Previous Next Latest

Paula Abdul Considering Talk Show, Says She’s Loyal to “Idol”

8/31/09, 12:43 pm EST

Photo: Merritt/Getty

Outside of a few tweets, some rumor mongering and the occasional impromptu airport terminal interview, Paula Abdul has remained mostly silent since revealing that she would not be at the judge’s table for the upcoming season of American Idol. Now Abdul is setting the record straight for the first time since her shocking announcement, telling TV Guide why she decided to leave Idol and what she possibly has planned for the next chapter of her career.

Perhaps the most surprising admission Abdul makes in her TV Guide interview is she still plans to be loyal to American Idol when it returns to the airwaves. “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,” Abdul says, adding that she still keeps in contact with Simon Cowell.

As for her post-Idol plans, in addition to a guest role on the show Drop Dead Diva — where Abdul will play, fittingly, a judge — Abdul makes it clear that she hopes to host her own talk show. “I’d be Paula. It would be a lot of fun variety with a ton of unexpected stuff and tributes to everyday people getting their big chance,” Abdul tells TV Guide about her possible talk show.

While a monetary disagreement between Abdul and AI producers is often cited as the reason Paula left Idol, Abdul insinuates that as sources have speculated, feeling disrespected was one of the factors responsible for her departure. “I stand on principle where many people stand on money,” Abdul says. Despite reports claiming Abdul wants to return Idol, if producers were willing to bridge the salary gap and reward Abdul a contract more in league with her colleagues, Abdul is quiet about a possible return. She tells TVG, “That’s a hard question to answer right now. I mean, I don’t think I can answer that right now.”

Related Stories:

Paula Abdul Reportedly Wants to Return to “American Idol”
Paula Abdul Announces She’s Leaving “American Idol”
New Report Examines Reasons for Paula Abdul’s “American Idol” Split


Previous Next Latest

Comments

Jake Burns | 8/31/2009, 1:32 pm EST

She’s still hot

lily | 8/31/2009, 1:37 pm EST

bring her back to idol fox !!!
we want paula back !!
NO PAULA = NO ME !!!!!!!!!

Michelle | 8/31/2009, 1:51 pm EST

Paula is Awesome!!
Whatever she does will be great.
But i really wish she would go back to Idol.

Anonymous | 8/31/2009, 2:11 pm EST

I don’t think Paula deserves an Idol raise.

But I think Seacrest, Cowell, etc. all need pay cuts… They ought to be brought down to Paula’s pay level. Fair is fair.

TRV | 8/31/2009, 2:17 pm EST

I’d watch her show about the people out there getting chancees to go for their dreams. A talk show sounds good since they usually don’t talk just do the talent part.

Scooby Dooby | 8/31/2009, 2:18 pm EST

Who gives a shit about Paula Abdul and who gives a shit about American Idol. The less we see of both, the better.

Maria | 8/31/2009, 2:25 pm EST

I guess I will definitely not be watching American Idol anymore. Paula was the best judge and I certainly don’t want to see that pest, Cara. A lot of people I know won’t be watching either.

Monica | 8/31/2009, 2:28 pm EST

If anyone should get paid well is Paula not the rest of the judges. Most people watch it becuase of Paula. Get rid of Cara…Pleeeeeeaze! She is not needed there. Useless. Paula we want you to stay!

Yowza | 8/31/2009, 2:32 pm EST

What a freaky bang she would be. Anything goes.

Al, VA | 8/31/2009, 2:58 pm EST

i do like her on Idol and it’s a shame they couldn’t offer her something respectable. It’s a real shame cuz the kids love her and the contestants love her. i’m glad she says it was about respect and not money

AB | 8/31/2009, 3:00 pm EST

In order to have a talk show don’t you need to be able to talk without slurring your words?

The Anti-Fox | 8/31/2009, 3:10 pm EST

The people at Fox Television, whoever’s cutting the paychecks, are TOTALLY OUT OF ORDER. if you want someone to go, then just say go. don’t drag them through some stupid low offer to try to humiliate them it’s just not necessary!!! bad taste! i know it’s different in TV land or showbiz or whatever, but then again its the same. my job is paying people doing the same jobs different amounts of money! that’s not fair. looks like fox tv is no better than any company out there trying to squeeze what they can out of people for pennies! people being paula abdul.

Abass Abdulai Akamim | 8/31/2009, 4:11 pm EST

she,s the best.

Growing pains | 8/31/2009, 4:22 pm EST

I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllll lllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

wa nt to f the living s out of her and c on her face.

Vallo | 8/31/2009, 5:19 pm EST

Without Paula, Idol will begin to sink. She brought magic to the show, and together with Simon, entertainment value. I certainly will not watch unless Fox re-instate her. Idol will be just another boring talent show, plenty of those around. Bring back Paula.

kaitlyn | 8/31/2009, 6:21 pm EST

are u insane?! bring paula back
i hope your dumb ratings go down
so no one will watch it
they’re like family the 4 of them
well 5 counting ryan so if you wanna tear appart a family that we’ve watched for like 8 seasons then you’re all messed up. she deserves better money she’s been there long enough. i love paula so when your show goes down the tubes you’ll bring her back

zappa>god | 8/31/2009, 7:41 pm EST

I could not disagree more with the people saying she deserves a salary raise.

