Paula Abdul
Gossip

Need proof that Michael Jackson touched the lives of millions of people?

Consider last night's premiere of This Is It. The movie drew celebrities from all industries. Heck, it even drew stars that are only famous because they fathered a child out of wedlock with a late drug addict.

The film opening also gave former A-list celebs a chance to pose on the red carpet once more. Two great cases in point: Paula Abdul and Jennifer Lopez.

The former American Idol judge and former tabloid cover regular each battled the wind, along with one another, at the movie. Study their fashion choices below and then cast your vote...

Whose hair, and outfit, held up better?

Paula Abdul is less than stable.

Therefore, while American Idol fans debated the merits of Ellen DeGeneres as a new judge on the show, many were also wondering: How the heck will Abdul react to this news?

Will she throw a fit? Get drunk? Run around the streets of Los Angeles naked? Really, no reaction from this loony singer would surprise us. Except for grace and humility, which is exactly what Paula showed in a recent Twitter message:

"I think Ellen will b a gr8 judge on Idol," she wrote Thursday evening. "She is wildly funny, talented and I wish her the best of luck!"

That's not nearly as entertaining as the other possible reactions.

Meanwhile, last season's newcomer, Kara DioGuardi, also praised the selection of DeGeneres. She said:

"[Ellen is] somebody who loves music, she's positive, she loves kids... She is somebody who has watched the show from the beginning, knows everything there is to know about American Idol and I think ultimately it's going to be a great new energy."

Viewers will find out in a few months, as season nine premieres in January.

For years on American Idol, Paula Abdul stood and cried over pretty much any performance.

A few weeks ago, though, the wacky singer had to "stand on my principle" when it came to an offer she considered to be unfair. As a result, she bid farewell to the show that resurrected her career.

In her first interview since the much-balleyhooed departured, Abdul opened up to TV Guide Magazine about the "amazing experience" of American Idol, as well as where she goes from here...

On Idol memories: I feel like I have been such a big, huge part of the success of the show from day one. I loved being able to be the artist's artist; being there from my point of view of knowing what it feels like to be vulnerable and to be out there wanting to achieve the most magical moment in a minute and thirty seconds. To be able to do that was an amazing experience and the show was wonderful for me in that regard.

On watching future seasons: Of course I will. I'll watch it as much as I can. I had some really unforgettable moments that hit plateaus for me and I'm very blessed to have been a part of what made television history.

On ever returning to the show: That's a hard question to answer right now. I mean, I don't think I can answer that right now.

On why she left: I stand on principle where many people stand on money. I'm a hard-working artist. I've lasted in this business for 23 years. And you can't do that unless you are good at what you do. I believe in myself and you have to have your own self respect. And sometimes decisions are very difficult to make, but I've always believed that at the core I'm a survivor. There's not one thing I've done that I've really set my mind to that I've failed at.

On what she'll do next: I definitely want to do a talk show because it would be different... I'm an actress. And it's time I started getting out there and doing it.

Paula Abdul is remaining in primetime. At least for one night.

While she may still participate on Dancing with the Stars and she may even return to American Idol, the former judge has lined up her next gig.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Paula will guest star on a fall episode of Ugly Betty. If the deal goes through, sources say she'll play a new temp that gets close with Becki Newton’s Amanda.

Think this is a good career move? Is Ugly Betty wacky enough to keep up with Abdul's antics?

** UPDATE: ABC has confirmed that Abdul will actually NOT appear on Ugly Betty. That's too bad.

Crazy sells.

In the wake of Paula Abdul's surprising departure from American Idol, numerous shows are lining up to add the unbalanced singer to their program.

When asked about Abdul's availability, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson told reporters last week she'd be a welcome addition to Dancing With the Stars.

"I was shocked by that decision," he said. "We would love to have her on Dancing, as a contestant, participant or judge. I think she's a huge talent. I think there's a lot made of her in terms of who she is... There's a sensitivity and an emotion to her that balances out Idol, and we'd love to have a piece of that."

McPherson added that Abdul has not yet inked a deal with any series.

"We have no formal plans. I think all possibilities are open. Really, it will depend on where her head is at."

Good luck determing that, Stephen. Millions have tried to do so for years.

What do you think should be Paula Abdul's next career move?

When Kara DioGuardi was hired as a fourth judge last season on American Idol, critics believed it was a maneuver meant to prepare the show for Paula Abdul's departure.

That departure took place this week, but DioGuardi is in shock over it.

"I can't get over it. I'm completely shocked," she said on Ryan Seacrest's radio show today. "It's such a loss for the show, such a loss for the contestants. She's definitely the heart of the panel."

What, precisely, will Kara miss about her friend?

"The kind of heart she treated the contestants with she treated me with last year," she said. "She was so kind to me and made me feel immediately like part of the panel."

DioGuardi also made it clear that her addition to American Idol had nothing to do with Abdul's future.

"The way I'm understanding it is that it was her choice to leave. I never was here to replace her. It would be impossible to replace Paula Abdul. She's an incredible talent. She is somebody who helped make the show as big as it is. How could you ever replace that?"

