"Idol" Judge Paula Abdul, Here To Stay

Despite Recent On Air Flub, Popular Cast Member Isn't Going Anywhere

(AP)  For starters, Paula Abdul isn't going anywhere.

"Why would we get rid of Paula?" wonders Cecile Frot-Coutaz matter-of-factly, when questioned about possibly nixing the wacky "American Idol" judge now infamous for, among other things, critiquing both of Jason Castro's songs after he'd sung only one.

All the chatter about Abdul's slip-up during Tuesday's "Idol" performance show doesn't faze the FremantleMedia North America CEO and "Idol" executive producer. Nor did the subsequent speculation about the singing competition's authenticity.

And really, why should it?

---

Photos: "Idol's" Backstage Pass

---

"I love that everyone was talking about it," she told The Associated Press over lunch in her office two days after the show. "It was so unexpected. It was something that took up 2 seconds of airtime. You'd think there was no other news on television."

To Abdul's credit, the incident happened following an on-the-fly format switch.

"We thought it would be a good opportunity for the judges to give the contestants a good kick in the butt and tell them they were going to have to kick it up a notch for the second song," said Frot-Coutaz. "That decision happened during the live broadcast. It was at the very last minute, so Paula wasn't planning on doing any judging."

---

Photos: "Idol" Special Show

---

In the moment, Abdul claimed she skipped ahead to her notes on another contestant. It was later revealed the gaffe happened because she had scrawled some impressions on Castro when she saw his dress rehearsal.

This practice, revealed many times over in seasons past but not scrutinized until now, is hardly grounds for termination. To Frot-Coutaz, it's not even cause for blame.

"It's not her fault," she said.

Frot-Coutaz, who oversees development, production and business operations of "Idol" and several other U.S. series, including NBC's "America's Got Talent" and the CW's "Farmer Wants a Wife," said Abdul is "great for the show" and called her a "great team player."

It's just the latest in the long line of "Idol" follies that have popped up since the show debuted on Fox in 2002 and went on to become the most-watched show on TV. Frot-Coutaz brushes off presumptions that "Idol" is manipulated.

Instead, she points to the fact that the show is very big, and very live, as the cause for all brouhaha.

While controversy isn't new for the franchise, slipping ratings have been. Viewership for the Tuesday performance show featuring Abdul's blunder were the lowest for "Idol" in five years. On Wednesday, over 22 million viewers tuned in to watch Brooke White eliminated from the competition, according to Nielsen Media Research.

"Nobody's alarmed by the ratings dip," said Frot-Coutaz. "We're still 7 million viewers ahead of the second-biggest show. And let's face it. TV has taken a huge decline this year. All the networks are down by quite a bit. I think the writers strike really hurt. A lot of viewers haven't come back. You can't just look at an isolation in the environment."

Addressing rumors about potential changes for season eight, Frot-Coutaz said adjustments may be made to evolve the show, but insisted there are no plans to rework or remove the audition episodes that have started each season. And, besides Abdul, there's also no plan to replace Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell or Ryan Seacrest.

"They're a great cast," said Frot-Coutaz. "They work very well together. If it's working, don't fix it."

One thing Frot-Coutaz is considering reworking: "Idol Gives Back." She was uncertain about how much the second "Idol" charity event would raise "when a lot of people can't afford to pay their mortgages," although she was "very pleased and surprised" with the $67 million in donations.

Despite that generous figure, she's not sure the segue will return next year.

"I would like to take a break, personally," said Frot-Coutaz. "In the U.K., they do 'Comic Relief' every two years. I think that's the right amount of time. I don't think you should go back to the country and ask them to donate every single year. I think it's too much. Every two years to me feels right."

Not so for "Idol" itself. Frot-Coutaz doesn't see an end in sight. She points to the longevity of another FremantleMedia-owned show.

"If we're smart about it, there's no reason why 'Idol' wouldn't keep going," said Frot-Coutaz. "Just look at 'Price is Right.' It's been on for over 35 years."

[missyt1964]

Paula Abdul is a moron. She''s done WAAAAAY too many prescription drugs to be effective at anything more than breathing. She needs to be gone. She can''t even sing anymore. She''s a complete loser. Get lost Paula. AI would be so much better off without you.

