Jessica Simpson is a 'Frontrunner' to Judge The X Factor with Simon Cowell

Although buzz about which celebrities could join Simon Cowell's new show The X Factor is already going strong, a new name has been added to the mix. Jessica Simpson is a frontrunner to become one of the judges alongside Cowell.

"There [are] loads of conversations happening at the moment," says the source. "No one has been offered a judging role yet as new names keep coming forward who want the role, but there are some frontrunners and it's fair to say Jessica is one of them. She's very keen."

Simpson, 30, has the skills needed for this particular format, which features a $5 million recording contract as the grand prize, says the insider. Still, there are a lot of factors that go in to making the final choice.

"She knows what she is talking about [and] is talented and likable," the source says. "But Simon's not in a rush to decide. The judges have to mentor on The X Factor – it's more than just turning up for a few hours a week to appear on TV."

The judges will have to "work with contestants on music, dancers, styling," the source continues. "It's a lot of work."

The X Factor, which is already a hit in Cowell's native U.K., will debut in the U.S. on FOX in the fall, so producers have time to make a careful choice.

"They have to get the decision right, which takes time," the source says. "Those final decisions may not happen for a few weeks."

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.

Simon Cowell to Be a Judge on X Factor

Simon Cowell won't speculate on who will be behind the judges' table on the American version of The X Factor, but he confirms there will be one familiar face on the panel – himself.

"Once the show goes into production, I become a judge," Cowell told reporters Monday. "Then I have to put my trust into the producers' hands, which is effectively how it works in the U.K. Yes, I am judging."

Before the show starts, Cowell will serve as executive producer and participate in the selection of the judging panel, which has been widely speculated about. Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson, Paula Abdul, Cheryl Cole, Katy Perry and Will Smith have all been rumored as possible judges on the show.

Cowell says feelers are out to certain possible judges, though he would not list their names. Asked about his former Idol pal Abdul, he said, "I'm a massive fan of Paula. We honestly haven't made our mind up yet … We're talking to a number of people. We hope to make an announcement in three to four weeks."

So, can viewers expect the same hard-nosed Simon Cowell they have come to expect from his years on American Idol? Or will he be a softer, gentler Simon on X Factor?

"I started to cringe over the years as I saw people being booked as the so-called 'mean' judge and being gratuitously rude for the sake of it. I had my own style and like to think I'm honest and wouldn't sugarcoat something to make myself popular," he said. "I am gong to try and be consistent, as I have been over the years … People know what to expect if I'm on the judging panel. I don't think things will change too much."

Cowell is excited about judging on this show since, unlike on Idol, it will involve working directly with contestants. "I wanted to make a show where I could help the competitors on a weekly basis and that's more interesting to me because I will have a lot more to do," he said.

On X-Factor" competitors will make home visits to the judges during the evaluation process and perform in front of live audiences of several thousand right from the start to see "who can handle the pressure," adds Cowell.

Plus, the stakes are high for the hopeful stars: The winner of X Factor will be awarded $5 million record deal, the largest guaranteed prize in TV history.

Cowell also says he's glad that audiences are still interested in talent competitions. "The good news is people are still excited about these shows – Idol, Dancing with the Stars, America's Got Talent – people, thank god, still like these shows and that gives me confidence for when we launch ours [in the fall]."

Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler a Hit on Idol

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler's debut as American Idol judges has proved a hit with the critics.

Season 10 of the TV talent show got underway on Wednesday night with Tyler and Lopez replacing Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell on the hit show - and the two superstars wowed contestants and TV critics with their enthusiastic response to wannabes at auditions in New Jersey, which were taped last year.

The Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara writes, "Moments into Wednesday night’s season premiere, it was gratifyingly clear that for the first time in a long time the fumblings and flailings of contestants fighting to find their feet on stage will not be mirrored by the judges' table.

"Not only are they great to look at, Lopez and Tyler are long-time stars who have nothing to gain, or lose, by being part of American Idol."

She adds, "Their natural confidence in front of the camera was such a blessed relief that it was hard to miss even the bracing ballistics of Simon Cowell."

New York Post critic Linda Stasi agreed, calling the duo's "instant chemistry" with existing judge Randy Jackson "so right, they couldn’t have created it in a lab".

