Simon Cowell has broken his silence on the departure of Paula Abdul from American Idol’s judges table, telling Extra, “I miss her, of course I miss her,” and that the chemistry between he, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi is “different… It’s like comparing a carrot to a banana.” If we had to guess, the threesome would be the hard carrot, and the banana would be the foursome with notoriously soft Paula in the center.
When Abdul’s exit was first announced, EW’s Idol expert Michael Slezak asked readers how it would affect their relationship with the show: 51 percent said they’d be less inclined to watch next season; 42 percent said it would make no difference to them; and six percent said they’d be more inclined to tune in. How will those results differ now that we know guest judges on Idol will include Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Victoria Beckham, and Avril Lavigne? Let’s find out.
More Idol:
Exclusive: Neil Patrick Harris on judging American Idol and bringing So You Think You Can Dance to the Emmys
Micheal Slezak takes Idolatry on the road with the American Idol tour
Latest American Idol news on our Hollywood Insider blog
Photo Credit: Cowell: Steve Finn/Capital Pictures/Retna Ltd; Abdul: Sara De Boer/Retna Ltd.
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i have no interest in idol without paula.
I have no interest in idol with paula.
I have no interest in idol.
I have no interest in anything.
I didn’t have any plans to watch it this season anyway. Paula’s leaving and the guest judges haven’t changed my mind about that.
I thought she was at her best in many years this past season but I’m excited to see the guest judges, Shania Twain and Neil Patrick Harris in particular
Shania!! Mary J! NPH!!!!! KC! I think overall a decent group. NPH could be very entertaining to watch. He’s hilarious! Shania would be great to watch too! She is an industry vet who can sing her tail off. Mary J also fits the latter bill as well.
I couldn’t give one whit about Paula leaving. She actually infuriated me, getting paid an exorbitant amount of money to forget her “unscripted” lines, interrupting real critiques from Simon to go off on monologues that made no sense whatsoever. I’m sure some people found this “endearing”, but I ain’t one of them.
Good riddance. Looking forward to seeing the ratings for next season, which I’m sure will be the same, if not higher.
I’m with you there man. Paula was useless and a waste of Idol’s money.
agreed.
Honestly, the judges are the WORST part of the show. All of them (including Sime) are worthless. I watch because of the contestants. They could have a competition to get on the show and then do the rest of the season with no judges and I’d like it 1000x better.
I agree with everything you wrote. What do you think the chances are that we could make that happen?
I was turned off by this too. And then when I heard that they were dragging in that trained monkey, Posh Spice, to “judge”. Is she going to critique what they’re wearing because she sure doesn’t have the musical performance chops to be judging anyone.
At least Shania and Neil Patrick can sing and perform.
i truly believe that idols ratings will decline and not necessarily because millions would tune out in loyalty to paula, dont think it quite works like that. but more because IT WOULD JUST SIMPLY BE GODDAM BORING WITHOUT HER!!!
I thought I would miss her, but now I don’t give a crap. I’m actually sick of hearing about it. Whatever.
Yeah, this story is starting to be a bit too much. Apparently were a part of the few on this post that think losing Paula could be a good thing.
I WILL NOT WATCH WITHOUT PAULA. and yeah lets compare some numbers shall we:
american idol on twitter: 14000 followers
randy jackson on twitter: almost 400 followers (im not kidding)
paula on twitter: OVER 1 MILLION AND SHE SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN
but yeah, no, shes not important. she may have millions of super fans, but yeah, shes not important. oh no. randy and his 400 fans are more important than paula and her 1 million+ twitter fans…
She’s not important. No one watched the show because of Paula and no one is leaving because of Paula being gone. The show’s ratings have been in decline the last couple of years. Anyone whose loyalty to the show turns on whether she’s there or not would have left eventually anyway and are using this as an excuse to do so.
“no one watched the show because of Paula”
subjective, much?
There are people who actually did watch just for Paula. You think because you don’t agree with that statement it can’t possibly be true?
I have been watching since the top ten of Season 1, and I am not watching the show without Paula. Wouldn’t have “left eventually anyway”-she was the one that made it entertaining.
Um…wrong. Paula was the only reason I watched, and there’s no chance I’m ever going to watch that show again. Such a bore without her.
Whatever. If any of you idiots watched this show because Paula was on it, you won’t be missed. First of all, no one is arguing that Randy Jackson is important. he’s a moron. Paula Abdul is astounding in her idiocy. I will miss making fun of her but, otherwise…in the words of Rip Torn…she’s as useful as a poopy flavored lollipop. She destroyed the English language on a nightly basis, was a poster child for sobriety and lacked the talent and knowledge to guide these kids anywhere. She was a manufactured singer and only a mediocre choreographer at best.
If you don’t like the change, move on. I know however that you’ll all be tuned in one way or the other.
Why so mean and nasty. It’s no surprise that with such an ugly attitude you are not a Paula fan. But luckily for the human race, there are a lot of loving, positive, and good people in the world. We are the ones that watch and will miss Paula.
You can wallow in your hatred and negativity. I feel sad for you. Maybe therapy would help.
I agree with Blossom, you need some help, sweetheart.
