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"Simon Cowell jokes that host&amp;#xA0;Ryan Seacrest probably isn&amp;apos;t too choked up after his shocking announcement Monday that he is leaving American Idol after this season.\r\nThough&amp;#xA0;Seacrest -- known for quarreling with Cowell on the show -- sent him a congratulatory message, Cowell tells Extra (in his first interview since his exit announcement): &amp;quot;I heard a lot of popping champagne bottles. There will be a fireworks display outside his house tonight.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nCowell said he thought about juggling both Idol and the American version of his British hit music show, The X Factor, but decided it would be best to &amp;quot;concentrate on one main show.&amp;quot;&amp;#xA0;The X Factor will air on Fox in 2011.\r\nLeaving Idol - which he helped launch in 2002 - is &amp;quot;emotional,&amp;quot; he tells Extra. &amp;quot;It did feel a little bit emotional when I [made the announcement] because then it&amp;apos;s real... and then you remember all the good times you had.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nOn her talk show Tuesday, new judge Ellen DeGeneres says she is &amp;quot;trying not to take it personally.&amp;quot;  Joking, she added, &amp;quot;But seriously, I am going to be very, very sad to see him go, because I think he&amp;apos;s made the show what it is. He&amp;apos;s a huge part of that show but he wanted a change. I wish him all the luck in the world hosting The Tonight Show.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nJudge Kara DioGuardi says she was &amp;quot;the last person to know&amp;quot; about Cowell&amp;apos;s exit. &amp;quot;He is so important to the show,&amp;quot; she said on 104.3 MY FM&amp;apos;s Valentine in the Morning show in Los Angeles Monday. &amp;quot;He will be missed.&amp;quot;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/simon-cowell-ryan-seacrest-popping-champagne-over-my-exit-2010121>