She continues, "Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are not and will never be Paula (Abdul, another former judge) and Simon. They didn’t do the brother/sister love/hate thing - and didn’t try to. And that was great. They did something completely different. They were themselves - two superstars fully engaged and absorbed. And not with themselves, but with the contestants. Perfect."

However, the show lost a few viewers - the premiere opened to the lowest ratings since season one.

George Michael Joining "The X Factor"

Simon Cowell has put his Faith in George Michael, by making him a judge on the forthcoming American version of X Factor.

The former Wham! star, 47, will join the talent show mogul and Cheryl Cole, 27, on the debut series next year.

It will allow the troubled singer to re-launch his career after his jail stint earlier this year for drug-driving.

A source said: "George is going to take the job. It's an amazing opportunity to get back in the limelight and reverse his recent bad spell. Simon knows that Americans love him. He is as big in the US as he is over here.

"He is a true star and has the wit and experience for the job. It's the perfect platform to resurrect his career."

Simon, 51, is believed to have offered him a hefty deal when he visited George at his home in November to discuss the role.

The Freedom star, who sang with winner Joe McElderry on last year's final show of the UK version, is a huge fan of reality TV as well as Coronation Street. George will have to apply for a US work permit - and due to his recent brush with the law it could take longer to obtain.

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, 67, and Noel Gallagher, 43, have also received calls about a judging role.

The ex-Oasis star is mulling over the offer after his management met show chiefs. Noel has twice refused to allow an X Factor Oasis night because the band were still on the road.

A source said: "Simon is determined to have a panel of amazing judges.

"The show has to go off with a bang especially as Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will be on American Idol."

J.Lo Tells 'Extra' She'll Be Tough on 'Idol'

Newly crowned American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez won't be the next Simon Cowell, but she will be honest!" Extra's AJ Calloway caught up with Lopez right after the announcement that she, along with Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, would be judging the show's 10th season, and asked her about how she'll handle her duties.

"I'm not one to stand down when I have strong beliefs about something," said the superstar singer. Lopez is excited that this season will really concentrate on the music. "Randy, myself, Steven... we take music seriously. It's our life." See photos of Jennifer Lopez through the years!

J.Lo talked about Interscope Records exec Jimmy Iovine being one of this season's mentors. His label has been home to the Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige and Lady Gaga.

Lopez said of this season's contestants, "They're going to get to work with the people who work with artists all the time and who expect a certain level."

The other bonus of doing Idol for the singer/actress is being able to stay in one place for awhile. "It's a lot on the family, the babies, packing up and bringing them everywhere, making sure we're all together. You know how much we travel," laughing, "AJ travels with us sometimes. He's like our third triplet!"

The new American Idol season premieres January 2011 on FOX.

Nicole Scherzinger & Cheryl Cole Rumored to be Joining Simon Cowell on The X Factor

Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole are set to sign multi-million dollar contracts for the American version of X Factor.

The Pussycat Dolls singer and the British pop star – who is currently a judge on the British version of the reality TV contest – are set to team up with music mogul Simon Cowell as he launches the singing competition in the US.

It is believed Cheryl is preparing to quit her role on the panel of the British version to make her move to Los Angeles permanently.

A source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "I would say it’s a good bet that Cheryl is coming to America. It’s something that Simon and Cheryl have been discussing for months. You know, it’s a very exciting prospect for everyone involved to have Cheryl on board."

Nicole is also rumored to be preparing to sign a huge contract to sit alongside Simon on the panel, after impressing him during her guest appearance on the UK show – where she stood in for judge Dannii Minogue while she was on maternity leave, and Cheryl while she recovered from malaria.

The New York Post reports: "Sources tell us sultry Scherzinger is a favorite with Cowell after she made a guest appearance as a judge on the hit British version of the show this year."

Cheryl has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles over the past few months, after growing close to 'Dancing With The Stars' hunk Derek Hough – who she is believed to have been dating since she split from her soon-to-be ex-husband Ashley Cole earlier this year and is looking forward to starting a new life overseas.

The source said: "When Cheryl goes to America she will also launch her music career there too. It’s the next part of her big plan, she’s an incredibly hard worker and she will definitely get a boost by appearing on 'The X Factor', which is set to be a sure-fire hit.

"'The X Factor' will be off air in the UK next year and by the time it returns in January 2012, it is highly unlikely that Cheryl will return.

"Cheryl loves Los Angeles and this is extremely exciting. It is all part of a fresh new start for her."

