Music mogul Simon Cowell has given the producers of talent show American Idol something to smile about after the departure of fellow judge Paula Abdul - he's considering signing a new two-year deal.

It was felt Cowell would leave the show at the end of his current contract, which is up next year, but a week after Abdul announced she'd be leaving, he's in negotiations to stay until 2011.

Cowell is currently among the top-earning TV stars in the world, earning an estimated $36 million a year from "American Idol" alone.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)