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Simon Cowell farewells Idol: “It’s been a blast.”

Paula Abdul, former Idol winners, graduates and A-List stars including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera and Chicago turned up for Simon Cowell's Idol exit.

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American Idol has paid tribute to its notorious judge, Simon Cowell, in his last appearance on the show.

Cowell is leaving the show to pursue his own franchise The X Factor in a lucrative deal with FOX next year.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support, the fun and your sense of humour.

“When everyone asks who’s going to replace me, the truth is you guys are the judges of the show.

“It’s been a blast. Thankyou.”

Paula Abdul returned in a gracious acknowledgment of the show and Cowell’s exit. “American Idol‘s not going to be the same without you but as only I can tell you it will go on.”

A-List stars rolled out for the show to perform including Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Joe Cocker, Hall and Oates, Alanis Morisette, Alice Cooper, Barry and Robin Gibb, Michael McDonald and Chicago.

Former Idol winner including Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Reuben Studdard sang “Together we are one” joined by other Idol graduates.

Ricky Gervais paid cheeky tribute to Cowell.

In a video package Cowell also said “Somebody once said to  ‘You’ve got to know when to leave the party,” accompanied to Frank Sinatra singing ‘My Way.’

General Larry Platt and William Hung both performed “Pants on the Ground” and some Idol rejectees were given a shot at reminding us how Cowell had impacted on their lives. One even tried to deliver a lecture before cameras cut away…

Lee DeWyze was eventually announced as the winner of Idol 2010 over runner-up Crystal Bowersox.

“This is amazing. Thankyou guys so much for everything,” he said. “I can’t believe this. Crystal I love you….

“I’ve never been happier in my life.”

But the night belonged to kingmaker Simon Cowell.

24 Responses

  3. Very good show, not quite up to last year’s standards. Shocked the Paula appeared and good on her for turning up! A very nice exit for Simon though at times it took attention away from the actual finalists. Janet was amazing. Definitely sounded like MJ.

    Happy Lee won. Crystal will do fine. 3 years in a row the ‘very commerical’ male contestant has won with similar styles so it’s not too surprising. Adam came second last year and he’s an international star, was a mentor on the show, and is someone for judges to compare new contestants too so that proves coming second is absolutely fine in the American market.

    Well done FOX8 for being such great broadcasters of the show – you certainly upstage free-to-air channels on programming 99% of the time!

    1. The alert stayed on the front of the site all day Wednesday too. I think it’s fair to assume if you are reading a story that is clearly telling you what went on in Idol (and the winner was right down the bottom of the story) you had committed.

  5. Considering the budget and prestige that Idol in USA contains, it was a very clunkily directed show! Normally runs so tight and polished, but shots of floor managers scrambling, Ryan’s mic left open, intros not heard fully – sloppy for their standards. But what talent on stage – Bee Gees, Cocker, Michael McDonald, Alanis – amazing! Curious not all the Idol winners were on stage – David Cook was absent by my count. Again, a winner that was more about the story and his boy next door good looks than pure vocal talent. But a nice guy and a strong voice. Mama Sox will do just fine anyway. I enjoyed this season. Thanks to Fox 8 for the fastplay series once again.

  10. Did anyone else see and hear Janet Jackson? I wasn’t directly watching the TV and I thought they had resurrected Michael for a minute.

    1. Slinky see note beside the Top Pick which was published last night in indicates Live Results.

      TVT rule of thumb is well established: Aired in Oz = Not a Spoiler.

      The news is actually already reported online in Australia elsewhere too.

  15. “It’s been a blast. Thankyou.”

    Translated as: It’s been a blast foisting lamentable, second rate, over produced rubbish on you the endearingly gullible American public. I am particularly ecstatic that i have done this while bloating my already large bank account and that of my fellow judges. It has done my already quite large ego proud. I am now going to do it all over again in another show while this one sinks like a stone as you wise up to the fact that it’s complete rot. Ellen DeGeneres? hahaha! You guys really are idiots, but that’s why I love you. Thankyou.

  16. Loved it. Brilliant finale. Not happy that last year Adam lost and now Crystal lost this year again to someone who is great but not in Crystals league.

    This is an end of an era for Idol. With Cowell gone and The X Factor coming i dont know how Idol can survive this. X Factor wont start until September 2011 and Idol will have one more year before it begins but still its going to be a huge loss to the franchise. I hope that it can continue to do well.

    I loved Together We Are One. I love Delta and her music and i must say she is going to get a lot of royalties from this because its on iTunes in America. I was slightly thinking that just maybe she will appear but it wasnt to be.

  18. Yo’ve got to be serious? Lee won! Beautiful day is the worst single i could ever think of. Hes the same old… Crystal will be like Adam lambert and be more successful than the same old general winner! What a shame!

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