Simon Cowell Signs with American Idol for Three More Years

During a corporate earnings call for CKX, the parent company of a co-producing firm for American Idol, CEO Robert Sillerman indicated that Simon was finalizing a deal with Fox to return for at least three more seasons of Idol. During the call, Sillerman also explained the dynamics of the hiring process. Apparently, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia, the co-producers of the show, make proposals to Fox about who they want on the show and then Fox negotiates the salaries and finalizes the deals.

That would seem to shed some light on the Paula Abdul situation, with rumors swirling that she left the show over a contract and salary dispute. She was offered somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 million per season for her upcoming contract and she is rumored to have demanded 10 million. Obviously, Fox executives and the production companies didn't feel that she brought that much value to the Idol franchise.

Now Paula is shopping around other reality shows, including, So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars. She would be a natural fit in either show as a judge or a contestant and she will certainly find some screen time in the near future - especially while she is still considered somewhat embroiled in her contract controversy.

That said, it's unlikely that Paula will find the level of success or notoriety that she enjoyed with Idol. It's just as unlikely that American Idol will suffer as a result of her departure. With Simon, Randy, Kara and Ryan all back for another few seasons, Fox plans to fill Paula's seat at first with celebrity guest judges, then with a permanent replacement. All of the buzz that will be generated with the celebrity fill-ins and then the search for the full-time replacement will only further boost the show's popularity.