American Idol is a cultural phenomenon. And there’s no greater indication of this than the fact that Paula Abdul’s tweet about quitting this show actually competed for coverage yesterday with Bill Clinton’s heroic return with the two American journalists who were being held hostage in North Korea.
With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon.
Of course, reports abounded in recent weeks about Paula feeling neglected and disrespected because the show’s producers were negotiating astronomical raises for Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, but were not even returning her calls. In fact, Ryan, who hosts the show, recently inked a deal that will pay him $15 million a year (up from $5 million) for the next three years; while Simon is said to be close to sealing one for $100 million a year (up from $36 million).
Randy Jackson, who will be returning under an existing, relatively modest contract, and Kara DioGuardi, who just signed a new contract with undisclosed (but one assumes less lucrative) terms, will be judging alongside Simon.
For her part, Paula’s agent insisted that she wanted, and deserved, a package that would put her “closer to parity, if not on par” with Simon’s. Instead, the producers offered her $5 million a year (up from $2 million).
Frankly, I agree with Paula: their offer was disrespectful. For, at the very least, they should have offered her a raise on par with Ryan’s, which would have meant $6 million per year. Then, after a little negotiation over lunch, she could, and should, have ended up with $10 million. So, what’s up?! Sexism?
Meanwhile, I know conventional wisdom has it that most people tune in to watch Simon rip untalented fools masquerading as wannabe idols to shreds with his nasty, acerbic comments. But hasn’t his shtick become a bit trite and predictable?
On the other hand, I’ve seen enough episodes of this show to assert that just as many people probably tune in to watch Paula. And that they do so for the same reason so many people tuned in to watch the human train wreck that was The Anna Nicole Show; namely, because her seemingly drug-induced ramblings made for perversely suspenseful and entertaining TV.
Not to mention the side drama of wondering which new talent might end up being the object of her Mrs. Robinson-style nurturing….
It’s undeniable: Paula was good for ratings. And her absence is bound to result in significantly lower ratings for “Idol” next season.
This is why I suspect personal reasons led the producers to make her such a low-ball offer, knowing full well that she’d be too humiliated to accept. Or maybe they decided that the four-judge panel just wasn’t working (it wasn’t), and that, since Kara was asking for so much less, it would be cheaper to keep her….
Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons, and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show.
(Fox News)
Whatever the case, since Paula is to TV these days what Angelina is to movies, I have no doubt she’ll be starring in another show (like So You Think You Can Dance) soon … Straight Up!
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