‘American Idol’ judge has ‘Million Dollar Idea’

“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell will go behind the camera for a new series that searches for a “Million Dollar Idea.”

ABC has ordered nine episodes of the unscripted show, which will give aspiring entrepreneurs a shot at $1 million to launch a new business or product. Contestants will have to go through an audition process and pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts, dubbed “The Millionaires,” to make the final round.

“Right now, someone in America may be sitting on the best new idea in the world,” says Cowell, who will executive produce but won’t appear on camera. “This show gives everyone the chance to fulfill that dream.”

Cowell conceived the show with British telecommunications tycoon Peter Jones – who was a judge on “Dragons’ Den,” a BBC series with a similar premise and may appear on “Million Dollar Idea” as well. After a round of open auditions, contestants will compete for nine spots in the finals. The finalists will each get $50,000 in seed money to develop their ideas.

While the contestants work on their inventions, the judges will be watching over them, picking three people to compete in a live finale. The audience will then determine the winner of the $1 million prize, which includes cash, business support and physical resources to get the product or service to the marketplace.

Faith-based TV shows planned this week

Sunday: “The World of Faith and Values” Jean Vanier examines the need to belong (11 a.m., Hallmark Channel, Sunflower Broadband Channel 84.)

Monday: “30 Days” In this episode of the documentary series by Morgan Spurlock, a Christian man spends 30 days with a Sunni Muslim family (11 p.m., FX, Sunflower Broadband Channel 56.)

Tuesday: “Wide Angle” Tonight’s report, anchored by Bill Moyers, follows a diverse group of Lebanese – Shia, Sunni, Maronite Christian, Druze and Hezbollah – trying to build a new future for Lebanon (9 p.m., PBS, Sunflower Broadband Channels 7.)