Paula did not ‘quit’  AI, she got pushed. This is a Simon Fuller deal to take back control of AI. When Paula originally came on board, it was thought that you needed people who were independent of TPTB to judge AI. Since Simon Cowell repped Sony/BMG on that panel, Paula was the counter. However, after the last couple of years, Fuller has had enough and is taking control. How? Kara is the Talent Development guru over at 19E. She is Fuller’s girl. With Kara there, no need for Paula. Simon will be on for as long as Sony wants him on. Sony has nobody that could handle their interests on an AI judging panel. Randy is the sole independent voice, and the fact that he is black, works in his favor.

Don’t be surprised if Paula ends up as a judge on SYTYCD. She is FAR more qualified to judge that show than AI as she is a choreographer by trade. In fact, I TRULY believe that a deal had already been cut to move Paula over to SYTYCD. This was all manufactured drama to make everyone look good. However, it will always be noted that Paula QUIT AI.

Did you happen to make all this up or just certain parts of it? :rolleyes_wp:

Kara is already vice-president of A&R at Warner Bros. Records. Simon Fuller is the co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance.

Kara is also writing for AI rejects, like Jason Castro.

The show is more interested in ad revenue than their “stars.”

Pauler was a cheerleader who did 80s choreography for music vids. That’s way different than being a trained dancer or being able to judge SYTYCD. She will be a guest at most.

TPTB may want her gone, but I just don’t see it exactly like you do. ;_

Paula did not “quit” AI, she got pushed. This is a Simon Fuller deal to take back control of AI. When Paula originally came on board, it was thought that you needed people who were independent of TPTB to judge AI. Since Simon Cowell repped Sony/BMG on that panel, Paula was the counter. However, after the last couple of years, Fuller has had enough and is taking control. How? Kara is the Talent Development guru over at 19E. She is Fuller’s girl. With Kara there, no need for Paula. Simon will be on for as long as Sony wants him on. Sony has nobody that could handle their interests on an AI judging panel. Randy is the sole independent voice, and the fact that he is black, works in his favor.

Don’t be surprised if Paula ends up as a judge on SYTYCD. She is FAR more qualified to judge that show than AI as she is a choreographer by trade. In fact, I TRULY believe that a deal had already been cut to move Paula over to SYTYCD. This was all manufactured drama to make everyone look good. However, it will always be noted that Paula QUIT AI.

I’m just wondering because I think her failure to ‘call’  to final two last season is bigger than we think. Whether it affected her or how TPTB viewed her. I also think she may have thought she had more influence on something like this than she thought.

The one thing I do know about this is from another poster on this board who said that she has boasted in interviews of successfully predicting the winner every year since the show began. She said she would write down the name and seal it in an envelope at the beginning of the season. I think it’s safe to say that her prediction this year (Gokey) didn’t pan out, despite her best efforts to make it happen, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that traumatic experience had some bearing on what has happened since.

sammy Aug 12th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

I’m glad Paula’s gone. She drove me crazy with her long-winded, incoherent jibberish and her announcements to certain contestants early on that they were going to be in the finals. I wanted to swat her when she interrupted Simon whenever she disagreed with him (often). Blah, blah, blah. I would not be the least upset to see Kara gone too.

Actually I have a question about this. I’ve only watched two full seasons. Paula called DC to be in the finals, what top 5? After Billie Jean she did say, “I think you can beat these guys or this bunch.” Other than that she didn’t cont. to call it over and over like she did last year did she? How about other seasons?

I’m just wondering because I think her failure to “call” to final two last season is bigger than we think. Whether it affected her or how TPTB viewed her. I also think she may have thought she had more influence on something like this than she thought.

Just some things that have been going through my mind. No biggie.

Calling Paula a diva, and that she behaves unprofessionally on the show, but giving Simon a pass on that when he has behaved just as badly and is certainly the biggest diva on that panel is interesting to me. His criticisms are no more valid, and certainly less helpful than Paula’s have been.

From a business standpoint, it doesn’t matter whether his comments have more value artistically. It only matters that his opinion is considered of higher value. The contestants love Pauler, but they really care what Simon sez. Why? Because the general public listens to him.

Again, he and Ryan are also getting paid for other stuff.

The only comments from him I’ve seen are in the video MJ posted here, at about 1:10.

Thanks, Will.

Randy would be a better comparison, but at the same time, he hasn’t shown up under the influence as far as I know. From my POV, that’s enough to get one fired, not qualify for a big raise. As much as I don’t like Randy as a judge, I’ve also not heard anything about him being difficult. And no, its not just “insiders” claiming that as a bargaining chip. I saw one episode of her reality show and it was clear.

I felt last year that it could be her last. Kara was only part of it. The rest? How about that choreography they let her do? And the performance? I kind of felt they may have been kindly giving her a last hurrah. This negotiation reeks of letting her save face.

If not, I still think she’s a fool for not taking $5 mill a year. I guess it could be argued that maybe she was also angling for a production deal, but I wouldn’t trust her with that at all. She can barely function as a judge and on the talk show circuit.

Is Simon worth his money? No. It’s insane that he should get so much for what he does. BUT, if I were FOX, I’d sure as hell give him the money before letting him quit and go to another network. I hate it, but America’s Got Talent did better than SYTYCD this summer.

From a business standpoint, Pauler just doesn’t have enough to offer. I’m sure they can find someone else with “heart” who can buy the kids fugly jewelry.

Meanwhile I have to LOL at her brand new shiny manager, this David Sonenburg, who just negotiated himself out of a ten percent cut of five million bucks into a ten percent cut of QVC hawking and dance-show guest spots.

LOL. True. Good luck finding new clients after that, dude.

Has Simon made any substantive comments relative to this ordeal? If so, would somebody provide a link? Thanks.

The only comments from him I’ve seen are in the video MJ posted here, at about 1:10.

http://mjsbigblog.com/idol-judges-in-denver-already-miss-paula-abdul-posh-a-tough-sell-and-kris-allen-front-and-center.htm

All that being said, I will be a little sad to see her go, but I think most of my sadness is nostalgia in that she was some continuity between the current show and the fresher, less jaded show of seasons past.

In reality, it will be a relief not to hear her looooong, uncoherent comments, or see her staring, unfocused eyes, or hear and see her silly mock-fights with Simon.

Paula made herself look cracked out with comments about wanting to hang heads from her car mirrors.

This made me LOL.

I have to admit Paula has made some wacko comments but I also feel the show did nothing to discourage her loopiness and probably tried to make her look as loopy as possible since her escapades were like free publicity for the show. It’s sort of like that movie Network where they keep putting an insane anchorman on the air for ratings – not that I think Paula is crazy. Just loopy.