Simon Cowell recruiting old friends for X-Factor

[HMG] – If you were expecting Simon Cowell to bring a new approach and fresh faces to  his new ego trip talent show, X-Factor…you’re not going to like this;

Reports are that Simon is not only talking to his former ‘Idol’ sidekick, Paula Abdul about coming aboard, but even wants to import another Brit from the UK’s original version of X-Factor, Cheryl Cole.

X-Factor’s judges will actually mentor performers, rather than simply throwing bricks from the bleachers as they might do on ‘Idol’. So if Cowell picks badly it could cripple the show.

Paula and Cheryl would not only bring chemistry to the judging, but Abdul’s involvement would recreate part of the team whose interaction was a key factor in Idol’s success.

Cheryl also has a strong resume; Now a highly successful singer herself, she got her own break on a talent show in 2002 when her group, ‘Girls Aloud’ won the British show, ‘Popstars.’

Now collectively worth about $40-million, she and the gals [Kim Walsh, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle.] have since scored twenty consecutive top-ten hits, including four number ones. So she’s got the track record to do well as a judge.

Not only that, but with Simon already 50 and Paula scoring her 48th birthday in June, 26-year old Cheryl would bring a welcome aspect of youth and more modern perceptions to Cowell’s new proceedings.

But THR says nothing’s signed yet, so you can be sure of a high-profile, hype-riddled, press-friendly game of musical chairs before the show bows next year. Meantime, put yourself in Cowell’s shoes — who would you have on the show?…