Bitten and Bound » Paula Abdul

Simon Cowell Pitches X-Factor in U.S. with FOX

Meg — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:02:59 +0000

Television mogul Simon Cowell is reportedly in talks with FOX to bring his popular British singing show X-Factor to the U.S. as a summer series. He wants to be the executive producer of the stateside version for a cool $50 million, the same pay scale he is pulling in for his on-camera role with American Idol.

The question of whether America will accept another singing show is what the network has to decide. Idol started out as a summer replacement show and took off like a rocket. Placing X-Factor in that same slot might prove to be a savvy move by FOX.

Rumored judges would be Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Simon’s old friend Paula Abdul, who currently finds herself available after parting company with American Idol. She was interviewed last night on Dancing With the Stars, making reference to her old nemesis Cowell and referring to judge Len Goodman as “Len Badman”.

Cowell will only say, “I am talking to FOX. I have a great relationship with them. There has been a lot of speculation and I hope to clarify the situation in the near future.

Simon Cowell turned 50 this week and celebrated with a group of 40 close friends on Saturday night – photos here.

Check out video of Paula Abdul comments on DWTS below.

Paula Abdul Lands A New Gig

Missy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:01:06 +0000

Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul’s future has been all the talk lately and now she has ‘tweeted’ about her latest job.

“Hi guys! im really excited 2 announce ill b hosting this year’s “Vh1 Divas”! The show will be live on Sept 17th @ 9 pm EST.”

She also reported that the show will honor Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. Paula said that she is excited!

Photo: WENN

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Dancing with the Stars Wants Paula Abdul

Missy — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:08:18 +0000

Will Paula Abdul go right from judging FOX’s American Idol to judging the hit reality show Dancing with the Stars? ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson sure hopes so.

McPherson attended the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena yesterday and weighed in on Paula leaving AI and hinted there might be a spot open on DWTS. “Absolutely, I would love that. I was a little stunned by the decision, and we would love to have her.”

Stephen believes Paula is a huge talent and said she can pretty much do whatever she wants on the show–participant, dance or judge…it doesn’t really matter. Wow!

We wonder what the current judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli think about that? McPherson says that Paula has that sensitivity and empathy that he thought was a good balance for AI.

Would you like to see Paula on Dancing with the Stars?

Photo: WENN

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Kirstie Alley Twitter: I’m Replacing Paula Abdul on American Idol

Andrea — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:40:36 +0000

Kirstie Alley announced on her Twitter page that she will be replacing Paula Abdul on American Idol.

Kirstie Tweeted:

I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE FIRST ON TWITTER…that I AM REPLACING PAULA ABDUL ON IDOL!!!!!!!!! THe network will kill me but THERE IT IS FOLKS!!3:39 PM Aug 5th

DEAD SERIOUS! I AM REPLACING PAULA ON IDOL..CAN’T WAIT TO F SIMON UP…BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR MONTHS! PAULA ANNOUNCED LEAVING TODAY VIA TWIT3:48 PM Aug 5th

Yes,PAULA IS going to be the new lead PUSSYCAT DOLL..that is exactly what she is leaving to do..oops, pussy out of the bag4:00 PM Aug 5th

GOING TO CALL PAULA AND TELL her she has loads of loyal fans…tweet ya later angel babies…4:03 PM Aug 5th

FIRST SHELLY LONG, NOW PAULA ABDUL…AM I ALWAYS SLOPPY SECONDS…P.S. …IT IS WAITING FOR GODOT…sorry…4:58 PM Aug 5th

Although we think Kirstie is kidding around, RadarOnline is reporting that there may be some truth to her Tweets:

When asked about his client’s twittering, Alley’s rep told RadarOnline.com exclusively, “She is ecstatic at the prospect.”

We asked him exactly what that meant, to which he repeated, “She is ecstatic at the prospect.”

Kirstie just may be the perfect person to replace Paula. She certainly seems to have the wackiness down, and it could be fitting that she made the announcement on Twitter, since the first anyone heard that Paula was leaving (including show producers) was via the social networking site.

Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry have been confirmed as guest judges for next season’s Idol audition process, however, Fox Broadcasting says by the time the show starts in January, there will probably be a fourth judge.

Meanwhile, TMZ is reporting that Paula will come back to the show IF the price is right — the price being $10 million.

Attempts to contact Kirstie Alley’s rep were unsuccessful.

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Victoria Beckham Confirmed as American Idol Judge (PHOTOS)

Meg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:06:06 +0000

On the heels of the Paula Abdul Twitter message to the world yesterday that she will not be returning to the top-rated FOX reality show American Idol, we discover that Victoria Beckham WILL be a judge….but only as a guest.

The publicist for Posh Spice confirmed that the 35-year-old musician, model and fashionista will join judges Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi sometime during the new season, though her busy schedule will preclude her from making it more than a short-term gig.

