Why Paula Left "Idol"

According to an article in yesterday’s “New York Times,” Paula Abdul’s departure from “American Idol” is the culmination of months of resentment, bitterness and feelings of being unappreciated (on Paula’s end), while Fox execs are said to have had it up to here with her “histrionics.”

The story goes on to outline a scenario in which Abdul sees a wealth of post-Idol opportunities on the horizon, and although there’s been talk of her possibly landing on “Dancing With the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance,” whether her next gig proves to be as lucrative as “Idol” remains to be seen. Meanwhile, she feels betrayed by producers and her fellow judges, whom she thinks didn’t sufficiently defend her against charges of drunkenness/substance abuse, sleeping with contestants, etc., claiming this lack of support cost her big-bucks endorsement deals.

On the other side of the coin, producers are said to have grown weary of constantly cleaning up after these various messes — although I’ve always wondered if the annual Paula scandal, usually timed before each season premiere, wasn’t just a series of canny PR stunts. Their view: yes, Paula is valuable to the success of the show, but ultimately not worth the grief she was bringing them.

Other factors (none surprising): Paula was pissed that Simon and Seacrest just signed deals waaay richer than what she was being offered; she viewed the addition of Kara to the judging table as Fox’s way of keeping her in line by sending her a message that she could be replaced.

According to the story, an unnamed source said to be close to the negotiations said, “A lot of people at Fox had mixed feelings about Paula. Some of the people who were having to deal with her on a day-to-day basis didn’t want her back.”

Meanwhile, “a person close to Ms. Abdul” says that her salary demands were to make up for an endorsement deal that fell through after her loopy behaviour and slurred speech led to rumours of booze and/or drug abuse, and her fellow judges made jokes instead of springing to her defense. “She perceived that the incident had a negative impact on her career,” the “person close to her” said.

Yet another factor was her change in management, hiring new manager David Sonenberg in June. Reportedly, Sonenberg’s aggressive tactics and strategy of negotiating the deal in the press ticked off the network. “It didn’t go over well at all here,” said an unnamed Fox exec.

Meanwhile, TMZ is reporting that Paula met with ABC prez Steve McPherson yesterday afternoon to discuss her participation as a guest judge on the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars." TMZ also reports that this won't be happening, since Paula and "DWtS" judge Carrie Ann Inaba "don't get along."