Paula Abdul
News (Page 3)

Things are getting intense before tonight's American Idol season finale: Paula Abdul recently broker her nose.

No, the judge wasn't drunk. She simply took a tumble over the weekend as she tried to avoid trampling one of her pooches, her rep told E! News.

"She tripped to avoid stepping on Tulip, one of her Chihuahuas," the rep said. "She is fine. This will have no effect whatsoever on her appearance on American Idol tomorrow and Wednesday for the finale."

The rep added that Abdul was not hospitalized for her injury.

One of Simon Cowell's habits strikes people as rude, even for him: While American Idol hopefuls are singing their lungs out, he's often seen idly chatting with Paula Abdul.

"I'm taunting Paula throughout the performance," Cowell explains on Monday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "I'm saying to her, 'Try to say something interesting, try not to use the words mountain and lakes in your critiques because it's always: You'll climb mountains, you'll swim lakes, whatever.' "

So how can he judge the contestants if he's so busy bugging Abdul? "I'll tell you a secret," he says. "I watch the dress run so I actually hear much, much easier what they really do sound like."

As for his Idol picks, he goes with the favorites Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle, but says, "I wouldn't write off Blake Lewis or LaKisha Jones.

Paula Abdul says she and Simon Cowell, who torments her on the set of American Idol, are chummy in real life.

"Simon and I actually get along great," the 44-year-old judge says in an interview in TV Guide magazine's March 19 issue. "We have cultivated a fun relationship. ... He's actually become a really good friend."

Were they at first attracted to one another, as Cowell has suggested?

"Oh, puh-leez! He makes this stuff up," Abdul says. "He said, 'Paula, people want us to hook up so bad.' I said, 'That's disgusting.' He goes, 'Paula, I know you want me,' and I go, 'Like a cold sore.' We have fun playing up the chemistry, but there's also times when I would cross the other side of the street so I wouldn't have to look at him."

In her five years on American Idol, Abdul has become a pop-culture punch line for her sometimes odd behavior, which has included slurred speech. Cowell, ever the troublemaker, is to blame, she says.

"He's caused me a lot of problems. ... In the middle of me trying to figure out how I'm going to say something that gives someone dignity walking off that stage, I've got the antagonistic brother goofing on me, trying to throw me off.

"Simon will do things that people have no idea about. ... When the camera isn't on me, (he) isn't watching the performance, he's poking and prodding me."

Sounds like a possible love connection to us. Someone better warn Terri Seymour!

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for this revealing interview with American Idol judge, Paula Abdul.

PAULA ABDUL: I've never had so much bulls--- written about me in my entire career, 21 years in this business. Nobody, [including] my friends and my family, has seen me drinking, partying...EVER. I'm the squarest dork there is. I've worked my ass off my whole career. I challenge anybody, go look at any picture [of me] in my entire life and see if I'm [pretends to stumble] or even holding a drink.

Maybe somewhere I'm making a toast, but I've never been drunk in my whole life. I don't do recreational drugs. I have the hardest job — mid-sentence I have to think of what I'm going to say, [and] sometimes I have to talk fast because I don't want to be edited. I have to think about what I'm going to say because I might not particularly care for [a contestant's] performance. How [can I express this] so they leave with a little bit of dignity and grace?

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So you can sympathize with what Antonella's going though?
I can't imagine how it feels for someone who's not used to it. I do sympathize with [Antonella Barba]; I don't look at that crap. Today you remove people from pictures, you can move them around. [That's] the beauty of the Internet...you can put my head on any body. My head's been on bodies I wish I had! I'm saying I wish I looked like that...[but] it's not me. I close my eyes when I'm in front of a mirror. I don't look, I'm serious.

Now that you've seen the powerhouse of the girls this season, do you think it's a little unfair to have six guys and six girls?
I wish it was best of the bunch. We used to have best of the bunch the first two seasons. I understand producer-wise why they do [that]. The problem is, what if there were ten girls and two guys? It wouldn't make for that exciting of a show.

Who has surprised you in a good way?
Stephanie Edwards and Jordin Sparks. We lost Sabrina and Sundance, who I loved, it breaks my heart. Jordin being 17, she has probably the most natural self-assuredness [for someone so young]. Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, we have had great young kids, but there's something about Jordin that is older than her years. She's naturally gifted, she's not trained — she's an artist that I think could be around for a long time. I love Blake Lewis, I want him to follow his beatboxing with reckless abandon because that's his unique gift, and continue to work on his vocals.

So who's surprised you in a bad way?
I was openly shocked with Sundance leaving and I said, ''you are one of our most gifted singers.'' And I [also] said, ''[Sanjaya Malakar] no disrespect to you, congratulations to you.'' And for someone [like Sanjaya] at 17 to have such a smooth older-than-his-years tone...but experience-wise, vocally, there was no comparison [to Sundance]. But I understand how parents and young girls would love [Sanjaya].

How close was Paula Abdul to being replaced as an American Idol judge?

Very close ... according to the singer who says she was asked to replace Abdul.

"As far as American Idol goes, I was actually approached a couple of years ago about possibly replacing Paula Abdul" Belinda Carlisle recently said.

Though the founder of The Go-Go's wasn't a fan of the show's format - and therefore turned down the offer - such news just adds to the speculation surrounding Abdul's life-span on the show.

