Paula Abdul left American Idol feeling like Beyoncé, but these days she’s more like the sad story LaTavia Roberson shared on an episode of this past season’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

That’s because her dance show, Live To Dance, has gotten the axe by CBS.

To be honest, I forgot she even had a show. Yes, I’m partially to blame for her pain. So are you.

Anyway, the show started off strong but never managed to sustain the ratings. It didn’t help matters that it wasn’t well-received by the critics either.

According to the National Enquirer, the original Jennifer Lopez (well, musically and reality-TV-wise anyway) is “devastated” that CBS felt her show wasn’t worth renewing for a second season.

A source told the tabloid:

“Paula kept hoping week after week that her show would pick up new viewers. But each week the ratings trailed off. It ended with only a little more than 4 million viewers watching the finale…way too few for CBS to keep Paula’s dream dance show alive.

Paula loved that show and she hoped CBS would give it at least one more season to win viewers. But they were just not willing to take that risk.”

Well, Paula, there’s always Simon Cowell’s X Factor.

I suggest you make a call for the cause of keeping the checks coming. Lord knows MC Skat Kat probably listed you under “Do Not Answer” on his phone.

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Ellen DeGeneres has stepped down from her role as judge on American Idol (insert sad face here) after only serving one season of a multiseason deal. DeGeneres joined the panel last season but according to Fox, American Idol producers felt like it wasn’t the right fit for her.

“I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be,” said DeGeneres.

Fox released a statement of its own: “We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of Idol,” said Peter Rice, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Networks Group. “We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”

Hours after knowledge of DeGereneres’ departure became public, news broke that Jennifer Lopez has signed a deal to join Idol’s judging panel for the upcoming season.

Lopez served as an Idol mentor on Latin night during the show’s sixth season. She got mostly positive reviews for her warm, candid style, and her ability to extract a not entirely terrible performance of Sanjaya Malakar’s version of “Bésame Mucho.”

Ellen D will definitely be missed but in the words of my fellow scribe, Michael Arceneaux, “Jennifer Lopez was always the 90s answer to Paula Abdul anyway,” so doesn’t it make sense that she’d step up to the plate?

The real curve ball is going to come when Simon Cowell’s replacement is announced. Who should that be?

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When Paul Abdul initially stepped down as an Idol judge, it was speculated that she left because she wasn’t getting the money she wanted but it looks like she got the deal she was looking for elsewhere. The former pop singer/choreographer will have a new home at CBS. She is returning to primetime as a judge, creative partner, mentor, coach, and executive producer for a new talent competition series entitled, Got to Dance, based on the U.K. hit.

The show is described as broadcast TV’s first all-ages, all-genres dance series. Expect to see everything from ballroom to break dancing. Acts will compete for a panel of judges, with viewers getting to vote for their favorites during the semifinals and finals.

It sounds like there’s much to be desired in the creativity department but if the opening auditions for this show are as hilarious as they are on Idol, then I’ll watch with no complaints.

Could Abdul be on to something or will this just be another run-of-the-mill dance competition series?

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Word on the street is that Paula Abdul will return to American Idol for this season’s finale episode. Idol’s last episode will be big not just because we find out who wins but because it will also be a tribute episode to Simon Cowell, who is ending his run as the snarky judge people loved to hate.

Details about the finale are still mum as producers have done a good job of not leaking who will be performing, and the Paula Abdul appearance hasn’t been confirmed either. However, that’s a rumor worth believing.

In case you haven’t already checked out during this snoretastic season, the final two are Lee Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox.

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It was only a matter of time before another judge would depart American Idol after Paula Abdul’s exit and as we know, Simon Cowell is the latest who will soon be saying his goodbyes. The question is, who will replace him?

After eight years, and despite efforts to keep him on the show, Cowell announced at the Television Critics Association press tour earlier this month, that this would be his last season.

But the question remains: Who will replace him?

People have been throwing names out but one major name that keeps coming up is Jamie Foxx.

A show insider tells Life & Style magazine that the Academy Award-winning actor/singer is a strong contender for the job, as is Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine, who is credited with launching Eminem’s career, among others.

Jimmy Iovine makes more sense than Jamie Foxx because executives tend to be harsher critics (you know how it goes with those who can’t do…). So if they want that Simon Cowell-style, mean tell-it-like-it is element back, then that’s the way to go. Plus, Ellen DeGeneres is already the resident comedian—not that there isn’t room for two, but both are strong personalities and really funny so it might be comedy overkill.

However, Jamie Foxx would give good feedback and insight since he’s a very talented and experienced artist. And he does actually tell it like it is—but via jokes so his bubbly personality might be a nice deviation from Simon’s wryness.

I’m still on the fence though. What do you think? Would Jamie Foxx be a good judge?

P.S. If Jamie Foxx does become the new judge, I wonder if that will give folks who can’t sing an excuse to blame it on the alcohol.

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I’m an 80s baby and a 90s child so some things are hazy from the Reagan Era, like the fact that Arsenio Hall appeared in Paul Abdul’s “Straight up Video.” I remember staying up late at night to watch The Arsenio Hall Show, I remember him in Coming to America, but I didn’t realize that he got his video boy on as well. That was the way a lot of people got on in the 80s, before the market was over0saturated but I digress. I miss The Arsenio Hall Show and don’t think that anyone has gotten it right since he went off the air, but it’s cool to see him as a guest on other shows because his personality is so down-to-Earth. He reminds me of that cool uncle hanging out at a family cookout, telling stories from back in the day that you actually want to listen to. Such was the case from his recent guest appearance on The George Lopez Show.

