The Last Season for Simon 'American Idol':News Los Angeles

The Last Season for Simon 'American Idol':News Los Angeles

“American Idol” without Simon? Isn’t that like NBC without a late-night mess? Or “CSI” without corpses?

Be that as it may, Simon Cowell, the caustic judge on America’s No. 1-rated show, is moving on.

“This will be my last season on ‘American Idol,’ ” Cowell declared on Monday, just moments after announcing that he had agreed to produce and star in the American version of the British competition series “The X Factor” in fall 2011.

That would have brought to four the number of shows that Cowell appears on, and he said three was his limit.

“I can barely get away with doing ‘American Idol,’ ” Cowell said.

The announcement was made at the annual winter gathering of the nation’s television critics, about an hour after Cowell and executives at the Fox network reached a verbal agreement to bring “X Factor” across the pond.

Because critics like drama, Cowell cemented his commitment by signing his contract — or a piece of paper purporting to be his contract — in their presence, shortly after his announcement.

“Idol,” which begins a new season at 7 tonight on Fox, is in its ninth year and going through an inevitable decline in ratings. Last year it drew “only” 25 million viewers, down from its peak of 30 million viewers in 2005. Younger viewers, the kind advertisers like, stopped watching, and the show’s median viewer age climbed to 44.

“Whether Simon stayed or left, ‘American Idol’ was facing audience erosion,” said John Rash, senior vice president for Campbell Mithun, a national advertising agency in Minneapolis. “This may accelerate its decline.”

And this year “Idol” will be losing Paula Abdul and adding Ellen DeGeneres on the judges’ panel.

“The X Factor,” which Britain’s ITV launched as a replacement for “Pop Idol” (the inspiration for “American Idol”), is a talent competition that finds new stars in a variety of entertainment fields, not just music. It has no age limit, and the “X Factor” judges don’t just criticize the contestants, they provide behind-the-scenes mentoring.

Cowell said the elimination of an age ceiling was a reason he wanted to bring “X Factor” here. “Idol” is open only to singers 28 and younger.

Watch in Bangladesh vs India ODI MATCH 3rd Thursday 07-01-2010

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Bangladesh vs India

Last updated: 07-01-2010 from 14:30 until 22:30

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Bangladesh v India at Dhaka (SBNS), Tri-Nation Tournament in Bangladesh

Ellen DeGeneres Early life and education Job

Born January 26, 1958 - From working on stage, Ellen DeGeneres has been able to translate her success with live performances into a television and a budding movie career. She was born in Metairie, LA, the daughter of two devoutly religious Christian Scientists. Her older brother, Vince DeGeneres, is a screenwriter. Her parents split up when she was 13. Shortly after the d...

DeGeneres was raised in Metairie, Louisiana, the daughter of Betty Jane DeGeneres (née Pfeffer), a speech therapist, and Elliott DeGeneres, an insurance agent.[1][2] She has one brother, Vance DeGeneres, who is a producer and musician. DeGeneres was raised as a Christian Scientist until the age of thirteen. DeGeneres' parents filed for separation in 1973 and were divorced the following year. Shortly after, Betty Jane remarried Roy Gruessendorf, who worked as a salesman. Betty Jane and DeGeneres moved with Gruessendorf from the New Orleans area to Atlanta, Texas. Vance stayed with their birth father.

DeGeneres graduated from Atlanta High School in May 1976, after completing her first years of high school at Grace King High School in Metairie, Louisiana. She moved back to New Orleans to attend the University of New Orleans, where she majored in communication studies. After one semester, she left school to do clerical work in a law firm along with cousin Laura Gillen. She also held a job selling clothes at the chain store the Merry-Go-Round at the Lakeside Shopping Center. Other working experiences included being a waitress at TGI Friday's and another restaurant, a house painter, a hostess and a bartender. She relates much of her childhood and career experiences in her comedic work.

As The Sad News of The Passing of Casey Johnson Broke

As the sad news of the passing of Casey Johnson broke, her famous friends took to Twitter to express their grief. The Johnson & Johnson heiress, friend to Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Samantha Ronson among others, passed away from unknown causes yesterday morning at the age of 30.

"In bed crying, looking at baby pictures of Casey, Nicky and I," wrote Paris Hilton on her Twitter account. "I feel so upset. I feel like I've lost a sister. My heart is broken. Miss her." An hour later Hilton continued, "God has another Angel by his side. Casey, we all Love and Miss you and know that you are in a better place. R.I.P."

