VIDEO: Watch the First Preview of Simon Cowell's 'The X Factor'

The first preview for "The X Factor" aired last night during the All-Star Game, and if you're a Simon Cowell fan, it probably really had you worried for a bit.

The promo shows a "nicer" version of the Cowell we know, with a pink sweater and an environmentally responsible car (is this an "X Factor" promo or a Chevy commercial?). He, along with his co-judges Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger, sit and watch horrible singer after horrible singer...and Simon loves them all!

What's going on? Is Simon trying to tell us that he's changed? That's not going to make us want to watch "The X Factor!" We want to see people's dreams get crushed!

Thankfully, there's a twist to the story of the promo, and everything turns out just as we hoped it would: Simon's the same old Simon. We also get to see a few preview clips from the real "X Factor" auditions and a little taste of the dynamic between the four judges: it looks like Simon and L.A. Reid are going to be the tough cookies, while Paula and Nicole heap on the praise.

Here's the real question: is Simon taking a dig at "American Idol" with all this? One of the criticism's of "Idol" now that Cowell has left is that the judges only have positive feedback.

Check out the promo video below, and let us know what you think: harmless joke, or "Idol" attack?