It looks like there was some truth to those rumors about Simon Cowell coming back to FOX. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the original American Idol judge and X Factor creator has been discussing a deal with the network.
Not a year after his departure from U.S. TV with the cancellation of low-rated The X Factor, the mega-producer is being courted by Fox TV Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman to return. Sources tell THR that the duo flew to London during the first week of December to discuss a development deal with Cowell that would put the ex-American Idol judge, 55, back in front of stateside audiences.
The original rumor had Simon reviving the X Factor for FOX–which made no sense. Why would FOX revive a show that was cancelled due to low ratings? The question now is whether Simon will develop yet another singing competition for the network. What the world doesn’t need right now, however, is another singing show. The Voice and American Idol lose ratings share season by season, and ABC’s Rising Star was a flop. FOX is probably hoping for a competition from Simon that’s completely outside of the box.
As THR pointed out, between the struggling American Idol and cancellation of Utopia, the FOX reality division is having a tough time. Also, according to the magazine, “Any pact would be the biggest deal for Cowell’s Syco Entertainment since its U.S. adaptation of X Factor.” Syco’s latest project is La Banda, a singing competition for the Spanish language cable station, Univision.