Well, Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry will try. Each has been hired as a guest judge on season nine.

As rumors continue to circulate that Paula Abdul and American Idol may not be officially divorced just yet (or if they are, that a reconciliation is still on the table), new reports say that for $10 million a year, she'll still come back.

Well-connected American Idol sources say they haven't closed the door on her Season 9 return, even though they have not communicated with Abdul since her farewell Tweet earlier this week, and auditions start today, sans Paula.

Reports say Paula was not happy with the offer American Idol made to her but was willing to sign - just days before her supposedly deal-breaking Tweet of heart.

She felt "disrespected" by executives who had offered Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest a lot more than they offered her. That "disrespectful offer," TMZ says, was in the neighborhood of $4 million a year. Paula would re-up for $10 million.

So even if this isn't a publicity stunt, it does appear there's wiggle room for Paula to return at the right price. Or is there? Other reports tell a conflicting story ...

Here's where it gets fishy, though. An EW source says Abdul was offered a 30 percent raise, which she declined, that would have amounted to over $10 million.

That source says she was angling for $20 million.

“Everyone thinks she’s off her rocker to pass up money like that,” says one connected reality show agent to EW. “She’ll never get even $5-10 million on a start-up show. It’s never going happen. She may have overplayed her hand.”

Addressing rumors of an Abdul move to Idol's "sister" show, a Fox insider says it would be a boon to So You Think You Can Dance (which just crowned Jeanine Mason, 18, its winner last night), but there’s “no way” she'd earn nearly as much.

That’s why many Hollywood observers think she will swallow her pride and go back to the show that (re)made her a star. Even for a paltry $5-10 million.

Despite Paula Abdul's farewell Tweet and Fox wishing her happy trails, the latest American Idol conspiracy theory suggests she's not going anywhere.

Here are a few bits of evidence (albeit circumstantial) that make us wonder if the reality show and the wacky, but entertaining judge are really parting ways:

• Within an hour of Abdul's bombshell, celebrity gossip maven Bonnie Fuller, late of HollywoodLife.com, tweeted that "Abdul has already signed her new deal [with American Idol]. The whole sob story was a pure publicity stunt."
• Asked to comment if there was no way Abdul wouldn't be back on American Idol come the winter and the launch of the new season, Fox reps didn't respond.
• On his radio show this morning, Ryan Seacrest said Abdul's departure was real, "as far as I know." Randy Jackson, meanwhile, said "It looks to be true."

• Asked to comment if it was possible for a star and network to cook up a scheme, entertainment attorney John J. Tormey III said, "Anything's possible."
• Unnamed "television industry executives" told the New York Times they believe "Ms. Abdul's combative stance is simply a negotiating tactic." Of course, it could well be a one-sided tactic, if she really wants $20 million a year.
• Tormey didn't think it was a reach to suggest Paul Abdul would appear to walk away from a deal in order to sweeten it. "In television," the lawyer said, "it's not uncommon for talent to take a hiatus in the event of negotiations."

So? What do you think? While it sounds obvious, the only way we'll know is with the passage of time ... or the instant American Idol get a new judge (today's rumored replacement is Victoria Beckham), or Paula Abdul gets a new gig.

Until then, we say let the conspiracy theories pile up!

Would you miss Paula on American Idol?

With Paula Abdul officially off American Idol, questions are swirling around the show.

Will she be replaced as a judge? If so, by whom?

It is with great trepidation that we report the Fox series is considering Victoria Beckham for the role, as Britain's Sky News states Posh Spice will make a “one-off appearance” as a guest judge next season.

Supposedly, the large-breasted former Spice Girl has no interest in making this a permanent job because she wants to focus on her fashion line. But London's The Daily Mirror says the offer is out there:

“Victoria is hugely flattered as this is one of the highest profile gigs in America... Network bosses would love to give her the job full-time and it looks like it’s there for her if she wants it."

As for Abdul, where will she head next? So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe isn't shy about wooing the wacky judge for his show:

"With Paula's background as a dancer, choreographer and reality judge now, I don't know any one more qualified than Paula Abdul," he told The Los Angeles Times.

But back to Beckham. Is this really a good idea? Didn't American Idol see what her husband did to soccer in the United States?

Do you wanna see Victoria Beckham as a judge next season?

It was a union that seemed doom to fail from its whacky, possibly drug-induced beginning.

Still, the relationship between Paula Abdul and American Idol lasted for eight successful seasons. Where did it all go wrong? Why won't she be returning to the show next season?

Sources told The New York Times that Abdul earned $2 million last year. For season nine, she wanted a raise... of 500%!

After the judge asked for $20 million per year, producers countered with a multi-year deal worth more than $10 million. Feeling slighted by the monster contract Ryan Seacrest signed last month, along with the addition of Kara DioGuardi, Paula walked away.

On his radio show today, Seacrest said:

"She has her reasons for doing it, and if she didn't feel like she was getting what she needed, then I understand that."

Do you? Will you miss Abdul on American Idol?