I believe Fuller was the original Idol creator and Cowell simply did an American spinoff of it.
Either way, I don't think they should involve Michael Jackson. I think Idol is successful and doesn't need a guy like him to boost the ratings. If it were 1985, I'd say go for it, but Michael is a creep now. I know he was found innocent of all molestation charges, but he still admitted to sleeping with other people's children in his bed. There is something not right about a man that would sleep with kids (that aren't his) in his bed.
Correction. He was "found not guilty." He was NOT, as you said, "found innocent." There is a galaxy of difference between the two.