He chatted with George Lopez about how he ended up in Paula Abdul’s video by fluke and their overall courtship, describing her as the “best girl to hang with on the planet.” He further explains that “Paula would laugh and then pee,” but says that she wouldn’t get mad at him for saying that because the best thing is for a woman to get her man’s sense of humor and for him, whenever she laughed that hard, it was like a standing ovation. “That’s my girl to death, and I’m always there for her.” Aw, that’s sweet, he was sprung—which he actually admits. I never would have guessed. Watch and enjoy:

Paula Abdul may have left her judging perch at American Idol, but she bounced back quick. (Perhaps she had this new gig in the bag all along).

After much speculation on her next on-air project, Abdul was tapped by VH1 to host their live concert program, VH1 Divas (how fitting). Divas features female artists singing live. The ladies performing include Jordin Sparks, Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. They will perform at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, NY with the addition of special guests (who are still unnamed).

VH1 Divas will raise money for the non-profit organization, VH1 Save The Music Foundation whose mission is to restore instrumental music education in American public schools and stressing the importance of music as part of a child’s education.

Good for Paula Abdul! The idea of the show is great (I’m a performing arts school alum), but the lineup sounds boring (I nodded off reading it). The ladies performing are talented (the verdict is still out on Miley Cyrus), but I won’t be sitting through the whole thing. I’d be content if I just caught Adele. Oh, wait…Paula Abdul hosting, right…

That should be interesting too. She was a teary mess on her own reality show and became the way-too-nice incoherent judge on Idol so who knows how this gig will go for her. Some people work better alone so this might work. Smile, read from the teleprompter and keep it moving. Simple enough.

Vh1 Divas airs September 17 at 9pm.

I still can’t believe producers have allowed Paula Abdul to leave American Idol.

I’m not sure what they’re thinking, but if you ask me (and they haven’t, but I’m going to say it anyway) no one can fill Paula’s shoes, prescription, or wine glass.

But, I suppose the show must go on, so if they’re going to replace the musical genius of the show (don’t hate: “Crazy Cool” was a hot song), they might as well go hard.

Here are a couple of names I’ve thought of to replace Paula The Great.

1. MC Skat Kat

Look, I love Paula, too, but if you’re old enough to remember the video for “Opposites Attract,” you know the cat stole the show. With lines like, “Swift and sly and I’m playing it cool, with my homegirl, Paula Abdul,” I can’t help but think about all of the gems that may come out of his mouth.

Watch out, Sheree Whitfield.

2. One of Prince’s sidekicks.

We can go with Sheila E! who actually has musical talent and knows what it’s like to at least have one big hit.

There’s Vanity, who can claim that one hit wonder bragging right herself, but as someone who’s been in a few movies, can share a little more insight into being a well rounded pop star. Only problem is she’s like all saved now, so the Christian Vanity is likely not as entertaining as the heathen one.

And I can’t forget about my girl Appolonia. I’d give anything to hear one of the goodie goodie contestants perform “Sex Shooter.”

3. Jennifer Lopez

She’s this decade’s answer to Paula Abdul anyway.

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Word is out that Paula Abdul is not happy with her post at American Idol, and if producers don’t renegotiate her contract favorably, she may not return to the show as a judge.

Auditions for the ninth season are scheduled to start Aug. 6 and according to Abdul’s manager, she still doesn’t have a proposal for a new contract from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the production companies behind the show. The new season is scheduled to premiere in January.

According to the LA Times “Idol Tracker” blog, Idol host Ryan Seacrest just signed a deal worth a reported $45 million that will keep him on the job for at least the next three years, doubling his salary. Meanwhile, Simon Cowell has a contract that expires next year and is jockeying for a reported $144 million, a figure for which Cowell hasn’t confirmed but says talks are ongoing, and Randy Jackson is booked through 2011.

Whether the newest judge, Kara DioGuardi will return or not is still up in the air. But if these reports are true, it sounds like Abdul isn’t being valued as much as other judges. I think Idol’s sister show, So You Think You Can Dance has better judges anyway, but I digress. The truth is, Paula Abdul has always been the weakest link. She became known as the nice judge, but nice to a fault. Her critiques were often not thorough and sometimes incoherent. Producers may have tolerated her because she hadn’t demanded anymore money until now, but now that she is, they could be weighing their options, realizing that bringing her back as a judge may not be a priority.

I’m glad that Abdul is fighting for what she thinks is right, because if other judges are successfully upping the ante, then she should too. However, it’s probably just her time to move on. In 2007, she forayed further into reality TV with the Bravo show, Hey Paula, which was unsuccessful, but her manager says she has several ideas for other projects.

I think she’s still marketable but her days as an Idol judge are numbered. She was never a judge that I checked for anyway. What do you think? If she leaves Idol, will her presence be missed?

The idea of a Paula Abdul comeback isn’t really exciting but it’s still something you would like to see in order to believe. I saw it but I still don’t believe it. In last night’s episode of American Idol, she left her perch as a judge and joined the other side when she hit the stage to perform live. When I say perform live, I mean that she feigned singing while dancing—just like a lot of today’s pop divas who are coincidentally the resurrection of the 80s pop movement from whence Abdul came. Basically, it was nothing new. In case do you plan to buy her album, due out in the Fall, the single is called “I’m Just Here For the Music.”

I guess being an Idol judge was inspiration for the return, but is this really necessary? I don’t think so. However, despite a boring performance, she still has moves and looked great. I’d much rather see her bring back the rapping cartoon cat, but we can’t always get what we want. I wonder what Simon was thinking.

P.S. Allison Iraheta got the axe.