The US version of The X Factor will premiere next Fall on FOX.

Kara DioGuardi is Leaving American Idol

After weeks of speculation about whether she will stay or go, Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol, Fox announced Friday.

DioGuardi’s move follows the departures of both longtime Idol judge Simon Cowell and new judge Ellen DeGeneres.

“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave Idol,” said DioGuardi Friday. “I am very proud to have been associated with American Idol — it has truly been an amazing experience.”

The show’s creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said of DioGuardi, who is one of the music world’s most high-profile songwriters, “I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are widely rumored to be in the running to be new judges on the show. Other celeb names that have been rumored as possibilities to fill the judges’ table include Shania Twain, Elton John, Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr.

Although he was mum about the makeup of the judges panel, producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is back working on American Idol, told People magazine about the next season, “We will be bringing the spotlight back onto the talent and away from the judges. I think that’s really very important, especially when you lose such a superb judge as Simon Cowell. You need to move the spotlight off him very quickly! But in truth, we’ve forgotten that it’s the talent that drives the program at the end of the day.”

American Idol Judges Update: Why No Official Announcement on Steven Tyler?

Dude may look like an American Idol judge, at least according to a number of internet reports that surfaced on Tuesday, so how come there’s been no official announcement that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will take a seat at the Idol judges’ table when season 10 callback auditions begin filming in mid-September?

Spokespersons at Fox, Idol, and FremantleMedia all declined comment when contacted by Entertainment Weekly, but a source with inside knowledge of the world’s most high-profile job search insists “there’s nothing to announce yet.” In fact, says the insider, Fox execs are hoping they can get the entire panel locked into place, then “make one, big splashy announcement, but they’re not quite there yet.”

So how much longer is the Idolnation expected to hold its collective breath? “If I was the betting type, I’d say there’ll be something official announced by the end of next week. But that can all change at any second,” adds an Entertainment Weekly source. “Still, what’s the rush? This is, what, the third or fourth time media outlets have ‘confirmed’ the Steven Tyler rumor? All this water-cooler buzz isn’t such a bad thing for a show that a lot of pundits would love to try to paint as finished.” Indeed, to paraphrase a classic bit of Monty Python, Idol‘s not dead yet!

One other factor delaying the final announcement about who — and how many — will fill the chairs that were occupied in season 9 by Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and the definitively exiting duo of Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell: The fact that producers consider the chemistry among its roster of judges just as — and perhaps even more — important than individual star wattage. “We’ve seen over the last two years some really great people that have not fit together, as far as I’m concerned,” returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said in an interview with EW earlier this month. “Don’t forget, [when Idol first started] we introduced two people you’d never heard of — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson. It doesn’t always need this [element of], ‘They’ve done this, they’ve done that!’”

And so while Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson have been widely rumored as the clear front-runners for a revamped, three-member panel, at the end of the day, they’re scattered pieces of a very high-profile puzzle, and all of us will have to wait and see if the hands behind the show pick ‘em up and lock ‘em into place.

What do you think of a Tyler-J.Lo-Randy panel? Share your comments below. I am interested in finding out what Idol fans think of this rumored judges panel.

Will Jennifer Lopez be New “Idol” Judge?

The guessing game as to who will replace Simon Cowell on American Idol continues but the question of who will replace Ellen DeGeneres is apparently already answered: Jennifer Lopez.

It has been reported that negotiations with Lopez began in secret about a month ago and was closed earlier this week clearing the way for Ellen’s departure to be announced. DeGeneres apparently made it clear a few months ago that she wanted off the show which saw its ratings drop last season.

It seems like a terrific time for Lopez to join Idol since her once red-hot recording and movie career has cooled.

Kara DioGuardi: Next American Idol Judge Shouldn't Copy Simon Cowell

Kara DioGuardi knows it’s pointless to search for a carbon copy of Simon Cowell for the next season of American Idol. And that may be why Harry Connick Jr. would be a good choice as a replacement.

“No one will ever be Simon … It’s impossible,” DioGuardi, 39, said Friday on Sirius XM radio’s Morning Mash Up program. “He does things that no one has ever done. He’s created this tremendous character who is funny, still has a human side, but is just blatantly honest.”

She added, “What I liked about Harry [as a mentor this past season] is he is put so much time into helping those contestants, and I think he really did help them.”

