Paula Abdul wastes no time: 'Ugly Betty' could be next on her horizon

We can just hear Paula Abdul going "Idol, Schmidol" as her career turns from reality TV to the world of scripted programming.

Abdul, who has a recurring turn on Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," a gig that began before she quit-tweeted her judging gig on "American Idol" last week, now might have a role on "Ugly Betty" next season, reports Entertainment Weekly.

ABC confirmed Monday that the network is in talks with Abdul, just days after ABC President of Entertainment Steve McPherson said publicly he'd love for her to appear on "Dancing With The Stars."

Abdul also is being courted by her former "Idol" boss Nigel Lythgoe to become a choreographer and guest judge on the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance."

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo Credit: Anne Cusack/Los Angeles TImes

Comments

[Josh]

If Paula does not return to Idol, Fox can just kiss their money maker goodbye. The whole reason millions and i mean MILLIONS of people watch the show is for the chemistry between Simon and Paula, which cannot be duplicated. Please just get Paula Back.

[12 Weeks Pregnant]

That would be good, you go for it Paula, show those Idols idiots they made a bad mistake letting you go!

[Jeff]

Let's see. If Paula wanted $10 million for working on "Idol", which involves 13 weeks of listening to singers good and bad, and another 13 of either voting on who stays or goes or giving her advice once the power leaves the hands of the judges, that averages out to $386K weekly. If she were to, instead, appear on "Ugly Betty" and the producers wanted to pay her the same kind of salary, assuming 22 episodes a season, she would have to be paid more like $455K per show. Hmmm...I wonder if she could be convinced to take less? Otherwise, "Betty" might not be around for that long.