Now that Paula Abdul has voted herself off of Fox’s “American Idol,” after eight years as a judge on the hit talent show, the question is whether there will be a recount or if will she seek office elsewhere.
With auditions for the ninth season of “American Idol” starting Friday in Denver, the odds of Abdul getting one of the show’s judges’ saves from the network seem long but not impossible, as Abdul could rejoin the show later.
But one thing was clear Wednesday: Abdul will have a future in television if her former “American Idol” boss or rival networks have anything to say about it.
Negotiations to keep her on as an “Idol” judge were tense from the get-go, although it seemed that Fox and Abdul were making headway early Tuesday, according to people close to the show. Then, late in the day, Abdul called the network and producers to tell them what she revealed to the world later on Twitter: “With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to ‘Idol.'”
Apparently there was sadness in her pocketbook as well. According to sources close to people involved, Abdul was offered a deal that would have paid her close to $5million a year, a 30 percent increase. But Abdul, who did not communicate beyond her tweets and whose manager did not return requests for comment, apparently wanted to be compensated more to stay with a show that — as she said on Twitter — that she helped make “an international phenomenon.” As well-known for her fragile emotional state (think Bravo’s “Hey Paula”) as for her Grammy-winning hits, Abdul’s final straw may have been the lucrative deal that Ryan Seacrest recently signed to remain as host.
“Anyone, like myself, who works with artists knows how insecure a lot of artists are, and they do need a certain amount of cotton wall when they’re being dealt with,” said Nigel Lythgoe, who executive produced “American Idol” until the end of the seventh season and produces “So You Think You Can Dance” for Fox. “It appears that all of the numbers from Ryan and [Simon Cowell] escaped somehow, and that would have aggrieved anybody else. You’d want more money, I think, when you see those numbers.”
Lythgoe said Wednesday he hopes to lure Abdul with his own set of numbers. She agreed to meet him in Las Vegas this weekend, where the final auditions of “Dance’s” sixth season are being filmed. Abdul would join the show as one of its rotating judges/choreographers.
“If I can afford her,” he half-joked. “Dance” is also produced by 19 Entertainment, the production company run by “Idol” creator and executive producer Simon Fuller.
Seacrest’s three-year deal pays him $10million a year to host, according to a government filing by CKX Inc., the parent of 19 Entertainment. However, Seacreast’s new deal is complex. Fox is paying him what it always paid him — close to $5 million — and the rest of his salary is picked up by 19 Entertainment, a source with knowledge of the pact said.
For his part, Seacrest said on his morning radio show that he was “shocked” and “bummed” by Abdul’s departure. Cowell, who has publicly said he had told producers he did not want to serve on the panel without Abdul, declined to comment. Randy Jackson told “Extra” that he “couldn’t believe it.”
While it is possible that 19 Entertainment could come to the table and pony up some additional cash to keep Abdul on the judge’s bench, that white-knight scenario is unlikely. Fox could also reopen talks. Neither Fox nor 19 Entertainment would comment beyond Tuesday night’s statement that said the show was “saddened” by her decision and wished her “the best.”
Fox will have to wait until the premiere of “American Idol” to see what impact Abdul’s departure will have.
Although its ratings have slowed in recent years, “American Idol” is still the hottest show on television and gets top dollar from advertisers. Last season, the program averaged 26.6 million viewers and generated almost $850 million in advertising revenue, more than any other show, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
Some in the advertising community don’t think her exit will hurt the show. “‘American Idol’ will do just fine,” said Andy Donchin, director of media investments at Carat. The franchise, he added, is bigger than any of the personalities associated with it.
Lythgoe agrees that a single judge does not make the show, but he is worried about the franchise’s future.
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If an Abdul-Lythgoe reunion doesn’t work out, the singer-dancer-choreographer-reality judge will probably have other options.
Paul Telegdy, NBC’s executive vice president of alternative programming, said Abdul has pitched dancing shows to the network previously and he would “absolutely” want to work with her.
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@PaulaAbdul’s Tuesday night Tweets:
With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all..Cont’d…
I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent,but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1become an international phenomenon.
What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me
It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month
I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all