"They all start somewhere," so say the new American Idol ads making the rounds (and, in my case, giving me the chills) lately. One thing that it doesn't mention: it ends somewhere, too. Somehow. Soon.

I don't mean to sound too gloopy, but I was thinking of just that after hearing someone else say that Simon Cowell is planning to leave Idol after this season. Sure, the rumor's been making the rounds especially since his contract was still up for renewal at the time. We've long forgotten that when all indicators pointed at Simon returning, with a much bigger paycheck than before. But, if the shirt-toting Brit's brother is to be believed, this year would be the last we'll see of him.

On Idol, at least. Tony Cowell announced on his weekly podcast that this season of American Idol will be the last of his younger brother, Simon. "A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to US TV in 2011."

Now, there's another zinger. Alongside rumors of Simon's departure were rumors that he'll be allowed to bring X Factor--a huge talent show across the pond, taking in 19 million viewers at the season finale earlier this month--into American screens, in exchange for him staying on Idol. His last contract doesn't allow him to bring the popular singing competition (you know, the one that gave us Leona Lewis) to the US, but early reports said that his new contract would allow him to bring the show here, apart from bigger pay.

Last week, The Times of London reported that Simon met with Fox bigwig Peter Rice, where the two talked about the former's departure from Idol once his contract winds down at the end of this season. The report also claims that X Factor will begin shooting episodes in Los Angeles in September 2011. Fox denied to comment on the matter, and Simon did not comment when his brother interviewed him for the podcast.

Now, for my thoughts: Simon will leave American Idol. He's become much bigger than when he began doing the show--now he's a bigwig producer and record executive, too! It also makes sense considering the indicators. There's been some talk about whether another Fox reality series, So You Think You Can Dance, will return next fall or just go on with a summer season. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe hinted that there won't be back-to-back seasons of the show like this year.

If everything is true, does that mean Idol will air in Fox over the winter, SYTYCD will air in summer, and the American X Factor in the fall? Or Idol gets moved to the fall (since Simon's got the British version at the time) and X Factor takes over the winter? True, they all start somewhere.





(Image courtesy of Fox)