Remember when word of American Idol adding a fourth judge first went out?  The first things we were thinking that Kara DioGuardi was, ultimately, out to replace Paula Abdul.  At the end of the seventh season, Paula wasn't exactly in tip top shape, to say the least.  Plus, there's the fact that Kara was introduced in a pretty sneaky manner—in the middle of the auditions.

And then our fears were quelled—or, for those who cannot stand Paula anymore, furthered—when it became clear that Kara wasn't out to replace anyone, but would rather act as a fourth gear of sorts.  She did manage to toss the dynamic between Paula, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.  Critics generally liked her, hailing her entry as a burst of much-needed fresh air. I personally like her informed, smart comments, although the way she does it is still up in the air—singing a song to Bikini Girl, anyone?

By now, we've probably forgotten what we thought when we first heard of Kara—that Paula is on her way out.  There's still evidence that we might want that to happen: there's Paula, mumbling through the top 36, and personally I get more exasperated with each offing.  And then Paula suddenly says adding a fourth judge to the show was a mistake.

Wait a minute—she said that?

In an interview with OK Weekly, Paula explained why she thought the four-judge set-up is a mistake.  “It takes up so much time for each of us to give our opinion that it slows down the pace of the show,” she said.

But she clarifies that she isn't bashing Kara, or is getting jealous towards her.  “Kara and I have known each other for years and we get along great,” she said.  Prerequisite history lesson: both have had remarkable careers in the industry.  While Kara is more known as a Grammy-nominated songwriter, Paula is undeniably more successful, as a singer (with a Grammy under her belt) and as choreographer.  The two have collaborated before Idol, first as co-writers for the Kylie Minogue track “Spinning Around”.

But the most interesting bit in that interview was what Paula later said.  “It is the last season of my contract, and I have so many other things I want to do.”

Does that mean that Paula is on the way out of Idol?  Is she planning to leave to pursue other opportunities?  Is Kara's entry this season a means for viewers to get used to her, especially when the show ends up returning to the three-judge set-up?  Is Paula saying these things so it won't look like she's fired, but rather, that she chose to leave on her own?  As always, so many questions…




-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Los Angeles Times
(Photo courtesy of Fox)