Simon Cowell Reflects On ‘American Idol’ After Fox Cancels Show

Although many have said that it should’ve happened years ago, Fox shocked everyone when it announced American Idol would return for its final season. Now, everyone is coming out the woodwork to discuss how it changed the platform of music.

Before J.Lo, Keith, and Harry, before Mariah and Nicki made swipes at each other, there was Simon Cowell. Cowell, along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, spent nine seasons dolling out advice and harsh criticisms to Idol hopefuls.

Now, Cowell is talking about American Idol after the shocking announcement by Fox. “Looking back at my time on American Idol we had a great time.We found great artists. Had fun. And to America. Thank you. It was a blast.”

Some of those great artists include Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, and Adam Lambert.

Cowell left when he was at the top of his game, and then he brought the U.K.’s X Factor over to Fox, which wasn’t as popular as it was in the U.K.

Cowell also released a statement to E! about his time on Idol. “Me, Paula, Randy Ryan—and not forgetting Brian. Thanks to the fans we were able to make some great shows and found some amazing artists. Fox took a risk on a brand new show and I want to thank them for giving us the opportunity. They really were great times.”

So what’s in store for the final season of American Idol?

Fox’s chairman and CEO Gary Newman said of its final season and the decision to see American Idol off, “American Idol has been such a vital part of Fox for its run, and we spent a lot of time talking with producers about the future of American Idol and collectively we arrived at the conclusion that it was time to bring the show to an end. But we wanted to do it in a way that felt special and celebratory and treated the show the way it deserved to be treated.”

He continued, “Next year, it’s going to be a true season-long celebration. We’re already talking about surprises we can have for the fans to make it feel special and send it off [in a way] that makes it as significant as the run it’s had on our network.”

Do you think this is a good decision made by Fox? Do you think the network should have cancelled the series sooner?

[Image via Kevin Winters/Getty Images and Fox]