The idea of potentially not replacing Cowell — of going back to three judges, as it was during first seven seasons — doesn’t sit right with DioGuardi.

“People have gotten used to four judges,” she says. “When I first came on, it was definitely, ‘Oh she’s taking over Paula [Abdul, as the third judge],’ which was not the case. I was never there to take Paula’s position. I do think that [having] four judges works. It’s really about getting someone who has a lot of experience in music to replace Simon.”

Not that Cowell won’t be missed. He most certainly will be. “I always had mad respect for him, and I think he’s really brilliant,” says DioGuardi. “The first year was hard, you know. I was trying to be like ‘Let me in, let me in.’ I was like the outsider. This year, I just enjoyed him so much on the panel, and I thought he was so good to me, very supportive, and I thanked him a lot for that."

Paula Abdul: Simon Cowell Will Be a Loving Husband

Now that Simon Cowell is engaged to girlfriend Mezghan Hussainy, Paula Abdul says the American Idol judge might show a softer side once he's married.

"That's left to be determined!" Abdul said backstage at the LG Electronics gift lounge at the Tony Awards. "I know Simon so well and honest to God, I think he's at that stage in his life where he's a grown-up Simon now, making him a great and loving husband. But he still has that little bad boy in him."

Cowell and Hussainy have been dating for nearly a year and met several years ago on Idol, where she's a makeup artist. When news broke in February that the couple were engaged, Abdul says she was shocked.

"It took me about 12 days to take my jaw off the ground and put it back up," says Abdul of hearing the news. "But Mezghan is a lovely girl and I've known her for a long time. They make a great couple and I'm happy for them."

Not that the blunt and often critical Cowell has gushed to Abdul about his fiancée yet.

"That would be an alter ego of Simon to gush about her. That is not part of his DNA," Abdul says. "However, I know that he's in a happy place so that makes me happy. He would never gush about anyone unless it was about himself and that's why we love Simon."

Piers Morgan to Replace Larry King on Talk Show?

America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan is reportedly in talks to take over Larry King's talk show.

The veteran broadcaster's program, Larry King Live, has experienced a slump in ratings over the last year and bosses at the CNN network are said to be discussing a replacement for the 76 year old.

And Morgan - who fronts his own series, Piers Morgan's Life Stories, in the U.K. - is reportedly in negotiations to take on the role.

A source tells Britain's Daily Mail, "CNN bosses have been desperately searching for somebody to revamp the show. Larry's ratings are massively down year on year – and Piers is just the man.

"Piers is utterly thrilled by the prospect of the deal and knows that taking over the Larry King show means that something will have to give. America's Got Talent finishes in mid-September, so it seems Larry will be moved to a weekend show then and be ousted from his nightly prime-time slot.

"Piers has discussed it all with Simon Cowell, who gave him his big break on America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent, and has his blessing."

Together We Are One - The Idol WInners

As a farewell to "Idol creater" Simon Cowell, seven of the eight Idol winners performed Together We are One. It was great to see Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen perform, along with many of the other Idol finalists this tribute to Simon Cowell.

Missing in action was Idol winner David Cook who was involved in a prior charity engagement and was unable to attend.

We'll miss Simon!

Can American Idol Survive Without Simon Cowell?

Contestants come and go. The judges’ table has seen some turnover. But Simon Cowell‘s exit Wednesday after nine seasons of American Idol is clearly the most momentous change in the FOX talent show’s history. Where do they go from here?

Some wonder if the program, whose viewership dropped 9 percent this season, can succeed without its famously caustic judge.

“He’s the patriarch who rules with an iron fist, he’s the villain, he’s the dragon you have to slay to get to your fortune,” Katherine Meizel, a Bowling Green State professor and author of the forthcoming book Idolized, tells The New York Times. “Losing him, I think Idol might have lost the plot, literally.”

Jake Austen, the author of TV-a-Go-Go, about rock music on television, agrees that Cowell’s exit makes it seem like Idol is “in its death throes, despite it still being one of the highest-rated shows.”

For his part, Cowell, 50, seems impatient to get on with other things. While he told fellow judge Ellen DeGeneres this week that he’s feeling a bit sad, he’s also clearly excited for a change — telling Oprah Winfrey last week that he’s “on automatic pilot” a lot of the time. “I can’t hide it when I’m bored. I just can’t fake it,” he said.

