UPDATE: From the LA Times:
“We discussed the possibility of her now being available to come on ‘So You Think You Can Dance, ‘” he said. “She’s on the East Coast at this moment in time and hopefully we’re going to meet this weekend in Vegas. We go out to do our Vegas Week this week and Paula’s gonna come out there and we’ll sit down and talk about what opportunities are available. If I can afford her.”
“With Paula’s background as a dancer, choreographer and reality judge now, I don’t know anyone more qualified than Paula Abdul, ” he added.
Lythgoe said he didn’t discuss the “Idol” negotiations with Abdul but thinks it’s a mistake for the show to have let her go.
“I think that’s too personal, ” he said. “That’s what she must sort out for herself. All we discussed is that, yes, this is the situation at the moment, and she may well be free to come and join us on ‘SYTYCD.'”
Lythgoe said that it’s shameful that “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s salary and host Ryan Seacrest’s recent negotiations were made public, because “that would have aggrieved anybody else and you’d want more money, I would think, when you see those numbers. Negotiations should be held behind closed doors, not discussed, and no embarrassment on either party.”
According to Billy Bush of Access Hollywood, Nigel Lythgoe has made an offer to Paula Abdul. I presume it’s for So You Think You Can Dance. He says Paula and Nigel are meeting this weekend in Las Vegas.
Also, Bush says Paula’s deal with Idol may NOT be dead. (I would not be surprised if Paula and Idol worked something out at the last minute…even if she missed some audition dates–she’s missed them before)
@BillyBush tweeted:
Just spoke with @dizzyfeet…has made offer 2 Paula. They’re meeting this wkend in vegas 2 discuss. also sed deal may NOT be dead with #idol
Also, Bush got a statement from Randy Jackson (If you can make out Bush’s twitterspeak…yikes)
Fr randy re: @paulaabdul lving #idol: “I am shocked. Paula is a dear friend and will be missed. May be out there but “shocked” says alot