I HATE the fact that idiotic people get paid more than doctors to sit on their asses for an hour and judge a freaking television contest. HELLO PEOPLE?! I know SO many people without jobs. HOW can you guys think that PAULA ABDUL needs to make more money to support her DRUG HABIT when the unemployment rate is at an all time high?

uh huh | 8/31/2009, 11:00 pm EST

First off she is not a druggie you BOZO!! SO BACK OFF!! people who say shes a druggie needs to get a LIFE and leave her alone already. Secondly its not like she was asking for what ryan and simon are asking for she was only asking for atleast 20 million dollars over three years which is what 6-7 million dollars a year and they couldnt even pay her that?!? SAY WHAT!!GAH people pull your heads out your butts and PAY UP ALREADY!! Oh and people leave Kara alone too she doesnt deserve to be bashed cause I honestly DO NOT believe that she was put there to replace paula.I think she was put there to help paula out with randy and simon cause I swear those two loved to pick on paula especially simon but thats what made the DAMN SHOW and they’ve gone and ruined it YOU IDIOTS!!!

Jesus... | 9/1/2009, 8:13 am EST

Another celeb doing a talk show eh? It’s not like they know wtf they’re talking about anyhow. Paula, good voice and pretty face, but I’m not tuning in for your brain, lmao. God, the last thing we need is another talk show.

zappa > god | 9/1/2009, 4:35 pm EST

uh huh- I have seen her nod out on Idol enough times to know that shes loaded up on benzos just about 24/7. She has even issued statements about her drug problems, so get your facts straight.

also, 6/7 million a year?! are you out of your mind?! that is about ten times more than the income of my entire family. there is no way that she needs 7 million dollars a year to buy her freaking hand bags and her botox treatments.

there are hungry people out there, damn it.

uh huh | 9/1/2009, 5:51 pm EST

NO you get your facts straight that whole drug problem crap was blown totally out of proportion by people like you who have nothing better to do then to sit there and put other people down. I mean really do you think the producers of fox and american idol are that stupid to keep her on the show for this long if she was on drugs? I dont think so buddy. 6-7 million dollars that is NOTHING compared to what other people on this show are getting. So why arent you putting them down as well? Are you mad at her? I just think that she’s the sweetest celebrity out there and I dont see why people always feel the need to pick on her all the time. I dont get it.

zappa>god | 9/1/2009, 8:39 pm EST

TRUST ME, nobody on American Idol should be getting paid that much. Like I said, they aren’t preforming brain surgery, they’re sitting on their butts for an hour a week. The exception may be Simon, seeing as it is his show.

Now, you want to hear me bag on the other people on the show? Here we go…Randy Jackson is a washed-up has been JUST like Paula. Nobody likes Journey anyway. Everywhere I go and here their music, everyone around is groaning and feeling miserable. And who the heck is that Cara girl anyway? never heard of her. Simon is obviously a terrible guy, and his breasts are bigger than the female contestants that he pervs out on.

The honest truth is, the reason my attacks were directed at Paula is only because that’s what the article was about, I think they are all complete morons.

Josselyne | 9/1/2009, 10:05 pm EST

WE LOVE U PAULA!!! UR GREAT!! ILL NEVER WATCH IDOL W/O U!!!! omg if she had a talk show ID DIE!!!!!!!!!!! IDOL IS STOOPID!!! NO PAULA=NO IDOL!!!! THE SHOW WILL SUCK!!

WE LUV U PAULAAAA!!

uh huh | 9/1/2009, 10:26 pm EST

I totally understand your point BUT dont you think that its better to be a has been than a never was? I sure do. Kara is a song writer not that many people has heard of her until she came on the show but I still like her on the show as well as for Simon he can be an ass at times but it makes quality tv he tells it like it is there is no beating around the bush with him or else why even bother right? Sorry if I came off wrong to you Ive just always stood up for other people who I believe does not deserve to be bashed and humiliated all the time thats just how I am.

uh huh | 9/1/2009, 11:10 pm EST

I totally agree with you on some of your points but dont you think its better to be a has been than a never was? I sure do. Kara is a song writer not that many people has heard of her until she joined american idol but I still love seeing her and Paula on the show. As for Simon I know he can be a ass at times but thats just how he is he tells it like it is there is no kinda beating around the bush with him but thats what makes quality tv or else why even bother right? My point was this they are a family so why split that bound that they had?

uh huh | 9/1/2009, 11:15 pm EST

see even normal human beings make mistakes I for got I posted earlier DAMN IT!!

Ann | 9/2/2009, 5:04 am EST

WE LOVE YOU PAULA!!

Idol needs to bring her back on the show.

mh44 | 9/7/2009, 10:59 am EST

@ those who are referencing the economy – I respect your opinion but please remember that when a show generates that much money, if the money doesn’t go to the TV personalities we’ve grown to like, the money stays caught up at the top just like any other corporation. Paula just wanted her fair share and if it’s not going to the judges, it’s staying in the pockets of the big wigs — talk about people who really don’t need the money!

zappa>god | 9/8/2009, 4:53 pm EST

MH44- that is exactly why I don’t watch or support American Idol.

Godslink | 11/25/2009, 2:02 pm EST

I really don’t want to think about American Idol without Paula Abdul. I agree with the majority of people that it is difficult to watch the show with Cara. I even think it would be worse with Ellen Degeneres.

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement