Simon Cowell has never been one to face defeat with grace, not that he often has to admit defeat. The X Factor producer forced the American version of the show, whose ratings have been significantly lagging, to be cancelled, by returning to helm the UK edition. Cowell bragged that the US show couldn't go on without him, before insulting American reality television. Baby mama to be Laura Silverman has slightly decided to spare herself his presence by remaining in New York for the baby's impending birth, but to no avail, Cowell has a jet plane on standby to whisk him away at the first moment's notice.
Admittedly there is no X Factor USA without surly Simon Cowell, but that doesn't give him the right to disparage the American market just because he isn't able to compete.
Cowell commented at the Britain's Got Talent auditions in London's Hammersmith Apollo recently that the reason his show really didn't take off was America's fault not his (via Digital Spy):
"They would have taken the American show, but they wouldn't take it without me, so we sort of booted them off, I suppose. But it's not like that. I don't know why any show wants to compete in America right now. It's too flooded, the market. There's going to be... something like 14 talent shows on American TV [this year]. It's becoming like a joke."
While Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly may not agree with Cowell's assessment of the American market, he does accept that there is no show without Simon (via 3 News):
"The show underperformed this year. Simon himself would admit that. The ratings were not what we hoped. If the show were to come back, it would not be in the current format we have.
"Unfortunately, there is no X Factor USA without Simon Cowell, but we understand and support his decision to focus on the international formats and on the next phase of his personal life. We wish him the very best, and it's our sincere hope that we work together again soon."
Though Cowell has faced some criticism for not being in town so near to his girlfriend's due date, an insider told Entertainmentwise that he had it all under control:
"Simon obviously wants to be there for Lauren and meet the baby as soon as he or she is born. The plane means that Simon can get going with only an hour's notice and will be with Lauren in the shortest time possible... Lauren and the baby's well-being are Simon's number one priority and as soon as he has ensured everything is OK and spent some time with his first child, he will come back home...But he plans to shuttle between New York and London as often as possible to see them."
Maybe it would be best for the country if they just Skype.
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