It was revealed yesterday that Abdul, 47, couldn’t come to terms with FOX, who reportedly offered her a 30% increase over the $2 million that she made last season, while she was holding out for $12 million. Ryan Seacrest recently signed a $45 million three-year deal, and Cowell was paid $57 million for his last stint.

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Paula Abdul Twitter News: Judge Quits American Idol (PHOTOS)

Meg — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:33:23 +0000

American Idol judge Paula Abdul announced on her Twitter page yesterday that she will not be returning to the hit FOX reality show in the fall. She had been negotiating a new contract, reportedly demanding $20 million for the 2010 season after learning that Ryan Seacrest had just inked a three-year deal worth $45 million.

The announcement came just two days before the ninth season taping was to begin. FOX has confirmed that Kara DioGuardi, who rocked a bikini during the eighth season finale, will return to sit on the judges panel alongside Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.

Paula tweeted, “With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon. What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me. It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month. I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”

This may have been Paula’s opportunity to save face amid rumors that the network did not offer her a new contract.

View more photos below.

Photos: WENN

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Paula Abdul Leaving American Idol?

Andrea — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:46:55 +0000

Paula Abdul is looking toward an “Idol”-less future, according to her manager David Sonenberg.

Paula will not be returning to American Idol unless an agreement can be reached with the show’s producers. “Paula would love to be on the show,” said Sonenberg, but there is a holdup with contract negotiations.

“Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on ‘Idol,’” Sonenberg told The Times when contacted about the judge’s contract negotiations.

Sonenberg has not received a contract proposal from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the production companies behind the show.

“I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful,” he said of the contract holdup. “I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do.”

Season nine auditions are due to begin August 6, with the show scheduled to premiere in January.

Stay tuned!

photo: WENN

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Paula Abdul Covers Ladies’ Home Journal, Details Drug Addiction

Meg — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:18:08 +0000

Paula Abdul graces the cover of Ladies’ Home Journal magazine’s June 2009 issue. The singer and American Idol judge was exceptionally candid about her stint in rehab in November 2008, where she received treatment for addiction to painkillers.

There has been much speculation about the weird behavior that Paula Abdul exhibited on numerous occasion over the past few seasons on the hit FOX reality show. Check out video from the strangest show ever.

In the interview for LHJ, Paula shared the fact that she checked herself into La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California on Thanksgiving to finally end her addiction to prescription medication, pain patches, muscle relaxers and nerve medication. She acknowledges that the combination made her “get weird”.

Abdul said, “I could have killed myself.” She admitted that the withdrawal was very difficult. She is no longer relying on pain medication and has had success with a combination of yoga and spiritual workshops.

Check out the entire interview here.

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Paula Abdul: Her Idol Contract About to Expire

Missy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:47:20 +0000

With her contract ready to expire on American Idol, judge Paula Abdul may be critiquing her last season of the hit reality show. We find it interesting that she doesn’t think anyone will be able to replace her. We agree Paula – but probably not for the same reasons.

With each new season there comes change. This season the show stopped having celebrity judges and brought on a permanent 4th judge, Kara DioGuardi. That move was immediately followed by rumors that the new judge was being groomed to take Paula’s place.

On Thursday night you can catch an Abdul interview on the subject. Paula sat down recently to discuss the show with Cynthia McFadden on ABC’s Nightline. Here are a few excerpts:

“I love the show, I do. I love what I do on the show… It’s taken me a while to get comfortable in my own skin with the show.” When asked about her fellow judge, Simon Cowell, she called him “a bully, a masterful bully.” On the subject of being replaced by Kara, she replied, “I don’t think anyone can. First of all, Kara says ‘I could never replace you.’”

Four judges has proven to be a bad decision, from our perspective. The shows have been running overtime because of the time consuming critique by four opinionated personalities. Last week they tried to work in teams, with only two judging each contestant. That fell flat, so it was back to the full field of judging for each performance this week.

Paula really could phone in her commentary. She loves what the contestants are wearing and loves how hard they work, and she loves their attitude…..the cheerleader act is getting OLD. Just ask Simon Cowell, who feels compelled to bad mouth every word that she spews – which, come to think of it, is getting tiresome as well.

Photo: WENN

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Paula Abdul Isn’t the Only Unstable One

Missy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:39:25 +0000

We joke, we joke…Paula Abdul is stable as long as she is sitting down and being held up by the other American Idol judges, right? Abdul is named as a party in a lawsuit that was filed by Jill Kohl, who “claims” she fell during a taping of Abdul’s reality show Hey Paula.

Bravo Television and NBC Universal are also named in the suit. Kohl is seeking in excess of $25,000 – which basically means whatever she can persuade a jury she has coming.

The paperwork was filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court and it states that the property was in “dangerous and defective condition”, causing Jill to lose her footing while walking up a driveway. No word on the extent of her injuries.

Photo: WENN

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