"To be perfectly honest, it's just not my thing. I'd rather listen to music that comes from a more organic place. But you know, I just ... don't know if I would or not" said Carlisle.

For the rest of this year, at least, you can bet Paula will be the one to judge such hopefuls as Melinda Doolittle.

The judges from American Idol invaded Jay Leno Monday night.

And while they certainly focused on season six of our favorite show, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest first focused on a certain, bald pop singer backstage with Terri Seymour (Simon's girlfriend) from Extra.

“Re-release ‘Hit Me Baby, One More Time,’” Simon suggested to Britney Spears.

“She needs a huge song,” Randy said, before Simon butted in with his two sense: “Big record; forget the shaving of the head!”

As for their own unpredictable co-star Paula Abdul, Simon said the press is making a big deal over nothing.

“She’s always been that way, I’ve never understood a word Paula has said,” Simon said.

But Paula chimed in: “I live a clean life, and the only thing I'm embarrassed about is hanging around you guys.

As far as Idol is concerned, the judges told Extra they just want to hear good singing; and that meant bad news for the 12 guys who performed last night.

“I think they’re lucky that there are groups of boys, groups of girls; otherwise we'd end up all girls in this competition,” Simon admitted.

Speaking of girls, the gang had this special message for their favorite Dreamgirl, Jennifer Hudson.

“We actually think you’re going to walk up there and accept an Oscar, so go get ‘em,” Ryan said.

People magazine recently caught up with our favorite, zany American Idol judge. Let's hear what Paula Abul has to say:

What does hosting the In Defense of Animals benefit mean to you?
Well, animals are such a huge part of my life. I have five dogs – four Chihuahuas, one Teacup. I love dogs and anything I can do to help rescue and get dogs into adopted family and safe homes that are loving – that's the best thing.

Can you talk about the Top 24, especially Sanjaya Malakar's sad story with his sister (Shyamali) not making it through last week?
It was hard for us to decide whether or not we should either let 'em both go, keep 'em both, or separate them. Toward the end of Hollywood Week, Sanjaya kind of really evolved into his own. We started (filming) with some of the guys already. Sanjaya performed already and he got some harsh criticism, but I think people are going to love him. He's got such a great spirit about him.

All of the guys and girls are really going to have to step it up. It's very nerve-racking to start the show off, and every single year we're always trying to find our groove again and there's no exception to this year, as well.

Simon had spent some time in Africa recently. What was that about?
We're really giving back. We have been given so much joy and love and spreading the celebration of life through song, and there are so many places all over the world that need help. Simon went over to Africa. Randy and I are going over to Missouri most likely and probably New Orleans as well.

Was Simon doing charity?
Believe it or not, we're ALL doing charity work. Simon Cowell – yep. Good old Simon Cowell, even he has a soft place in his heart, I do believe, somewhere. I just have to dig.

No matter where this American Idol judges goes, cameras seem to follow.

We doubt Paula Abdul minds this time, though, as she hosted a benefit concert in Hollywood for animals over the weekend. One got up close and personal with the singer in this picture.

Which leaves us with one question: Think Simon Cowell is jealous?

It hasn't been an easy season already for Paula Abdul. People are accusing the American Idol judge of drunken, irresponsible behavior.

But she can handle it.

"People are being mean, but I can take it," she told Entertainment Tonight's Jann Carl Sunday night at the Grammy Awards, right before former Idol winner Carrie Underwood won a paid of awards. "You know I am a warrior. I am on a show that is the biggest show in history, practically. It is crazy. People are going to try to make things up and look for things, but I love what I do, and I am going to keep on doing it."

Abdul says her 20 years of experience in the business have given her the fortitude to handle the ups and downs of this volatile industry. And she is facing the adversity with a positive attitude, standing up for herself and rising above it all

"You take it with what you are given," she continues. "Knock on wood, I am on a show that I absolutely love and adore. What comes with that is a whole lot of controversy. I am good at weathering the storms and the controversy."

TMZ.com has obtained a lawsuit filed against Paula Abdul by a production company claiming the American Idol judge tried to screw them out of a show based on Paula's life.

According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pilgrim Films and Television (PFTV) met with Abdul and David Russo (her producing partner) in 2004 and discussed a talk show featuring Abdul. According to the suit, after some false starts, the concept evolved into a reality show titled "Hey Paula," based on Abdul's wacky life.

The lawsuit alleges that the project fell apart after Abdul demanded final editorial control over the final product.

The suit claims PFTV was trying to get the show back on track by selling it to Oxygen. But PFTV claims the American Idol judge allegedly came clean and told the peeps at PFTV that "she had secretly taken PFTV's 'Hey Paula' project ... to Bravo."

Reportedly, she never mentioned that Russo was allegedly in on it. On January 12, Bravo announced "Hey Paula" will debut sometime this year on the cable network.

The suit asks for compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to an injunction prohibiting anyone from airing "Hey Paula."

David Russo's lawyer, Bill Abrams, told TMZ, "The allegations are baseless."

Abdul told TMZ: "While I'm not going to respond to this baseless lawsuit, I will say that "Hey Paula" is based upon my life and my ideas. Last I heard, I still own my own life."