Fox signs Cowell to deal that continues his participation on 'American Idol'

NEW YORK - There will be at least five more "American Idol"winners - and insult-wielding Simon Cowell is booked to do his partin selecting each one.

Fox on Tuesday announced a deal for five more editions of thenation's most popular television program, with plans to help ardentfans keep in touch with the talent contest over the Internet and oncell phones.

Key to the deal was the settlement of a lawsuit against Cowell byfellow British pop impresario Simon Fuller, creator of "AmericanIdol."

As the judge alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Cowell isthe show's breakout star, unafraid to take the villain's role inoffering blunt assessments of young people …