"A press statement is being prepared that will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave 'Idol' at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of 'X Factor' to U.S. TV in 2011,"

At the end of American Idol last night, Simon Cowell did something he rarely does: He stood up and applauded a contestant. After Adam Lambert performed his version of “Mad World,” Simon said, “Adam, the bad news is, we’re running out of time. The good news is, I’m the only one that’s going to be talking, and I think words are unnecessary but I want to give you a standing ovation.”