Lindsay Lohan took to Twitter to offer her own condolences: "r.I.p. To a friend to and of many- Casey Johnson- my regards to her family, friends and her beautiful daughter Ava* you are in our hearts CJ."

Meanwhile, Samantha Ronson posted a simple "R.I.P. Casey Johnson." However, Ronson followed up her comments with this provocative Tweet: "Am so sick of those 3 letters, so tired of losing friends to something as senseless as a drug overdose. WAKE UP people. Drugs will kill you." Some have speculated that substance abuse issues may have played a part in Johnson's untimely death.

Tila Tequila, perhaps unsurprisingly, has been the most vocal on Twitter, posting seven updates in the past twelve hours about Johnson. They read, in part: "I'm still in shock! Once again thank U for the outpour of love and support. I just wish to have some privacy at this heartbreaking time. R.I.P my Angel. @caseyjonsonJnJ u will forever be in my heart! I love u so so much and we will Marry when I see U in Heaven my Wifey. I can't stop these haunting visions of her and I. We made such a lovely couple, only beginning to spend the rest of our lives together..."

source of news shift:zimbo.com

Kim Kardashian Would Never Do This Unhealthy Dier

It sounds like Kim Kardashian got a visit from the cookie monster this Christmas, thanks to her Twitter feed.

Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet filed a defamation lawsuit against the reality starlet in Miami on Tuesday for unspecified damages after Kardashian reportedly Tweeted on October 29 that the popular Hollywood diet was “unhealthy.”
According to the lawsuit filed by the Cookie Diet, Kardashian wrote:

“If this Dr. Siegal is lying about me being on this diet, what else are they lying about?"

SLIDESHOW: Click here to see photos of Kim Kardashian

The company has refused to take the Tweets sitting down.

“Kim Kardashian failed to say she is a paid endorser of QuickTrim. She is in the public eye and when she makes a comment people hear it,” Matthew Siegal, the President & CEO of the company told Pop Tarts. “She made a derogatory statement about our brand, and that negative impact could cost us tens of millions of dollars.”

The drama apparently started a couple of weeks ago when the company put a link on their site to a third party story about numerous celebs that use the diet plan, and Kardashian's name was among those mentioned. They later received a letter from her attorney claiming that this gives the “false impression” she is a celebrity endorser.

SLIDESHOW: The Kardashian Family's Newest Addition - Baby Mason!

"We took the link down out of good faith and thought the issue was over,” said Siegal. “But the letter was leaked to TMZ.com and we felt really betrayed. Her comments could really cost us.”

Beautiful Mumbai model Illeana hot pictur

Beautiful Mumbai Model illeana Portfolio Hot Pictures

Real Housewives Atlanta: a artificial covering of hair for the head

Kim Zolciak is so so proud of her wig line, and I must admit, I am too. It’s a very good thing to see a woman take charge of her life other than simply waiting on someone else’s husband to do it for her. Shows a quality of strength other than bare beggers bod, ya know? Can see if Big Poppa was her man…but…the woman with the ring gets everything. We know that! (And we aren’t talking about Kim’s shush ring either)

Anyway, many props on that, and Kim Zolciak has something to say to all the people who are hating on her hair. It’s going on pre-order in December, and to those haters she says, they should buy one.
kim Zolciak image


“My new wig line will b available for preorders by Dec Thanks you guys for all the support FYI PPL that talk sh*t about my hair should buy 1″

Okay, haters, Kim Z thinks ya need a wig, ya dig? But…no no…did you hear what she said on the last epi of RHOA? She spends about 12 grand per month on hair, a wig a day. Man, Kim you done lost your mind, chile! You can alter your own ego for that kind of money! On the real though … if you got it like that…shake what your money gave ya, honey!

Vanessa and Ashley's Coffee Catch-Up:celebrity in Coffee Catch-in

The "High School Musical" cuties meet up for a java hit and some girly gossip.

"High School Musical" cuties Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens met up for a coffee and some girly gossip at The Coffee Bean in Toluca Lake, California.

Vanessa was spotted earlier in the day working out with her boyfriend Zac Efron. Lucky girl. Rumor has it that Hudgens may star in an upcoming comedy with Mariah Carey -- the two would play a mother-daughter duo auditioning for an "American Idol" type show. Sounds like a winner.

Ashley was busy practicing her rhyming skills on Twitter earlier in the day, tweeting: “It's raining, it's pouring....gonna get my hair done this morning.” Her cute hat does a good job of shielding her new 'do!