I am not a regular viewer but have seen enough to know that Paula was basically useless...her opinions were always sugarcoated. But sometimes her rambling, drug-enhanced critiques were the funniest things on TV all week. This could just be a negotiating ploy but for now she's not returning.

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/08/04/paula...-american-idol/

Agreed, her opinions never amounted to much. Some weeks she made even Sarah Palin seem almost eloquent. The only reason to watch her was to see how loopy she was each week and if she would finally fall off her chair onto her ass.

LOL! You guys are evil.

Kathy Griffin on Paula

Paula the drunk on Fox.

& who could forget Paula the slut & Simon the closet case.

They're making a bad move letting Paula go. Do they not understand that almost no one likes Kara?

I have to agree w/ you to some degree Joe. But you can't deny that Paula's a mess & doesn't give a diddly-squat that millions of people are watching her embarrassing behavior. Imagine if you or I showed up for work loopy like she has & then makes public tv interviews plastered out of her mind. She truly needs to get her public act together. Just sayin...

They didnt let her go. They made her 2 offers that she turned down and she twittered her resignation. Idol then accepted her resignation and wished her well. When she sobers up she will realize it is her fault she is no longer making a fool of herself on Idol.

I realize that. But the show will not be nearly as entertaining without her. She may be loopy naturally, or because of substance abuse, whatever, but her unpredictable nature makes for better TV. Also, even if she doesn't often have great advice, she really seems to care about the contestants, and they need that.

Me likes that answer.

Frankly, won't miss her drug induced ramblings...
Personally, I like Kara...

Actually, I liked Kara too.

This is a sad day...everyone will remember where they were...what they were doing, when they heard the news that Paula wasn't returning to Idol.


On a more serious note...Paula, well there's not doubt she contriburted to the success of that show, really needs to get some help for what clearly seems like some type of addiction problem. When she goes the way of MJ, no one should be surprised.

Well what I'd like to know is what the hell is she going to do now? Her music career is non existent and she was pulled from obscurity when the show began. So I mean does she have something else lined up? Must be nice to turn down an 8 figure salary these days.

Just ask Julie Brown.

I am sad that Paula's leaving, but the show doesn't have the same impact on me anymore so I wish her well. Too bad she couldn't take Randy with her. At least Paula was entertaining.

I had more to say, but have erased what I wrote 4 times, because why bother.

Seriously MDG, express yourself!

Edit:

Ok, my rant for the evening: I hate the fact that people here feel intimidated to give their opinions. & what I mean by that is being able to express oneself w/out feeling that one "may" step on others' toes. That said, it's one thing if people come to OS to troll & it's another thing to say what you feel & know that you're not gonna be judged for your post. There's nothing wrong w/ a HEALTHY disagreement...But a "Mr. Know-It-All" arrogance...well that's just another species quite frankly! Peace to y'all!

I wish they had let Randy go. As has been discussed quite often on the Idol threads, he just doesn't say much of anything. Paula, on the other hand, is a bottomless well of amusement and entertainment. Come on, how many families or groups of friends sat around their flat-panel with an over/under as to when exactly was Paula going to slump over her microphone? Granted, she has been more coherent this last couple of seasons, but the evil side of me kind of wishes for the return of Slurring Paula.

On a more serious note, I always thought Paula was indispensible to the American Idol drama (and what's AI if not fabricated drama?). First Paula, with all her "there there" stroking and saccharine sweetness, piles on the praise to the (usually) mediocre contestants, lulling them into a fall sense of security. It's a perfect set-up for Simon "Sledgehammer of Truth" Cowell. It was a brilliant dynamic, and the show just won't be the same without it.

Man oh man, what the heck was Paula thinking? She was making a TEN-FIGURE salary for working (what?) four hours a week, twenty weeks a year? Unless she's shucking it all to go work for Mother Teresa's mission, I just don't get it.

Paula's not going anywhere. She'll be with Idol in two weeks when the judges rounds start.

Yeah I think the outcry from the "hardcore" Idol fans will be so great that they will negotiate a deal. This could all be a manufactured drama by AI producers to jack up buzz and ratings, both of which have waned.

I think you're right George. I have nothing against Paula just wish she wouldn't embarrass herself so much, sheesh!...Honestly, what have we become when we find a [possibly] loopy drunk worthy of entertainment? It's one thing when Lucille Ball did it on the "Vitameatavegamin" episode (which btw is my all-time fave), but it's another when it's real for several weeks.

From what I've read, it starts Friday in Denver, not in two weeks.

Edit to add: Temporary replacements: Katy Perry and Posh Spice!

SCT, I erased what I wrote because after I wrote it, I realized I really didn't care about if she's there or not. Not that I care what others would think. I'm more interested in the idolettes post idol anyway and how very few people really care about them as "artists" which is actually more cruel than anything Simon could ever say to them. Zoinks, that reminds me...I have updates int he idol alumni thread.

And for what it's worth. Can't stand Kara, and why couldn't Paula they take Randy with her? Talk about useless.

I have to admit, I find your post idolette interest quite cute.

That also sounds like the record companies who dump those Idol alumni after their first records don't sell the desired 1,000,000 + copies...

It seems your prophecy may just come to pass.

I initially thought the whole Paula leaving thing was a negotiating ploy as well, but as more time passes and they use more judges (Mary J. Blige in Atlanta - huzzah!) the chances of that diminish.

I've made a lot of fun of Paula, but I have to say this past season I thought she stepped up her game. She had extended periods of lucidity, and a lot of her comments were right on. Also, I think her generally nurturing and supportive comments lent the show a certain humanity - without her POV it can easily degenerate into a mean-spirited snarkfest.

In addition, there is a shocking pay disparity involved here. Simon is negotiating a RAISE from his $30 million a year salary, Ryan just signed a new contract paying him $15 million per year for three years, but the Idol producers say they absolutely will not raise their $4 million per year offer (she had been making "only" $2 million)! It's easy to say "it's $4 million - take it and shut up," but I can see where her pride and ego would be really offended by that salary offer given what the men are making (Kara, btw apparently makes only $1 million per year).

it's almost surreal to be saying this about someone making $100 million a year, but Simon is worth every penny. Idol generates $~500 million for Fox, and without him Idol is nothing. What I'm wondering is why they gave Seacrest a raise to $15 million while offering Paula "only" $4 million. What the hell does Miss Ryan contribute to the show? That snarky barbitch banter with Simon got old a long time ago. The 1-2 combination of Paula's sweetness and humanity coupled with Simon's sledgehammer of truth was the heart & soul of American Idol. I can't believe the producers don't get that.

Part of Ryan's deal is to produce or somehow be involved in other projects, if I recall.

And really, they could get away with guest judges up until Hollywood week if they want. There's no reason they couldn't bring Paula back for Hollywood week, or even after the top 24 is picked and they start having the public votes.

But come on. Joe Jonas? Seriously?