Sorry – I am an Idol fan and more important I am an Idol CONSUMER. I could give a rats a$$ that Paula is gone – I watch for the music and artists. Paula had no business being on the show from the start – she’s a has-been who can’t A) sing or B) come up with her own opinions (since we all know she was scripted and that’s why she seemed like a complete dolt every season). And who gives a hoot about Twitter? It has nothing to do with American Idol.
Not watching Idol without Paula!
so over half the people are saying they are less inclined to watch. im one of them! i will not watch Idol without Paula! And basically all polls have been saying the same thing, that Millions will tune out from idol without her. they better BRING HER BACK. its not too late.
bring paula back!! the guest judges have failed to create buzz and nobody seems to care about the other permanent judges, even simon is barely getting any publicity except when he is talking about Paula! doesnt that sort of say it all?? idol Needs Paula!
i am LESS INCLINED to watch! i Will not watch without her.
I will not watch Idol w? Ellen on it . God does not agree w/ that life style. I liked Paula on the show on the show.
less inclined, for sure
Much less inclined. I never watched much before the worst year for Paula, ‘07, and found myself completely on her side. So much cruelty directed at her might be from her own doing but I still love the woman I see: spirited, quirky, passionate, endearingly charming and a heart about six sizes too big for her own good.
She’s brave too. Maybe the bravest thing she ever did was walk away from AI because she felt disrespected and wouldn’t just work for food out of desperation.
Go Paula!
I have no interest in American Idol if Paula isnt on it. I will not watch
I’m not watching without Paula. It’s very obvious that Idol has made a huge mistake. And I HOPE that DWTS becomes #1 and Idol falls flat on their faces, and then we’ll see how much Paula meant to the show.
and im not just saying that because im her fan, but simply because the show bores me with one exception- and that was/is PAULA ABDUL
i won’t watch american idol anymore it was my favorit show on tv now that paula abdul is gone it will be a bannal show like the others , it won’t be american idol the show that all the world loved from day one she will always be the heart of the show .
and let me tell you that people in the middle east watch the show only for paula in the idol forum in middle east 90% of the members love the show for paula they don’t even talk about the other judges only simon once in a while
not gonna watch without Paula!
Without a doubt Idol has now jumped the shark. It’s been fading anyway with only a smattering of talented contestants, but take away Paula the only judge you could tell gave a dam* about those kids and the show is just about a b*tchy Brit. Kara makes me want to hurl so I was barely holding on last year. Thanks FOX for giving me my Tue and Wed back.
I’m currently watching Australian Idol and I have to say, the telnet level on the US shows is FAR lower. Seriously.
On behalf of America I congratulate Australia on their superior “telnet”. Kudos to you.
Have no intention of ever watching Idol again, unless they BRING BACK PAULA.
Paula was the glue that held the show together. Now, she’s gone. The show=trash.
i will not be watching without her
As far as I am concerned Paula and Simon is the show. That other UG girl is awful. I hated every time she opened her mouth. Randy is just a DAG…. The show without nice Paula will not be American Idol. Please bring her back.
Is this article linked to one of her fansites or something? LOL. I’m joking. Well good for Paula that this many people actually care. If they just give me contestants who can sing I’ll be straight.
it seems that this was linked to her fansites, huh? He he. Yeah, I tune in for the kids too. You’re not alone.
Paula is such an important ingredient in the stew that is American Idol. It will not taste nearly as good without her and I, for one, will partake
oops — will NOT partake
I will miss Paula terribly and would prefer her to Kara any day but I do have to say I am excited about some of the guest judges. If given the choice, my write in vote would be keep Paula and guest judges and oust Kara.
Oh but I must point out that the reason to watch the show first and foremost is Simon!!!
You are absolutely correct. Without Simon there is no show. But Paula certainly was the heart and some shows would have been a total bore without the playful banter between those two. I can’t stand Kara.
please fox, bring her back. you have no idea how happy that would make millions of people
I WILL NOT WATCH THIS SHOW WITHOUT PAULA I WILL WATCH WHATEVER SHOW SHE DECIDES TO JOIN INSTEAD. She can join SYTYCD, DWTS or actually, Whatever show she wants to join! because shes Television Gold and everyone wants her for their shows because she brings PUBLICITY, BUZZ AND… RATINGS! if she joins AGT she will make that show a super hit, if she joins DWTS she will boost their ratings, same with SYTYCD. and idol WILL lose millions without her. not necessarily the fist week… but after a few weeks, people will get bored of idol when theres no charismatic Paula there to entertain them anymore!
So why then did her “reality” show on Bravo tank???? Because she is beyond lame. I know people who worked on that show and not only did the producers hate her, but they had to end the show early because there was no content. Sorry, but her leaving is the best thing about Idol this season.
W.W.P.A.D.? – What Would Paula Abdul Do?
Bring Paula back!!
not inclined to watch! This will be the falling of AI!
I was shocked they would keep Kara DioGuardi over Paula and was hoping Kara would gone either way. She doesn’t have a clue what she is doing or talking about and says the dumbest things…maybe because she is…dumb!
I am not sure how smart Kara is-all I know is that she is ANNOYING.
I agree, she is annoying. By far worse than Paula ever was.
The show will not be the same without Paula! The chemistry she had with Simon was irreplacable. If Kristin Chenoweth were take over for her full time though I wouldn’t be upset.