"American Idol" contestants will have Simon Cowell to be kicked around by for years to come.
Acid-tongued Cowell and his T-shirted man-breasts will stay with the show for the rest of the decade, Fox announced yesterday, putting to rest rumors that Cowell was on his way out after being slapped with a lawsuit by "Idol" creator Simon Fuller.
The glad tidings coincide with an out-of-court settlement between the two Brits over what Variety reported was a $170 million copyright infringement suit. Fuller claimed that Cowell's hit British reality series "X Factor" was just another way of saying " 'Idol' Ripoff."
Simultaneously, Fox signed a new deal with the companies behind "Idol" -- 19 Entertainment Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America -- giving them a "significantly increased" license fee for the coming seasons, 19 Entertainment's parent company told Reuters.
Fox also agreed to pick up at least two original shows created by the two production companies over the next five years.
Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori officially pronounced himself "thrilled" to continue the partnership, while Cowell declared himself "thrilled" to play a role in giving young singers in America a shot at realizing their dreams and to be "working with my good friend Simon Fuller for the foreseeable future."
Cowell's previous deal on the U.S. version of "Idol" was set to end after the coming edition of the twice-weekly show, which last season averaged 27 million viewers on Tuesday nights -- the No. 1 program on television -- and more than 26 million viewers on Wednesday nights. Collectively the two broadcasts catapulted Fox from fourth place to first among the 18-to-49-year-olds the networks target.
Now, hopefully, Fox can settle down and announce today whether it's going to move "Idol" to Thursday night in January, after which NBC can announce whether it's moving "My Name Is Earl" to Thursday night.
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Speaking of NBC and Thursday night, that network announced yesterday that The Donald will be back for a sixth edition of "The Apprentice" next season -- and he'll shoot it in Southern California.
The competition -- along with new challenges, twists and surprises -- also will feature tasks "indigenous to and emblematic of" the new locale, NBC said in its announcement.
The mind reels. Kabbalah center launches? Drive-through colonics?