There’s only one Simon, but it will be up to FOX to find the best replacement it can. Those rumored to be in the mix include Jamie Foxx, Elton John, Tommy Mottola and Harry Connick Jr.

Thankfully for the network, it’s been down this road before. Though perhaps not as crucial to the show as Cowell, Paula Abdul, who left after season 8, was an emotional focal point at the judges’ table. But FOX cushioned the blow of her exit with Kara DioGuardi, who joined for season 8, and Ellen DeGeneres, added for season 9.

Also working in FOX’s favor: the fact that Idol, while down slightly in the ratings, is still a hugely popular show. Thus, viewers are likely to at least give Cowell’s replacement a fair shake next season. “Is Idol aging?” FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly asked last week. “Maybe it is a little bit. I hope I look so good as I age.”

Who's This Year's American Idol? Crystal or Lee? We've Got Your Results!

After performing three songs each on Tuesday night, Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze participated in Idol‘s grand finale Wednesday, paying tribute to Simon Cowell on his last night on the show before finding out which one was the season 9 winner.

While Lee went into the final night of performances as a favorite, Crystal was the judges’ choice for all three rounds of songs.

But who did America vote for?

Lee DeWyze!

Even though his Tuesday-night performances weren’t as consistent or powerful as Crystal’s, the judges repeatedly remarked on an inching-forward that made Lee someone worth rooting for. Audiences saw that, too.

That just wasn’t quite the case with Crystal, who to her credit had a very good voice and a grounded stage personality.

Overall, as many frustrated fans of the show have already noted, it wasn’t a great season. The suspense of the title contest barely even heated up until the last few minutes of the show Wednesday night. (Ryan Seacrest said the voting had been tight leading up to the finale, but he made no allusion to how big a gap separated Lee and Crystal at the end.) What if it’d been, say, Siobhan Magnus versus Casey James?

Instead, the season’s musical highpoint was arguably Gen. Larry Platt‘s “Pants on the Ground.” Unfortunately, his performance of it Wednesday night was spoiled with the arrival of William Hung, who’s stuck in the unhappy role of Idol jester.

The night mattered chiefly as a farewell to Simon Cowell, kingpin of the judges’ panel. The finale repeatedly paused to salute him, and rightly so. A good deal of the celebration was tongue-in-cheek, tweaking him for his acerbic opinions, his rudeness and so on. Dane Cook sang a small song with lyrics extracted from Simon’s insults — a sort of miniature roastIt was so awful you wished thought balloons would appear above Simon’s head, full of toxic comments. Plus a "Kayne" moment occured during Dane's performance with Idol reject, Ian Bernando, hijacked the microphone and starting to "rap" that he was going to be Simon's replacement. NOT!

Finally, though, Paula Abdul was brought onstage — looking absolutely fantastic — and spoke of Simon with humor and affection. “American Idol’s not going to be the same without you … but it will go on,” she said, alluding as well to her own departure from the show. It was great to see Paula back on Idol, though it was short lived.

Then most of former winners (Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen) came out singing, with the exception of David Cook who had a prior charity engagement, and it was all much more genuinely sentimental than you or Simon would ever have expected. “You guys are the judge of this show,” he said to the audience after Ryan called him onto the stage, “and you’ve done an incredible job.”

The guest artist who performed last night with the season 9 finalists included Chicago, Joe Cocker, Bret Michaels, Alanis Morissette, Christina Aguilera (with an incredible performance), Hall & Oates, the return of Barry & Robin Gibb (without their beloved brother Maurice Gibb) and beautiful Janet Jackson.

Over all it was great night, but not one of the best Idol's finale.

Congratulations to Lee DeWyze for a well deserving win!

Simon Cowell Predicts Who WIll Win Idol Tonight!

It’s down to the final two on American Idol, and the way Simon Cowell sees it, the dark horse has become the front-runner for the season-nine crown.

“If you’d asked me five or six weeks ago, 100 percent I would have said Crystal [Bowersox]. But now I’ve changed my mind. I think Lee [DeWyze] is going to win,” Cowell tells fellow judge Ellen DeGeneres in an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Like many viewers across the country, Cowell, 50, is captivated by DeWyze’s story. “He’s worked in a paint shop,” he says. “He’s talented. He hasn’t had any real breaks in life, and this has given him a shot, and I like that.”

