Palin to join Fox News as commentator

Anchorage, Alaska — Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, will return to her broadcast roots and take her conservative message to Fox News as a regular commentator, the cable channel announced Monday.

“I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News,” Palin said in a statement posted on the network’s Web site. “It’s wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news.”

Fox said that according to the multiyear deal, Palin will offer political commentary and analysis on the cable channel, as well as Fox’s Web site, radio network and business cable channel.

She also will host occasional episodes of Fox News’ “Real American Stories,” a series debuting this year that the network said will feature true inspirational stories about Americans who have overcome adversity. The network declined to say when Palin will start or how much she is being paid.

Simon Cowell says he’s leaving ‘American Idol’

Pasadena, Calif. — Simon Cowell, the acerbic Brit who has helped give “American Idol” some of its sharpest — and nastiest — moments, will leave the hit TV singing contest after this season.

The cantankerous judge said Monday that “The X Factor,” a popular talent show he created in Britain, will join Fox’s schedule next year. Cowell will be a judge on “The X Factor” and its executive producer.

Cowell’s decision is the biggest threat yet to what has consistently been the country’s top-rated TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres.

Ex-gov.: ‘Blacker’ than Obama remark ‘stupid’

Springfield, Ill. — Rod Blagojevich apologized Monday for saying he’s “blacker than Barack Obama,” but the disgraced former Illinois governor said he probably won’t try to make amends directly to the president.

In the February issue of Esquire magazine, the ousted governor, semi-professional Elvis impersonator and reality TV contestant refers to Obama as “this guy” who was elected based simply on hope, implying that the president isn’t genuine.

“What the (expletive)? Everything he’s saying’s on the teleprompter,” Blagojevich told the magazine. The story hits newsstands Jan. 19.

“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived,” Blagojevich said. “I saw it all growing up.”

On Monday, Blagojevich said the comment was “stupid, stupid, stupid.”

He said it was meant as a metaphor for his disappointment with Obama, whom he accused of doing more to help Wall Street than Main Street.

‘Spider-Man 4’ delayed; Maguire, Raimi out

Los Angeles — Tobey Maguire’s web-slinging days are behind him.

The 34-year-old actor and “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi will not be returning to the superhero franchise next year. Instead, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced Monday that a new “Spider-Man” film that focuses on Peter Parker in high school would debut in the summer of 2012 with a new cast and filmmaking team.