'American Idol': Paula Abdul says 'Thanks!' to her Dish Rag fans

Like it or not, Paula Adbul is not going away.

"Why would we get rid of Paula?" "American Idol" CEO and exec producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz told AP two days after Abdul's gaffe on Tuesday's show. "I love that everyone was talking about it. It was so unexpected. It was something that took up two seconds of airtime. You'd think there was no other news on television."

You'd think there was no other news on the Web, judging by the overwhelming response to yesterday's Dish Rag item about whether Paula should stay or go.

Many DR readers want Paula to stay. "Paula is the show. If she is gone the show will end," wrote Vi.

Some, like Steve, disagreed. "Paula needs to go. She needed to go before the latest goofball stunt."

Others are concerned. "I'm not sure but I think Paula might need an intervention of some sort," wrote Debra.

The Dish Rag caught up with Paula on Thursday night at the Lupus LA's 2008 Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire, just after she finishing presenting the Founder's Award  to Dr. Daniel J. Wallace.

Told of the support from fans on the latimes.com's blog, the Dish Rag, Paula said, "I'm so grateful for all the support and love the fans have shown me, not only this week, but in the past. It's very heartwarming and I really appreciate it."

It was a busy night for Abdul. After she left the Orange Ball, she headed to the Four Seasons for the British American Television and Film Assn./Los Angeles first annual British Comedy Festival Awards. "AI" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe was also on hand.

Joel Stratte-McClure, a journalist (and full-disclosure: my husband) who covered both events, spoke to and observed Abdul closely.

"She seems like a very vulnerable, sweet woman," said Stratte-McClure. "One thing I noticed is she seemed to hug everyone she talked to and she spent more time in the restrooms than anyone I've ever seen. The people waiting for her were all asking, 'What on earth can she be doing in there?'"

My theory is that makeup and hair takes a lot of time. Ask any woman! This is especially true for a celebrity like Paula, who is always under scrutiny and being photographed. A more likely scenario? The bathroom is the only place she can hide from reporters.

Photo: Paula Abdul always makes time to help out charities. Thursday night she presented an award at the Lupus LA Orange Ball.
WireImage

Comments

[me]

i would never watch Idol without Paula. i love her. and honestly, she has been on this show for 7 years. and for 7 years, it has been nr 1. doesnt that fact alone answer the question "should paula go or stay"?

[Melinda]

love her. she is the main reason i still watch this show. the amateur singing bores me to death. the show should be called the Paula and simon show because those two make the show!

[jaek]

are you kidding me? they can't find another judge who can actually function like a normal adult? obviously, she had pre~written notes, that she tried to lie about to cover up during the show. i'm not a fan of the show anyhow, but seriously.... !!!

[KG]

This incident has nothing to do with the rehearsal or Paula being "confused," as some people are trying to claim as excuses.
Here's her explanation from Ryan's radio show the next morning (when Paula presumably wasn't as "confused" as she was Tuesday night:

- Paula: "I was reading the critique of what I was writing for Jason Castro, and on the same page that I wrote, was also David's, and I got lost on my notes, and that's as simple as it was. I did catch the last minute of Jason Castro" (the rehearsal she watched on the monitor).
- Ryan: "So what you are saying is, you were talking about two different people, but accidentally you said 'second song.' "
- Paula: "Yes."

Obviously it was not David Cook's note she was reading. "I felt like your usual charm was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty. And the two songs made me feel like you're not fighting hard enough to get into the top 4," as if David would have to “fight hard” for a spot there, but then she says David is "fantastic" and she's looking at "the next American Idol"?

C'mon. This is obviously a lie to cover up the fact that they have been trying to get rid of Jason for weeks now. I like Paula and she was just doing what she was told. Her only mistake was exposing this charade to the public.

[paulaaa]

oh shut up people WE LOVE YOU PAULA YOU ROCK !!!!

[ar]

i love paula so much nd if she wasnt judging on american idol i wouldnt watch the show i think people r to hard on her sometimes.

[Mitzi]

I like Paula too...and she isn't going anywhere, we all know that...but she shouldn't have lied, now she's doing the whole "just make up the lyrics" thing. But she does make it interesting...like when she had the affair with that contestant a few years back, and never actually denied it, but came out of it shining like a star while his career was ruined. Now THAT takes talent! I love her!!

[mary]

It is not that I dislike Paula, but she is obviously not in a fit mental condition if she thinks a guy has sung twice. I don't think anyone else in the entire country watching that show made the same mistake.

[LS]

When entertainment holds up a mirror for us all to look in, I am willing to take a break from my freelance writing to post a few lines.

Let's first take a look at the entertainment business model (EBM) that American Idol (AI) employs. A group a eye-friendly youth (who are arguably stars and idols the moment they are first seen on TV) accept the diminished role as contestants for the duration of the season. The public viewing decides whether or not the public will continue to watch some but not all of the contestants. Step back for a moment and notice that this is the same EBM that the networks employ for choosing which show goes into each slot, or which shows survive for that matter. The viewers decide who stays and who goes.

Now consider some other prime time situation comedy (PTSC) with a cast of regulars and the occasional visitors. In each PTSC, the cast members that the viewers want to see get expanded scripts, scenes, and drama, while the cast members who are not wanted are systematically written off the show only to be brought back if the details of their death or demise were previously over exaggerated.

Can you see the same EBM in the PTSC? Many viewers and entertainment visionaries already do, and consequently see AI as an evolution in metaphor communication to the public "this is the way it is." A perfect mirror - just hold a mirror up, and people will look at it.

The direction of visual entertainment media is to state the obvious to anyone willing to take the time to observe. The watching is compelling since all of the drama of the EBM at all levels (CEO down to contestant) are painted in full view on the screen. When I hear about what happened last week on AI via any source (americanidol, idolchatter, idolexpose, etc.) how often is my response "I am not surprised."

Will we soon see all TV shows take on the EBM that AI and PTSC's have already, but do them directly with cell phone or encrypted secure Internet voting? The shows could overtly use direct involvement of the viewing public in the previously covert selection process, a process that was already going on in reality behind the scenes, being done privately with polling agencies. Is "The Show of Shows" coming soon to our weekly screens? Suggestion for pollsters - find new work because the demand for street polls is heading for nil.

Reality, as it is so called, and Reality TV are deconstructing the stage, selling the curtain, while auctioning bricks and curtain swaths to the public - the winner being the highest bidder, or the one with the highest phone call count.

"Why would we get rid of Paula?" Not for any particular reasoning, rather, only if the public wanted it, and only if the ratings went up afterwards. After all, everyone on The Show is in Reality part of The Show.

I hope many people read this, along with my freelance writing, and then call as many people as possible involved in syndication, and mention my name.

[rachel]

I love Paula Abdul and am a huge fan