(CNN) -- Longtime "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell said he'll be leaving the popular Fox talent show at the end of the season, the network announced Monday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California. Cowell's popular U.K. talent show, "The X Factor," will be coming to the United States in the fall of 2011 with the acerbic critic in tow, according to Fox. "I want to leave 'Idol' this year bigger and better than it was in the past," Cowell said at the TCA tour Monday. Cowell will be both executive producer and judge on "The X Factor."
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Simon Cowell leaving "American Idol" after this season
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Cowell's "The X Factor" coming to U.S. in 2011
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Cowell's acerbic commentary has been a big reason for "Idol's" popularity
Unlike judges on many @placeholder talent shows, Cowell didn't sugar-coat his criticisms to contestants.