Prosperity. Happiness Works.

Simon Cowell is quitting the tv show "American Idol" in May to launch his own US singing contest next year. He is bringing a US version of his British show ''The X Factor'' to Fox TV in the fall of 2011. The acerbic Cowell's sarcastic quips are arguably one of the biggest factors in ''American Idol''s six-year reign as the most-watched TV show in the United States. He said he would be both a judge and the executive producer of the new ''X Factor'' show. But Cowell told TV reporters at a Fox presentation he was confident that ''American Idol'' would continue to do well without him when his contract ends in May 2010. The ninth season of the show starts Tuesday, with Cowell in place and new judge Ellen DeGeneres joining Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi.