HA! Funny question. My vote is for #2 as more likely. Gas prices seem pretty whimsical nowdays, and television doesn't have so many successful series that they can afford to shut one down. Besides, I think Simon Cowell is replaceable - there's a lot of snarky, mean people in the world!
Permalink | Report

As an interplanetary multidimensional timetraveler, I can tell you that both have already happened although in other dimensions, of course. American Idol, in many worlds, starred Lou Dobbs. And gas, of course, is well above $20 a gallon in those dimensions where the US attacked Iran and inadvertently bombed the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. Many people think that a lack of gas is what caused Rush Limbaugh to endorse Nancy Pelosi for President.
Permalink | Report

The more likely headline is #1! I have always believed AI to be rigged and I wouldn't be surprised if it got cancelled mid-season. That said, there are so many AI fans, that rioting is sure to occur in living rooms across America! Plus, we'd all start a riot if gas got to $14.72 per gallon. At least I would!
Source(s):
Years of people-watching!

Permalink | Report

I say #2 is more likely :)
They would never cancel American Idol mid-season ;)
Permalink | Report

No #2 is most likely. Simon Cowell owns the format and makes the most money out of American Idol he would never cancel mid series and if he got fed up he'd just change the rules.
Permalink | Report

Vote #1
Permalink | Report

Sadly the first one would be more likely to make the headline and front page, although the second one would be highly effective as it has the gas price store but also the AI one as well, thus killing two birds with one stone and increasing likelyhood of being read and making front page.

i mean who doesn't like a good article about gossip and everyone likes complaining about the gas prices.

~Joey V.~
Permalink | Report

Trick question! "None of the above"

The 2008 gasoline price inflation was a market manipulation by people whom the Bush administration (read: Bush oil interests benefited from the spike in prices) probably liked, so no one was prosecuted. The speculators tried their damnest to send gas prices skyward, and they got to around $5, before the market was able to correct around the manipulation.
Thus, $14 seems totally improbable in the short term (see below), since the 2008 speculators were out to see how far they could get the price to rise, and all they could get to was the $5 zone.

Simon, for all his bluster, is a remarkably well-adjusted man, leading a charmed life with a wonderful wife. I think he'll be just fine, and the show "must go on!" ... and even if Simon quits, the show is a winner, and a Simon replacement may send ratings even higher. Likelihood of cancellation? 0%.

Nice question ... although deciding on a right answer may be the tough thing here. How can you say which of two alternative future "events" will happen? ... and in what time frame? .. maybe by 3009, a cup of coffee will be $50.00, and then $14.72 for whatever will fuel a car in 3009, will be considered cheap! And someday (3009?-ish) AI will either go off the air, and/or Simon will find other amusements or pass away, or TV will be obsoleted by the next wild technology of 3009, and no one will care about the by-then-primitive AI concept.
Permalink | Report