The X Factor

All About Simon

Make no mistake: "The X Factor" is all about Simon. There's been endless speculation about exactly what precipitated or accelerated his departure from "American Idol," but one thing is sure: Simon wants to be the man in charge. And with "X Factor," he gets to ... morecall all the shots -- something he wasn't able to do on "Idol." And frankly, with a personality like his, can you exactly blame the Brit? Simon's on-screen persona is already the stuff of legends, but his work as an executive producer is just as stunning. Not only is he the man responsible for the "America's Got Talent" and "Britain's Got Talent" franchises (the latter being the show that produced Susan Boyle), but his UK version of "The X Factor," which interestingly has all but made "Pop Idol" disappear on its shores, is not only England's highest-rated TV show, but it's spawned similar versions in nearly every continent in the world. The U.S. has been one of the last corners of the globe where Simon's "X Factor" has yet to flourish. And now that he has the go-ahead from FOX to do so, he's poised to become, once again, the dominant figure on American TV.

Bing: Simon Cowell | Video: Watch "X Factor" clips

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(FOX)