Simon Cowell to Quit 'American Idol'

As we suspect last month, Simon Cowell will leave "American Idol" when his contract expires next year.

He says:
“I don’t want to come over as whiny because I am very grateful that I have got these jobs. But there is a point where I am not sure we can keep this schedule up. It takes longer and longer to make these shows because you have to put more into them, and I am not sure we can sustain me doing three shows a year, with the record label and the TV production company. Most people do one show a year and I do three and they involve a lot of traveling. One may have to go. I don’t know which one. That is the problem, I like all of them. I can’t imagine not doing 'Britain’s Got Talent' and I can’t imagine not doing 'X Factor'. But I guess America is more likely to go because I have got one year under contract. Maybe that will be the end.”

Upon his departure, that will be the end of "Idol". It's been widely documented, viewers watch to see and hear what Simon will say, not what Randy or Paula or the new chick say.