Simon does not stay in that studio 1 second longer than he has to! Sublime1 …. are u Ryan Seacrest???? I highly doubt he does that much work. Sure he travels alot, signs his name to things, gets camera time, talks himself up, and buys Phantoms… wow – Hard work!!

Paula has given much better critiques this season. Yes, Simon is a huge draw to the show. He occasionally comes up with memorable feedback, blunt and honest. This year he has failed – it’s like (gasp) – he’s NOT EVEN LISTENING to the performers. Just moving the chess pieces along and manipulating the voting public to get the outcome he wants that week. He knows what he’s good at. Not deserving of 36 million a season, imo.

With this resume, why is it Paula deserves more money? I think she should be grateful she’s not on the street outside the Idol studio with a can in her hand and a shopping cart full of her belongings.

Her only job is to offer intelligent and helpful critiques to the contestants – something she doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t do well at all.

Sorry, but this year Paula has been pretty right on with her critiques. Her stint in rehab seems to have worked. She’ll always be a little interesting in the metaphor department, but she has had some insightful comments. Now, this is not to say that she should earn The Great One’s salary, but a raise should be in order.

Paula gets to the set about 5 hours before the show and Simon arrives about 1 hour before.

I don’t think sitting in hair and makeup counts!

And just cuz Simon isn’t in the studio doesn’t mean he isn’t working. He’s on his phone and Blackberry constantly.

Mostly I think this is just a ploy from Paula to get more money. These figures probably aren’t even right.

I wonder what Randy and Kara make?

Well, if Kara came in at $1M, or even slightly under that, I can see why Paula’s antsy.

Really, 2 mill per season? Didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t the cast of Friends earn something like a million per episode by the end of their run? I loved Friends, but there were 6 of them, and they didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t get AI ratings.

As hardkandy said, Frieds required most work from the actors,and the productions of a commedy series is a lot less than the one that you will spect for the production of one of AI episodes….

Paula works 8 or 10 days for auditions, one week in Hollywood and then maybe 5 or 6 hours a week during the Idol season.

Paula gets to the set about 5 hours before the show and Simon arrives about 1 hour before.

Also he isn’t that involved in Idol. He is the EP of BGT & X-Factor not to mention all the stuff he does with his record/TV company. I don’t think he does that much for Idol that warrants 34 more million dollars than Paula.

Paula works 8 or 10 days for auditions, one week in Hollywood and then maybe 5 or 6 hours a week during the Idol season. Her only job is to offer intelligent and helpful critiques to the contestants – something she doesn’t do well at all.

Simon is involved in every aspect of the show. He spends months in the off-season meeting with everyone involved and works countless hours a day during the show season. And he’s the only judge, IMO, that offers anything even approaching intelligent commentary.

Frankly, I think it’s more than Paula deserves. And if it’s a negotiating ploy I say let her try to get that 2 million someplace else.