Paula Abdul Reportedly in Talks with Nigel Lythgoe, Plus “Deal May Not Be Dead”
UPDATE: From the LA Times:
“We discussed the possibility of her now being available to come on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’” he said. “She’s on the East Coast at this moment in time and hopefully we’re going to meet this weekend in Vegas. We go out to do our Vegas Week this week and Paula’s gonna come out there and we’ll sit down and talk about what opportunities are available. If I can afford her.”
“With Paula’s background as a dancer, choreographer and reality judge now, I don’t know anyone more qualified than Paula Abdul,” he added.
Lythgoe said he didn’t discuss the “Idol” negotiations with Abdul but thinks it’s a mistake for the show to have let her go.
“I think that’s too personal,” he said. “That’s what she must sort out for herself. All we discussed is that, yes, this is the situation at the moment, and she may well be free to come and join us on ‘SYTYCD.’”
Lythgoe said that it’s shameful that “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s salary and host Ryan Seacrest’s recent negotiations were made public, because “that would have aggrieved anybody else and you’d want more money, I would think, when you see those numbers. Negotiations should be held behind closed doors, not discussed, and no embarrassment on either party.”
According to Billy Bush of Access Hollywood, Nigel Lythgoe has made an offer to Paula Abdul. I presume it’s for So You Think You Can Dance. He says Paula and Nigel are meeting this weekend in Las Vegas.
Also, Bush says Paula’s deal with Idol may NOT be dead. (I would not be surprised if Paula and Idol worked something out at the last minute…even if she missed some audition dates–she’s missed them before)
@BillyBush tweeted:
Just spoke with @dizzyfeet…has made offer 2 Paula. They’re meeting this wkend in vegas 2 discuss. also sed deal may NOT be dead with #idol
Also, Bush got a statement from Randy Jackson (If you can make out Bush’s twitterspeak…yikes)
Fr randy re: @paulaabdul lving #idol: “I am shocked. Paula is a dear friend and will be missed. May be out there but “shocked” says alot
Posted in Uncategorized
33 Responses to “Paula Abdul Reportedly in Talks with Nigel Lythgoe, Plus “Deal May Not Be Dead””
It’s a verified account. So it’s really her. But I can’t tell if she’s kidding or not.
“I AM REPLACING PAULA ON IDOL..CAN’T WAIT TO F SIMON UP’ ¦BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR MONTHS! ”
If she’s not kidding it’s gonna be curious when we find out what she meant by that. MONTHS? hm..
0.5. Not Kara, and partially Simon (depending, of course, on whether or not he’s decided to phone it in on any given night).
Kirstie Alley has a wicked oddball sense of humor and is laughing her a$$ off at everyone who is remotely taking her seriously.
Since 19 manages Victoria Beckham, it would seem to be a bit of a scandal if she gets Paula’s job. No wonder they weren’t seriously negotiating with Paula, if they wanted to replace her with one of their own.
That would be rather interesting. Whatever 19 pays Victoria in salary, they would be getting 20 to 50% of it back in management fees. Smooth.
Oh, geez. I could live with the no-Paula thing if it meant we’d only have three judges, but if they dump the only nice one and one of the two who occasionally says something perceptive about talent rather than packages and yet still make us suffer though *four* judges. Gross.
Three judges only, please.
I’d really prefer to not see Paula as a regular judge on SYTYCD. A guest judge, once or twice a season, is fine. But the thought of all Paula, all the time, doesn’t please me. Even if Paula knows dance better than she knows music, I can’t imagine her offering helpful constructive criticism. The current SYTYCD judges need to improve in this department, too, but at least they occasionally seem knowledgeable.
As for Kara, I guess I’m in the minority in that I liked her as a judge, but only at the beginning of last season. At first she offered helpful, insightful comments, and it was great to have a new perspective. She seemed to quickly be squashed into submission by Simon, however, and then turned into a “broken record”. I felt sorry for Kara a few times when it looked as if Simon and Paula were mocking her, and I think she has a lot to contribute if she’s allow to be herself.
Dear God please don’t make Paula a permanent judge on SYTYCD. SYTYCD will start going overtime as well.
I’d be fine with an occasional guest judge, and Paula choreographs on occasion as well.