Simon Cowell to The X Factor in 2011!

By Delaina Dixon | January 11, 2010 | Entertainment

Mean again in January! credit: Fox

How does Fox solve a problem like Simon Cowell leaving American Idol? Give him his own show!

Ending months of speculation that the crabby judge would jump the Idol ship to helm his own reality competition series, the network announced today that it has picked up his hit, The X Factor, to launch a U.S. version in Fall 2011. Simon, who created the series in 2004, will server as executive producer and judge.

So who will slip into Simon’s seat at Idol come January 2011? NBC better be signing The Sing-Off’s judge Ben Folds to a iron-clad contract, that’s all I’m saying.

Photo credit: Fox