Katy Perry had so much fun as a bitchy guest judge on American Idol that she would quit her music career to take the job full-time.

The singer reportedly filmed her stint as a guest judge on the singing contest last year, following the departure of Paula Abdul. Her appearance aired on Tuesday night.

And, though she and regular judge Kara DioGuardi appeared to dislike one another, Perry isn’t about to let a clash of songwriters get in the way of her Idol ambition.

Now that music mogul Simon Cowell has announced he’s planning to leave the show when his current contract expires in May, the pop star wants to fill his seat.

She says, “The American Idol experience was awesome. If I was offered that job as a permanent host, I would ditch my career and take on that career.”

Source, Fame Pictures

He might be better known as major-league grump on American Idol but Simon Cowell does have a heart — the music mogul is in the process of producing a charity to single to aid the victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti. The ornery Brit plans to have the record out within 10 days.

“I don’t know who’s available, but I will get a record out within seven to 10 days,” Simon told the Associated Press, adding that the main goal is to aise as much money as possible in a short period of time.

The government may also dismiss a tax on the single so more money can be sent directly to the cause

The American Idol and The X-Factor judge said he was asked by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to facilitate the relief efforts.

Although performers for the record have not been chose, they may include British singers Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis and Cheryl Cole, Simon said.

George Clooney has helped organize a Haiti telethon in the U.S. to air this Friday.

Source, Fame Pictures

In an appearance taped for an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show set to air Tuesday, Adam Lambert spoke about the week’s big American Idol news — Simon Cowell’s announcement that this season, which kicked off Tuesday, will be his last.

“The audience will definitely miss Simon,” Lambert, 27, says. “The contestants will miss out on, like, really honest criticism. Sometimes it can be a little personal, and I know other contestants took it to heart sometimes and got really stressed out about what he would say. [But] I think that that’s important to making you a better performer … You’ve got to hear the good and the bad.”

But American Idol can survive without Cowell, according to Lambert, because the show isn’t about the cheeky British judge. “Ultimately, after the first couple weeks of auditions, the audience tunes in every week for the contestants,” says Lambert, who performs his current song, “Whataya Want From Me,” on Oprah. “[Audiences] grow fond of one or a couple of the people and they get behind them and they’re invested in them. And of course it’s great to hear … what’s Simon going to say. But we tune in to hear the contestants blossom or not.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Simon Cowell says he will instead serve as executive producer and judge on the American version of his hit UK show “The X-Factor,” which will begin filming in 2011. The show will run on the Fox Network.

“I’m thrilled that we have put a date on the launch of the U.S. version of ‘The X Factor’ and delighted to be continuing to work with Fox,” Cowell said via statement. “We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this.

“We have had a very successful relationship with Simon Cowell for many years,” Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, said. “And we’re absolutely delighted to continue our relationship with him. ‘The X Factor’ has been a massive success around the world, and we can’t wait to bring it to the U.S. in 2011.’”

“There’s been a lot of speculation partly because we didn’t have an agreement. We reached an agreement at half past 10 this morning. Where we have come to is ‘X Factor’ will launch in 2011 with me judging and producing the show. So this will be my last season on ‘American Idol,’” Cowell said at a press event in Los Angeles Monday, Deadline.com reported.

The announcement comes a day before the ratings juggernaut begins its ninth season. Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres will debut Tuesday as the fourth judge, replacing Paula Abdul. Producer Kara DioGuardi joined the judging panel last season to mixed reviews. There’s More!

Simon Cowell wants to create a cartoon series.

The music mogul – who earned an estimated $75 million last year – is a big fan of animated show ‘The Simpsons’ but admits he is jealous of its worldwide success.

He said: “Their appeal is broad and it makes a lot of money. You kind of hate them for making so much money. It makes me physically sick knowing how much money they have made over the years. Maybe I should start a cartoon one day.”

Simon, 50, has previously made cameo appearances on the show – but admits he only took part to preserve his youth.

He explained on TV show ‘The Simpsons: Celebrity Friends’: “It’s the best thing to get the call. You last forever and are young forever on that show, so I love it. The only reason for doing it is to look good and stay young forever.”

The ‘American Idol’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star recently signed up to make another appearance on the cartoon, despite admitting his last appearance didn’t go well.

He said: “They obviously hated me as I had to do it over and over again. I could actually feel the rolling of eyeballs. It was like, ‘After take 57 Simon could we have a little bit more reality?’ It was painful.”

Source, Fame Pictures

Simon Cowell was given a £500,000 painting for Christmas.

The music mogul – who runs record label Syco – was treated to an original painting by British graffiti artist Banksy, to replicate one of the 50-year-old TV personality’s favorite artworks .

The artist – who is known for his stencil-style public pieces – superimposed Simon’s head on a reproduction of Degas’ 1874 creation, Rehearsal Of The Ballet On Stage.

A source told the Daily Mirror, “Record label execs wanted something unique to give Simon. He’s a secret art collector and loves Degas – plus he’s a huge fan of Banksy. So they got Banksy to mock up one of Degas’ most famous works. In the picture, it looks like Simon’s deciding whether or not the girl has the ‘X Factor’.

“He took one look at it and declared it ‘hilarious’.”

The 50-year-old ‘X Factor’ judge’s record company has achieved massive profits this year after Syco acts Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle and Alexandra Burke sold millions of LPs worldwide.

Despite Simon’s celebrity status, executives at his label had a hard time persuading Banksy to help them out.

The source explained: “Banksy rarely does private commissions so it was a real coup by record label bosses to secure his services. They are very pleased with what he created.”

Simon has hung the painting at his luxurious London home, and has already had two prints made up for his houses in Barbados and Los Angeles.

Source, Bauer-Griffin

American Idol isn’t the same without Paula Abdul, says Simon Cowell.

On the Fox show’s upcoming ninth season, judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi return – along with celeb guest judges, including Victoria Beckham, Shania Twain and Katy Perry.

Cowell, 49, tells Extra the show is now “different. It’s like comparing a carrot to a banana.”

Though the judge says he doesn’t want to “get in the middle” of Idol execs and Abdul, 47, he says, “I miss her.”

He adds that Abdul – who denied to TV Guide that she left the show over money – is “someone who will always work.”

So what’s next for Abdul?

“I definitely want to do a talk show because it would be different,” says Abdul, who has shot a guest role on Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and will host VH1′s Divas Live Sept. 17. “It would be a lot of fun variety with a ton of unexpected stuff and tributes to everyday people getting their big chance.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin