Fall TV Blog

In one of her first interviews since announcing her departure from American Idol, Paula Abdul reveals why she left her post on the judges’ panel — and wasn’t just about money.

“I had to stand on my principle,” Abdul, 47, tells TV Guide. “I’m going to miss the experience of watching young talent evolve into a place where they get to take off and soar.”

The former Idol judge, who calls the show an “amazing experience,” says her decision wasn’t solely about a paycheck dispute. “I stand on principle where many people stand on money,” she says. “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.”

That success seems to have given Abdul a confidence that will last in her post-Idol career. “I believe in myself and you have to have your own self respect,” Abdul says. “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.” (more…)

He’s in the midst of the hectic Idols Live tour, dodging “provocative items” tossed on stage by hysterical fans, but Adam Lambert has been hard at work on his debut album, which he says is well underway.

“We did a lot of work on it right before the tour started. I wrote a lot with various producers and writers and recorded a handful of songs,” he told PEOPLE on a call during a stop in Columbus, Ohio. “We’ve been doing a lot of work on it during the tour as well … We’re still gathering material and we’re scheduling more recording sessions for when it’s over, so we’re about halfway done.”

Lambert, who’s already done a photo shoot for the album, promises it will be “quite eclectic.”

“There are songs on there that are anthems; there are song that make you want to dance; there are songs that make you feel sexy; there are songs that touch you, hopefully, with more emotional, insightful, deeper lyrics,” he says. “There are songs that are more in the line with a rock sound. There are some that are really pop-oriented.” (more…)

Kristin Chenoweth is the latest star to be tapped to temporarily fill Paula Abdul’s former seat as an American Idol guest judge, FOX tells PEOPLE exclusively.

The actress, who is nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her performance in ABC’s canceled Pushing Daisies will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the Orlando auditions later this week.

Chenoweth brings considerable vocal chops to the judges’ panel: An original cast member of the Broadway smash Wicked, she performed a solo sold out concert at the Metropolitan Opera House in 2007 and won a Tony award for her performance in the musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. –Lisa Ingrassia

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Add a Jonas to the mix of celebrity judges on American Idol. A rep for the Jonas Brothers confirms to PEOPLE that Joe Jonas will serve as a guest judge in Dallas on Monday.

Jonas, 20, joins the growing ranks of celebrity judges on Idol, including Mary J. Blige, Victoria Beckham and Shania Twain, who have all stepped in to fill the spot left by Paula Abdul.

Foxnews.com first reported Jonas would be a judge on Idol.
– Sharon Cotliar

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First Posh, then Mary J. Blige — and now Shania Twain? PEOPLE confirms that the country superstar will take a seat next to Simon Cowell as a guest judge at upcoming American Idol auditions.

Twain will fill Paula Abdul’s vacant spot on the judging panel in Chicago on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Blige teamed up with the Idol crew in Atlanta, while Victoria Beckham filled in for Abdul in Boston earlier this month. -–Lisa Ingrassia and Anne Marie Cruz

Todd G-John K/Splash News Online

Blige will meet up with Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara Kara DioGuardi in Atlanta for auditions. On Friday, the show is wrapping up auditions in Boston, where Victoria Beckham has been filling Paula Abdul’s spot. “The judges and production team have been having a lot of fun with Victoria,” a show source says. “She’s had a great response so far, and has been really warm with the contestants.”
– Lisa Ingrassia

Mazur/WireImage; Brinton/cbs /Landov; Caulfield/W

Hey Paula, from one singer to another, Natalie Cole says she isn’t after your old job.

“I would be tough. Even if I got the chance to be a celebrity judge, I would be tough,” Cole, 59, said at Thursday’s Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Beverly Hills to honor Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Bill Russell, laughing off rumors she is up for a judging spot on American Idol after the departure of her pal Paula Abdul. “I really doubt that’s going to happen, but thank you for saying so.”

The performer, who is recovering from a kidney transplant, added, “I like Simon [Cowell] very much, I love Paula — I just saw her today, [she's] a good friend.”

A friend whose decisions she fully supports: “I’m sorry she’s not on the show, but I think she did the right thing,” Cole said.
– Nicholas White

Tsuni/Gamma, Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty

Don’t cry for Paula Abdul – or expect to see her on the unemployment line.

The exiting American Idol judge is being wooed by networks, a turn of events that started before she even decided to pull out of the top-rated FOX show, where she felt unappreciated, reports The New York Times in a detailed dissection of what happened behind the scenes and what future lies ahead for Abdul, 47.

The inside story comes simultaneously with a TMZ newsflash that Abdul and ABC Entertainment Group president Stephen McPherson met on Tuesday afternoon. That report says, however, that contrary to some rumblings, Abdul likely will not end up as a judge on Dancing With the Stars, given that Abdul and DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba apparently do not get along.

According to The Times, not only is ABC courting Abdul, but so are NBC and the producer of another FOX hit, So You Think You Can Dance. The timing, meanwhile, couldn’t be better, given that Abdul reportedly feels hurt by the constant failure of her Idol colleagues to counter critical attacks about her reliability and her possible substance abuse — which has cost her highly remunerative endorsement deals.

For its part, FOX, which recently renewed contracts for judge Simon Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest with substantial boosts in pay for each, had grown tired of Abdul’s histrionics and did not wish to engage in a salary tug-of-war with her, reports the newspaper.

Besides, an insider told The Times, “Paula didn’t place as much importance on remaining on the show as some other people did. She thinks there are a lot of opportunities out there for her, and she will be fine without that show.”

Abdul did not respond to repeated requests for comment made through her manager, the paper adds. – Stephen M. Silverman

Michael Becker/American Idol/Getty

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While Paula Abdul combs the Help Wanted ads, her fellow judge on American Idol, Simon Cowell is apparently going to be snipping at contestants on the top-rated FOX show for the next three seasons, at least — at a salary of $45 million a year, up from his current $36 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter

The trade paper cites CEO and chairman of the parent company that produces Idol, Robert Sillerman, as saying that Cowell is closing the deal to remain with the show, after he earlier had hinted he might leave — as Abdul did last week. Other judges Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson will remain, either through current or new contract, and host Ryan Seacrest recently renewed with the show.

As for Cowell, Sillerman said that FOX “asked us to pre-approve him not only for American Idol ‘09, which has begun taping, but they have also asked us for approval for ‘10 and ‘11, indicating to us that they’re finishing their negotiation with Cowell. We did grant approval for that quite obviously.”

Contacted by PEOPLE on Tuesday, a rep for FOX TV had no comment.
– Stephen M. Silverman

Kevin Winter/Getty

The end of her long run on American Idol is surely just the beginning for Paula Abdul.

Having decided to leave television’s top-rated show after eight seasons, Abdul, 47, finds herself as the most sought-after personality in the industry, with three of the major broadcast networks on the record salivating at the prospect of landing her as a judge for their own shows.

Top ABC executive Stephen McPherson has said he’d love to have Abdul on Dancing with the Stars. NBC’s Paul Telegdy is eyeing her for a possible spot at the judges’ table on America’s Got Talent. And even her previous employer, FOX, has a shot, with So You Think You Can Dance executive producer Nigel Lythgoe counting himself as a huge Abdul fan.

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