Simon gets serenaded, roasted before his 'Idol' exit

Simon Cowell was serenaded by Janet Jackson, former "American Idol" winners, roasted by pals, and very nearly upstaged by Bret Michaels, who won "Celebrity Apprentice" on Sunday and performed - quite well, in fact - on "Idol" Wednesday night.

But as a stark reminder to both Fox and viewers that TV's biggest show recently had a major exit and would soon have another, someone named Paula Abdul also turned up at the Nokia Theater.

"Our partnership has brought me immeasurable joy," she said, adding, that "No, 'American Idol' isn't going to be the same without you, but only I can tell you, it will go on."

Echoed Cowell, not that he really needed to, "the show will go forward and it will be different."

And with that, the most famous product - irony alert! - of "American Idol" takes his leave. British-born and brutal, Cowell couldn't sing (nor dance or act either, one assumes) and of course we never expected him to.

But Cowell did have one very shrewd act. Gimlet-eyed and acerbic, he long conveyed the impression that his assessments bore the weight of Solomonic truth.

It was a nice if occasionally fictitious touch, but it also helped make "Idol" one of the most successful shows in American television history.

Now, Fox must find a replacement.

That may be difficult.

On Tuesday, reporters caught up with one of the rumored candidates at the opening of "Sex and the City 2"

"I like Simon," said Howard Stern.

"I think he's great, but I tend to do more than just break people's hearts about their dreams in singing. I don't think that's my kind of job."