Simon Cowell's "X Factor" housecleaning is officially complete: Just days after Cowell fired judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, Fox has picked up L.A. Reid's option to return to the show.
That will make Cowell and Reid, who often sharply disagreed on contestants in the first season, the only two returning judges in season two. Still to be decided is Reid's salary, which is expected to go up, said a person familiar with the negotiations.
Also read: 'X Factor' Shakeup an Admission of Defeat: Enter Mariah?
Neither Fox nor Cowell has commented on who will sign on to round out the judges' panel, but Cowell is likely to approach Mariah Carey, given his longstanding interest in having her join the show.
Her manager, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, said this week that she would be "amazing" on "X Factor."
