You just got played, American Idol.

After a two-year stint in order to become relevant again, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is quitting the Fox singing competition show:

“After some long … hard … thoughts … I’ve decided it’s time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol’ before she boils my rabbit. I strayed from my first love, AEROSMITH, and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass – the ultimate in auditory takeover. On Nov. 6, we are unleashing our new album, Music from Another Dimension on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and way beyond the stars. IDOL was over-the-top fun, and I loved every minute of it … Now it’s time to bring Rock Back. ERMAHGERD.”

Of course Tyler is leaving the show just months before Aerosmith drops an album.

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Although it is not quite yet a done deal, The Guardian today strongly hints that Simon Cowell is planning to have his UK The X Factor colleague Cheryl Cole (pictured) join him on this side of the Altantic as well. Cowell’s eye for talent has of course generally been impeccable, but even for him, choosing an unknown-to-U.S.-audiences 27-year-old over other rumored TV judge candidates such as Lionel Richie and Jermaine Jackson is a bold move.

If Cole comes on board the Americanized X Factor edition, she will be following in the frequent private jet flier footsteps of not just Cowell but also Dancing with the Stars judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, who travel back and forth each week to appear in UK-U.S. sister programs. Separately, as a testament to the power of Google’s cache, word is that Cole will not be switching back to her maiden name in the wake of a divorce finalized last month.

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NBC will present Victoria Beckham in a summer 6-part reality series, produced by Simon Fuller. The series will, in the words of the release:

give viewers an exclusive inside look at Beckham’s glamorous life as she makes the move across the pond from London to Los Angeles.

We’re going to watch her move? Unpack boxes? Whee.

Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, somehow managed to say without laughing:

The series will give viewers a glimpse into what makes Victoria so popular and admired as one of the most glamorous women in the world. She makes news wherever she goes and our audience can now become insiders in this fascinating personal view of what being Posh truly represents.

FBLA thinks we know what Posh truly represents.
Fuller told a British paper that the series will humanize her, if that’s at all possible.

Beckham said:

This show is really something different, it’s pushing the boundaries and I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people.

We’re surprised already. Ray Richmond, on the other hand, is thrilled to tiny bits. So is TV Junkie. Kidding.