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Simon Says 'American Idol' Could Go Ten Or Twenty Years
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! That was my initial internal reaction to Simon Cowell telling me this morning about "American Idol, "I think this show could continue another 10, 20 years to be honest with you."
I mean don't get me wrong -- I like "American Idol." But the thought of it still being around and me having to cover every nook and cranny of it for two more decades is quite frightening. No offense bosses. I mean who is with me here? Does this primetime show have the staying power of a variety show like CBS's "The Ed Sullivan Show" which ran for 23 years from 1948 to 1971?
If you think about it, FOX doesn't give up shows easily. Both "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted" have been around since 1989! "The Simpsons" is still going after what will be 20 years next year too. But those are animated cartoons who never age. Can you imagine a 68--year-old Simon still spewing off insults like "dreadful" and "absolutely horrific" to teenagers and twenty-somethings?
Although...hmmm... if I get my act together and have a kid in the next four years, my 16-year old child prodigy could be the winner of "American Idol" season 28! I promise to not be a stage mom.
'It's been the best eight years of my life. Its been fantastic," he noted.
Which reminded me of a conversation he and I had last year where he said he would most likely leave after three more seasons i.e.. 8, 9, 10 and then he is gone.
So, I had to know if that theory had gone out the window if he is now saying the show could go on forever and ever. Simon now says he hasn't decided his fate yet.
"It can still continue without me, I have always believed. I'll make a decision next year as to what I do as an on-screen judge because it is a big, big schedule now and I do two other shows so it has been hard."
Well, if he decides to leave I'm sure some other mouthy Brit will come along in 2012 to take his chair. Love ya, Simon.
I hope it does go on for many more years not because I am a huge fan but because the show has produced some amazing artists.