Fall TV Blog

While Paula Abdul won’t be returning to FOX’s American Idol, it seems plenty of other networks are interested in courting her for their reality TV competition shows.

So is there a possible spot for Abdul at the judges’ table with Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli–the three judges on Dancing with the Stars?

“Absolutely. I would love that,” ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena on Saturday. “I was a little stunned by the decision, and we would love to have her on Dancing.”

McPherson added that Abdul could be added either as a participant, dancer or judge. “I think she’s a huge talent,” said McPherson. “There’s a sensitivity and an empathy that balances out Idol, and we’d love to get a piece of that.” –Shawna Malcolm

Tell us: Would you like to see Paula on Dancing? And would you want to see her as a judge, a pro dancer or contestant on the show?

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For eight seasons Simon Cowell has had the pleasure of taunting, teasing and tickling Paula Abdul on American Idol. But for the first time on Friday, Cowell and fellow judges Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson plowed ahead without Abdul. Spice Girl Victoria Beckham subbed in for Abdul in Denver.

“I’m going to miss her. She’s my buddy,” Cowell told PEOPLE before entering the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver. On hand for Idol’s season nine second round auditions, Cowell said he isn’t sure how things will be without Abdul by his side. But, he assured, he’s talked to her “every day” since she Twittered on Tuesday that she was not returning to Idol. “Paula has been very cool about the whole thing. And let me tell you, Paula is going to be fine.”

DioGuardi, who renewed her contract last month, arrived wearing a black sheath dress and was feeling somber about the road ahead without Abdul.

“I am so missing Paula. That’s why I’m in black mourning,” DioGuardi said. “I’m very sad. I talked to her last week. It’s sad, but it was her choice.”

While much had been made of a rivalry between DioGuardi and Abdul, DioGuardi says that was not the case at all. “She was a great friend to me. She was so incredibly helpful.” Not only did Abdul show DioGuardi the ropes in her first weeks on Idol, she was great with the contestants. “She was nurturing and the heart that she showed the contestants. I’m really going to miss her a lot. Really am.”

Jackson echoed his colleagues’ sentiments. “I talked to [Paula] a couple days ago and she’s going to be great.” What’s of more concern to Jackson is his own well being. “We all love her. I think I may cry today. It’s weird.” — Vickie Bane

Victoria Beckham plans to be the nice judge when it comes to critiquing contestants on American Idol — but she expects to trade some not-so-nice barbs with prickly judge Simon Cowell.

“I like that fact that’s he’s honest. I think he’s very funny,” Beckham told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Friday. “He has a very tongue-in-cheek British sense of humor, which I have too. I’m looking forward to a bit of banter. I hope he does give me a little bit of a hard time. I love that. I feed off of that.”

Beckham, 35, says she doesn’t know Cowell well, but has one very pointed memory of him. “He is the only man in the music industry who turned down the Spice Girls and said we would never work,” Beckham said with a laugh.

Asked if she plans follow in the footsteps of Paula Abdul, who’s always been the most kind and nurturing judge on the show, Beckman says, “I want to be nice to people. I know how it feels to stand there and be judged … I don’t want to shatter anybody’s dream, but at the same time there’s nothing wrong with constructive criticism.”

As for whether she feels guilty replacing Abdul, she says, “I don’t. I’m a spiritual person and I believe that you get back whet you put out there, and I hope she does something that is bigger and better …. There’s something great for her around the corner, I’m sure.”

So how should prospective contestants aim to please Posh Spice? “What I’m looking for [in an Idol winner] is a great singer and somebody who has that star quality. It’s about the whole package.”

One other quality the fashion-savvy star would like to see: a contestant who possesses “natural style.”

Beckham is currently in Denver, where she’s set to participate in the first round of auditions for the upcoming season of American Idol. — Marla Lehner

Jun Sato/WireImage; Charles Sykes/ Rex USA

Now that Paula Abdul announced that she’s leaving American Idol, what will she do next?

While Abdul is filming another guest-starring role on an episode of Lifetime’s Drop Dead Gorgeous, FOX executives spoke at a Television Critics’ Association panel on Thursday in Los Angeles, saying Abdul’s judging days are far from over — she may just scoot over to another show — and that there’s even still a chance she could return to Idol.

When asked if he would like Abdul to be a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told reporters, “Absolutely there’s no question about that. I don’t know anyone who’s had her experience. I’ve been trying to get her since season one.”

