"American Idol's' wannabe singing stars have long known to cringe whenever judge Simon Cowell opens his mouth.

Would-be magicians and other Las Vegas-style entertainers could soon become just as nervous, but only if the acid-tongued Cowell can find a judge as outspoken as himself.

Cowell has signed on to create a new talent competition for NBC that allows viewers to ultimately decide which performer is rewarded with a headlining spot in a Las Vegas show. He will executive produce the program but leave the judging to someone else this time.

"Personally, I hope to find the next Siegfried and Roy," Cowell said of the magicians who were a Las Vegas mainstay for decades before retiring after Roy Horn was mauled by a tiger during a 2003 performance.

Read more about Simon Cowell's Las Vegas show at http://www.heraldtribune.com.