Simon Cowell Gets Emmy'd

International Academy give the American Idol guru a Founders Award

By Breanne L. Heldman Mar 25, 2010 5:18 PMTags
Simon CowellMichael Becker / FOX

Simon Cowell's favorite accessory—his smirk—may have to take a little hiatus.

The American Idol judge-producer-curmudgeon-guru is set to receive this year's International Emmy Founders Award.

"Simon Cowell is an entrepreneur and performer in equal measure," International Academy president and CEO Bruce Paisner said in a statement. "He has built an international empire and in so doing has changed the face of television around the world."

Previous recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Al Gore, Law & Order king Dick Wolf and Sir David Frost.

We're thinkin' a smile might better go with that tux he'll be wearing on Nov. 22 when he picks up his trophy at the 38th International Emmy Awards gala in NYC.

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