In fact, Lythgoe isn’t wasting any time. “I spoke to her yesterday morning. We didn’t talk about the negotiations. That’s a private issue,” he said. “We’re going to Vegas for season six this weekend and she’s coming out to meet me and we’re going to talk about what opportunities are out there.” (more…)

As the dust settles on the shocking departure of Paula Abdul, 47, from next season’s American Idol, now comes confirmation from Victoria Beckham’s publicist that the former Posh Spice, 35, will make a “one-off appearance” as a guest judge on the top-rated FOX show, according to Britain’s Sky News.

Just don’t expect Beckham to take up a permanent perch next to judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi — as she reportedly doesn’t wish to take time away from overseeing her fashion line. –Stephen M. Silverman

Tell us: Will Victoria Beckham make a good guest judge for American Idol? Who else would you like to see as a guest judge?

Joe Corrigan/Getty

She helped scout for talent across the country, nurtured rising singers and became an icon on one of TV’s most popular shows. But after eight seasons and back and forth negotiations, Paula Abdul shocked fans — and her bosses — when she announced she was leaving American Idol.

So what exactly went wrong?

Speculation about Abdul’s future with the show grew rampant after manager David Sonenberg told the Los Angeles Times in July that FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the production companies behind Idol, had not given her a new contract three weeks before the ninth season was to start filming — and just days after Idol host Ryan Seacrest reportedly signed a three-year deal for $45 million.

“She’s worked really hard for them and it’s time for them to reciprocate,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “They need to come through or she’ll walk.”

(more…)

Ryan Seacrest is as surprised as the rest of us by the news that Paula Abdul is leaving American Idol.

“The news stunned me last night,” he said Wednesday on his KISS FM radio show. “I was shocked.”

Seacrest said he found out by reading reports Tuesday night after Abdul tweeted, “With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol.”

“She’s a dear friend. I love her to death and am really sad that it came to fruition,” Seacrest said. “I’m just bummed because we’ve worked together for so many years. It’s sad.”

Seacrest also addressed theories that Abdul’s announcement was a way of drumming up publicity. “Everyone that I’ve passed today here has asked is it true? Is it a publicity stunt?,” he said on the air. “As far as I know, it’s real. At this point she’s decided to leave.”

Could there be a reversal, his co-host asked? “I would love that. I think that would be fantastic for all of us. That would be great,” he said.

Still Seacrest — who got a raise for his hosting gig in July, bumping him up to $45 million for three years — acknowledged Abdul’s contract negotiations. “Obviously she has her reasons for doing it and if she didn’t feel like she was getting what she needed,” he said, “I understand that too.” (more…)

Abdul — out!

Ending speculation about her future on one of the most popular shows on television, Paula Abdul confirmed Tuesday she will no longer be at the judge’s table on American Idol.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol,” Abdul, 47, writes on her Twitter page. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.”

She adds: “What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me. I do, without any doubt, have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”

No reason was given for her departure just two days before she was to return to work. Abdul’s rep declined to comment except to confirm she was leaving. The highly rated show is about to begin taping segments for its ninth season, with auditions starting Thursday in Denver. The show returns on the air in January. (more…)

Now that it’s confirmed that Kara DioGuardi will return to the judges’ panel for American Idol’s season 9, head honchos at FOX are coming out in support of the fourth judge.

“Kara’s spitfire personality and sharp musical sensibility infused American Idol with a new energy last year,” FOX president of alternative programming Mike Darnell says, according to The Live Feed. “She clearly has a keen eye for talent — spotting Adam Lambert’s superstar quality early on last season — and her performance on the season 8 finale was one of the most memorable in recent Idol history.”

DioGuardi sang a few bars of “Vision of Love” with season 8’s notorious Katrina “Bikini Girl” Darrell before showing off her bikini body on the May 20 finale.

While 50 percent of PEOPLE.com readers who took our poll think the show was better with just three judges, only 28 percent said DioGuardi brings a lot to the show.

Still, “We are so happy to welcome back Kara for her second season with Idol,” executive producer Simon Fuller said. “She is a breath of fresh air and her passion for music and her understanding of talent is invaluable. This show is all about discovering new talent, and Kara’s championing of Adam Lambert is proof positive of her great instinct.”

FOX

American Idol is welcoming back judge Kara DioGuardi, PEOPLE has confirmed.

DioGuardi, a songwriter who has written more than 100 hit singles, joined Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell on the judges’ panel last year for the show’s eighth season.

“I’m only here for one season,” DioGuardi said in May of her possible return. “That’s what we’ve discussed. So we’ll see what happens.”

DioGuardi may now know what’s happening with her, but Abdul is still unsure if she’ll be back on the show — though Cowell has spoken out in support of his costar.

FOX