DeWyze and Bowersox, both 24, gave their final performances Tuesday night, with the finale set for tonight. That will also be Cowell’s last show after nine seasons on the FOX talent show. He has said he’s been bored lately, but now he says it’s bittersweet to be leaving.

“I am feeling a bit sad because we’re nearly there. But at the same time, do you remember that last three weeks when you were leaving school, and you kind of couldn’t wait to get out? It’s a little bit like that,” he says. “I’m not being ungrateful. I’ve had a fantastic time, and the show changed my life, but I just kind of knew it was time to do something different.”

DeGeneres tells Cowell she had “no idea” how much she would end up liking Cowell. He returns the compliment, and then clears up a lingering issue between them — that he announced he was leaving on Ellen’s first day on the show.

“I do actually feel guilty about that,” he says. “Two hours before your starting, I held a press conference to say, by the way, I’m leaving. Nice way for you to start.”

DeGeneres replies: “It was an interesting way to start, but you know, things happened the way they happened, and I really have enjoyed my time.”

“So have I,” says Cowell.

Simon Cowell is Bored by American Idol

Never one to be shy about what’s on his mind, Simon Cowell is blunt about why he’s leaving American Idol : He was bored.

In an interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show this past Thursday, the sharp-tongued judge said he just couldn’t “hide it anymore.”

“After awhile, you start to go on automatic pilot,” Cowell, 50, told Winfrey. “And there were too many times, Oprah, where I was sitting there bored, and I thought, ‘[At] the end of the day, the audience doesn’t tune in to watch me being bored. They deserve more than that. But I can’t hide it when I’m bored. I just can’t fake it.’ “

Cowell also said the pressure of the show has taken a toll on him. “Maybe it’s the draining effect when you have a lot of people who depend on you … And you just become aware that a lot of people depend on you, rely on you, or you’re not giving people the time you should be giving them,” he said. “It’s almost like a guilt thing. And that does drain me.”

As for Cowell’s next act, he’ll be working on X Factor, another competitive singing reality show. While it won’t be too far a cry from Idol, there will be some differences.

“It’s different because there’s no upper age limit … Singing groups can enter the show,” he said. “I have no idea whether it’s going to work or not, but I’ll put its success and failure on whether we can find a star.”

Despite his boredom with Idol, Cowell told Winfrey he hasn’t lost the desire to be part of the reality show action. “I actually like doing it, funny enough,” he said. “I like the buzz it creates. You want to be part of something people are talking about. I love that feeling."

Will Paula Abdul Return for American Idol Finale?

It’s no secret that the producers of American Idol like to keep the names of performers on finale night under wraps.

But two things are certain — Crystal Bowersox or Lee DeWyze will be crowned the season 9 champ on Wednesday, and fans will see the last of Simon Cowell before he jumps over to X Factor in 2011.

But a source has said that a special send-off planned for the cranky judge will feature some Idol alums, including a special appearance by Paula Abdul.

And among the superstars taking the stage? Watch for a great performance by Christina Aguilera.

Simon Cowell Speaks About Depression & Mistakes

Simon Cowell showed Americans his softer side on Thursday, telling Oprah Winfrey he suffered from depression and that he had made "some absolutely horrific mistakes" in the past.

The normally abrasive "American Idol" judge said during an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that he was prone to dark moods.

"I get very, very down," Cowell said "Pretty much depression. (But) what I always say is, 'You're taking yourself too seriously, so stop it.' At the same time, you should never put a painted smile on. When you're feeling down, you're feeling down."

Cowell, 50, who also has his own record label and created the TV shows "America's Got Talent" and "The X-Factor," said he sometimes felt drained by the demands of his work.

"You just become aware that a lot of people depend on you, rely on you, or you're not giving people the time you should be giving them. It's almost like a guilt thing, and that does drain me," he said.

Often seen as arrogant because of his stinging put-downs to aspiring singers, Cowell admitted that he had a strong ego.

But life hasn't always been kind. He recalled the time 20 years ago when he lost his job, car and home and had to move back to live with his parents in Britain when a business deal went wrong.

"I made some absolutely horrific mistakes. I believed my own ego, believed my own hype, believed my own abilities, and lots of times it came crashing down," he said. "I thought I was absolutely untouchable."

Cowell's interview with Winfrey was broadcast a week before the May 26th finale of "American Idol", which will mark the end of his eight year association with the most-watched TV show in the United States.