to audition for Idol but were too old. I listened to that. Susan Boyle is the reason why I like to do shows without age. Without a show like [Britain's Got Talent], she would never have landed a recording contract and that’s what these shows can do … That’s why record labels are out of touch. It’s supposed to be David versus Goliath. That’s what I like about the format. Right now, who has the biggest X-factor in the world? Lady Gaga. [I would] love to find someone like that.”

Hollywood Round vs. Boot Camp: On American Idol, contestants who get a “golden ticket” to Hollywood then sing in groups or solos with some assistance from a vocal coach to further impress the judges, who then whittle them down to a top 24. The public then votes after watching the 24 perform and eventually settle on a top 12.

On The X Factor, the contestants who survive the first auditions are divided into groups and handed over to the judges, who then become their mentors. They are taken to different houses to study and train with their respective judge. After a few more cuts, boot camp ends with 12 acts ready to compete for the votes from viewers at home.

While both shows reward the victor with a recording contract and monetary prize based on a public vote, the judging along the way for The X Factor takes on a personal bent because the judges have worked so closely with the contestants and will defend their charges.

Cowell, however, believes there is room for both formats. Remarking on his departure from Idol, he says, ” It will be fine. It’s time and it’s fine. And American Idol will go on.”

Looking Toward the Future of X’s and Idols
One possible throwback to Cowell’s Idol days could include the return of Paula Abdul, who was the first judge to leave the show last year. “I adore Paula,” Cowell said. “No matter what happens, I’ll be working with her in the future. You just have to watch.”

As for reaction from current judges, Kara DioGuardi said on the radio show Valentine in the Morning, “I was a fan before I was on the show and he will be really missed.”

New Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres will poke fun at Cowell’s announcement and other changes in the TV landscape on her talk show this week. “He announced he’s leaving on my first day,” she jokes. “I’m trying not to take it personally. But seriously, I am going to be very, very sad to see him go, because I think he’s made the show what it is. He’s a huge part of that show but he wanted a change. I wish him all the luck in the world hosting The Tonight Show.”

“Glee” has Been Renewed for a Second Season!

‘Glee’ fans – and you ‘Gleeks’ know who you are – can rejoice!

Fox announced on Monday that the musical phenomenon about a high school glee club has been renewed for a second season beginning in fall. But first, the show will return on April 13 for the second half of its first season with the first of nine fresh episodes.

“We loved ‘Glee’ ever since it was a pilot script so it’s been an incredible thrill to watch the show take root and see audiences embrace these characters in such a huge way this season,” said Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment for Fox. “The show is a true and rare gem in television. We couldn’t be more proud of what Ryan Murphy and the ‘Glee’ team have created so far, and can’t wait to see what they come up with for season two.”

The show has launched the television careers of Broadway stars Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele and provided character actress Jane Lynch with a breakthrough role. The three are nominated for Golden Globe Awards this Sunday and the show is nominated for outstanding comedy series. The cast has also been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.

Other new “Glee” stars include Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz.

Creator Ryan Murphy said Monday that even more young talent will be part of the cast in season two.

“‘Glee’ has always been about finding new, fresh exciting voices,” he said. “Our second season search for young talent will be in the vein of our first season. We launched a nationwide search for talent for our first season with great, unexpected results, and season two expands that search in an even bigger way. Anybody and everybody now has a chance to be on a show about talented underdogs.”

Anybody? Apparently yes!

“No matter who you are – a Broadway talent or a struggling singing waiter with a dream in the Midwest – you now have an opportunity to make that dream come true by posting your talent video and showing us what you can do.”

Murphy said that “all” of the roles will be chosen from this video audition process, which is exciting and unprecedented. We want to be the first interactive musical comedy on television, and the search is on.”

The new cast members will be revealed in the premiere episode in the fall, Fox said Monday

Fox to Order More "Idol" -- With or Without Cowell

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" producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia extends through the end of the 2011. But the network is working on a new deal that includes three more seasons of "Idol," though that number could change.

An 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 United 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 show on Fox that may lead to fewer "Idol" viewers.

But before anything is finalized at the network, the "Idol" judge still needs to sign his new contract with "Factor" owner Sony. Once that's out of the way, Sony will allow Cowell to make a deal with Fox to bring "Factor" stateside.

