Season finale tribute in song as Cowell quits American Idol

SIMON COWELL was known for being nasty and mean to aspiring singers on American Idol, but his final appearance on the show was a total lovefest.

The caustic judge was feted in film and in song during the season finale.

There was a montage of his meanest insults (“It sounded like cats jumping off the Empire State Building... just before they hit the floor”) and memorable exchanges with fellow judge Paula Abdul.