[killtheliars]

I have never liked American Idol, the music sucks, the people are all self absorbed, and from what i hear it seems like it is fixed. That being said if Paula Abdul is going to be stoned out of her head and saying stupid stuff I will tune in. I will be into watching people ruin their lives, it is like a train wreck, you don''t really want one to happen but if it does you have to watch. Alot of others feel the same, that is why reality TV is popular. I predict the more drugs she is on the higher the ratings. THey should let her bang some herion on air.

[nirak2-2009]

Paula couldn''t judge herself out of a Paper Bag.
She is useless and isn''t doing the Idols any favors.
Simon might be a bit nasty at times, but at least he tells the truth.

[lpgideon]

Talking about how the voting goes. I often wonder just how much real influence is replaced by actual manipulation of the actual vote totals for each of the contestants. They never give numbers for each. Only the grand total noted. 45 million? Wow, is that more than the actual number of actual listeners? Anyway, the total votes are in. What is to stop the producers from, adding to or subtracting from any given one''s total to keep her/him in or to drop one out? They should perhaps do as some other do, have an outside accounting firm do the actual record keeping, under oath and seal until time to reveal the winners and losers. Only once did I ever see any of the judges actually surprised at the one with the bottom number. But then face it. The boys have the best chance of numbers as there probably will be more girls voting for them than boys voting for either. The result is less votes for the girls, not on skills, but on girls voting for boys. Then, perhaps the neighbors and friends of the contestants don''t make enough calls during the alloted times to meet the grand totals of others.

[hpflamn]

Did she really just compare American Idol to The Price is Right?!?!?! SO freakin wrong, on sooooooooooo many levels.

[tomanyt]

Why is Paula Abdul even a judge on this show? Her "career" lasted all of 5 minutes. Who is she to judge anyones talent?

[hypnotoad72]

It''s not as much talent as it is a crowd-pleasing circus. Lots of people got knocked off, just so Sanjaya could remain on.

Dude, the show''s bogus. It could gag me with a thpoon.

[jetlizhan]

i like ole paula - but i bet she can''t walk and chew gum at the same time.

[stn_sage]

American Idol has never appealed to me! You cannot have a fair and reasonable competition with the worst line-up of judges I have ever seen! It appears to be mostly based on who the judges like and not on the talent of the contestants!

Is Paula Abdul on work release from a drug rehabilitation center? Well, someone better contact the director because she looks like she ''fell off the wagon'' again!

It''s a disgrace that they even pay her---she can''t note and remember what 4-5 contestants have done?! Pathetic! Get rid of her!

[walt1944-2009]

It has just been learned that "Bagdad John" McCain has chosen Paula Abdul as his running mate on the neocon Fascist Nazi Republican ticket!

When asked why McCain had chosen Abdul, a McCain spokesman who wanted to remain unidentified, stated that McCain felt that between both himself and Abdul, the contnued confusion resulting from both of them would also confuse any supposed "terrrrrrorists" from attacking the USSA.

Besides, Abdul would follow nicely in the footsteps of the current VP Darth Vader Cheney, who is still insisting that the late Saddam Hussein had "hidden" WMD''s and Iran will have an A bomb by June! Besides being a ditz, Abdul is much more pleasing to look at than Mitch McConnell or John Kerry!

When asked what he thought about McCain''s choice. the Great Emperor Bush simply gave his famous "blank stare" and walked away!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, more of the same, McCain!!!

[abigail4476]

Why is this even a story? So she made a gaffe--I''ve forgotten worse things and made much worse faux pas! Just not on national tv.

BIG deal. She''s quirky. I''ll give her a Ditzy. LOL. But to even suggest that she ought to leave the show because of a silly flub? How stupid.

Some people act like they''ve never been off in la-la land in their hands and failed to answer a question properly or had to scramble to make up an answer because they weren''t paying attention to the speaker.

Or once put their purse in the freezer and the milk in the pantry. (me) LOL.

People are human.

Think of her as Paula "A Sleep at the Switch" Abdul.

[shortyinmo]

If this was any other idiot, and not the beloved Paula who is always so sweet and charming, that drunk would have been thrown off a long time ago. Any body watch her show on bravo? This girl is an idiot!!!!!!!!!