Fox would prefer to bundle a "Factor" agreement with at least another season of Cowell judging "Idol." But by quitting "Idol," Cowell could make his participation on "Factor" a bigger event. One potential compromise is that Cowell could take a smaller role on "Idol" in 2011 -- judging the Hollywood rounds, for example, but not the auditions.

Fox was originally planning to debut "Factor" next fall. But delays in the Sony deal have pushed the show to an expected 2011 premiere date.

The headline-making leak on his brother's podcast was the latest in a series of headlines speculating about Cowell's plans. Recently, Cowell and business partner Philip Green made worldwide news by telling GQ magazine of their plan to have "X-Factor" exist as a live Las Vegas extravaganza that would stream as a global pay-per-view event over the Internet.

Fox Unveiled Its Midseason Lineup

Fox unveiled its midseason lineup Tuesday, giving homes to new entries "Our Little Genius," "Human Target," "Past Life" and "Sons of Tucson."

Given its limited shelf space and the need to accommodate the return of "American Idol," Fox is forced to do a bit of scheduling musical chairs in midseason -- although less so this year, as "Idol" will follow the scheduling pattern of "So You Think You Can Dance" in the fall.

That also means that unlike past years, much of Fox's midseason schedule looks like the lineup the net announced at the May upfronts (save Tuesday and Friday nights).

Meanwhile, with several new shows waiting in the wings, a handful of incumbents will take a hiatus -- most notably, "Glee," which will go dark between December 9th and April 13th. (On the bright side, net execs note that "Glee" originally wasn't even on the midseason sked that Fox unveiled in May.)

The net's midseason kicks off on Tuesday, January 12th with the two-hour premiere of "American Idol," now Paula Abdul-free. The show also airs the following night, January 13th, at 8:00 pm (EST).

That leads into new reality skein "Our Little Genius," the show from Mark Burnett and Zoo Prods. that tests tykes on their knowledge of certain topics. Reality czar Mike Darnell had promised that the show would get a post-"American Idol" boost, and this indeed will be the case.

"Genius" will shift to Tuesdays behind "Idol" on January 19th, when "Idol" pares down to an hour. (Expect frequent pre-emptions of "Genius," however, as "Idol" frequently expands to two hours.)

Then, on April 13th, "Glee," which takes a break after December 9th, will assume that post-"Idol" slot Tuesdays at 9:00 pm (EST).

New drama "Human Target," based on the comic book franchise, will get a special preview on Sunday, January 17th at 8:00 pm (EST), behind the NFC Divisional Playoff game.

That same night, "24" returns at 9:00 pm (EST) for the first half of its two-night, four-hour season premiere. (Making for a rare instance of Fox programming extending into the 10:00 pm hour for a night.)
"24" will also air for two hours on Monday, January 18th, before settling into its normal 9:00 pm (EST) slot the following week, on January 25th.

"Human Target" will then take over the Wednesday 9:00 pm (EST) slot behind "Idol" starting January 20th.

In February, "Fringe" will take a hiatus after its Febuary 4th episode, leaving room for "Past Life," which will debut with a two-hour premiere on Thursday, February 11th at 8:00 pm (EST), before settling into its 9:00 pm (EST) slot on February 18th. (As announced last May, "Past Life" was originally slated for Tuesdays at 9:00 pm)

"Fringe" will return on Thursday, April 1th, after "Past Life" completes its run.

Live-action comedy "Sons of Tucson" will invade Fox's "Animation Domination" Sunday lineup on March 4th, airing at 8:30 pm (EST) in the plum spot between "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."

"Sons of Tucson" pushes "The Cleveland Show" to 9:30 pm (EST); that means "American Dad" will be temporarily without a timeslot.

Also returning to the net in January is Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares," which will air Fridays at 9:00 pm (EST) starting January 29th. That's the slot formerly held by "Dollhouse," which airs its series finale on January 22nd.

Fox will air drama repeats (first, "Bones," and later, "House") on Fridays at 8:00 pm (EST) -- rather than comedies "Brothers" and "'TIl Death," as had originally been announced.

Shows on the bench include "Lie to Me," which will return later in the season, as well as "'Til Death," which the net would only say "will return to the schedule at a later date."

Fox also said its one-hour special "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D! On Ice!" will now air on January 10th at 8:30 pm (EST), behind the 450th episode of "The Simpsons."