Free Women's Blog

Simon Cowell, the acid Brit from “American Idol” will leave the successful TV contest at the end of this season.

He said Monday that “The X Factor” a talent show created by him, will join Fox next year. Cowell will be the executive producer of the show and a judge on “The X Factor”.

Cowell makes $36 million a year to be on “American Idol” while he owns “The X Factor,” which could earn him more if the show takes off.

Cowell and Fox executives announced the deal in Pasadena at a meeting of the Television Critics Association. Cowell said, “I was offered a lot of money to stay on. But that wasn’t the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge.”

According to analyst Shari Anne Brill of Carat USA, “Idol” audience will probably decline next season, in the lack of the show’s biggest attraction. She said, “I really believe the show revolves around him. He’s the linchpin of the show’s success. He has tremendous influence on how the audience votes. He’s interesting to listen to. He’s brutally honest.”

It looks like Cowell well chose the time to leave the show, as didn’t want to leave when it was losing in the ratings. He said, “You want to leave on a high. I’m very proud of what the show has achieved.”

“American Idol” has been the most popular TV program in the country for the past five years and was responsible for launching stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.
photo credit: paddyeason

At the end of the decade, there will be various lists that will show you the best, the top or the cream of the decade as they link to pop culture. Let’s see what the “greatest” of the decade mean.

“Greatest” should be something different of the lists that rank the best as most such lists are incomplete or not accurate. In pop culture, “Greatest” is ranked upon five main factors: Appeal, Acclaim, Popularity, Zeitgeist and Influence/Originality, as they follow:

Appeal – How popular it is or how many people thinks that it is their favorite.

Acclaim – How the critics evaluated it, how frequently it is considered as the best.

Popularity – The number of people experienced it in the way it would be consumed.

Zeitgeist – The occurrence of catchphrases, clichés and a general buzzing among the public define this category.

Influence/Originality – The impact on those that come after it is eseential in determining greatness.

Keeping all these in mind, here are the “Ten Greatest TV Shows of the Decade”

10. “Malcolm in the Middle”
9. “Everybody Loves Raymond”
8. “The Daily Show”
7. “24″
6. “The West Wing”
5. “LOST”
4. “Survivor”
3. “Sex and the City”
2. “American Idol”
1. “The Sopranos”

What was your greatest show and why?