When I think about Summer House and its run on the 2026 TV schedule, my mind goes to the Amanda Batula and West Wilson drama surrounding their relationship. However, while revelations about this and Wilson’s future on the show continue to come out, some fun news about one of the show’s other stars has come to light. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about Lindsay Hubbard and her wild connection to Paula Abdul.

So, this story begins with Hubbard convincing her friends from college to move to Los Angeles. As that was happening, she was “talking to a guy.” That guy was Paula Abdul’s nephew. So, that’s how the Summer House star got close to the singer, as she explained on the More Life with Carl Radke podcast:

Carl Radke confirmed this, explaining that when he’s been with Hubbard, Abdul has said this before. He initially thought it was a joke; however, it was “dead serious.” Their connection, at least, was serious; the idea of her actually almost being the singer’s niece was not, as the reality star said:

Hubbard went on to say that she was working in public relations and representing lots of different clubs, lounges, bars and restaurants. As RealityTea noted, she has lots of celebrity connections. However, her connection to Paula Abdul goes beyond that, and according to the singer, is hilariously almost familial.

Overall, this fun fact is a nice reprieve from the Summer House drama that’s captivated audiences (including Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang). Hubbard was involved in it, as she had a big conversation with Amanda Batula in “The Aftermath” episode, which you can stream with a Peacock subscription. That happened after the explosive reunion episodes and the viral news about West and Amanda being in a relationship. On the whole, this situation has seemingly changed the friend group on Summer House, and it will be interesting to see how the show moves forward.

It’s been reported that West Wilson will not return, with him even saying that he thought his time on camera was “over.” As for the others, I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next. We know Ciara Miller is going on Dancing with the Stars. Meanwhile, we will probably continue to hear from the others online. And thank goodness too, because while the drama is still piping hot, it’s also nice to hear lighthearted stories – like this one about Paula Abdul – from the stars.

As America’s Got Talent continues to air on the 2025 TV schedule, Simon Cowell remains a fan-favorite judge, offering plenty of encouragement and compassion to contestants, in addition to his blunt critiques. He’s even called out producers for being “very mean” to the Season 20 contestants. How the tables have turned! Back in the early days of American Idol, Cowell was known for his rudeness, and fellow OG judge Paula Abdul had a pretty specific way of dealing with him.

Paula Abdul paid a visit to The Jennifer Hudson Show, reuniting with the EGOT winner years after J-Hud (shockingly) finished in seventh place on American Idol Season 3. The Dreamgirls actress told the audience that Abdul was definitely the “nice” judge back then, when she sat alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Hudson said she gave the contestants gifts and offered encouragement, calling her the “softest” of the trio, to which Abdul replied:

Ah, Simon Cowell. He and Paula Abdul definitely did not see eye to eye for much of the first eight seasons, before the “Straight Up” singer left American Idol. They went at each other on camera and under the table, apparently, as Abdul revealed:

Jennifer Hudson agreed that in her experience, Simon Cowell “wasn’t too nice” back then, but he’s been a guest on her talk show — he was actually her very first guest back when The Jennifer Hudson Show premiered in 2022 — and she noted that he’s “so mellow” now.

Paula Abdul thinks that becoming a dad in 2014 changed him, but she qualified that by saying:

While it’s kind of amusing to think of Paula Abdul having that Chihuahua energy on American Idol (it’s not an unfair comparison), Simon Cowell actually treating her like a dog or calling to her by affecting a high-pitched voice and patting his lap is pretty obnoxious. I daresay he deserved those spikey kicks.

Simon Cowell left American Idol in 2010, one season after Paula Abdul did. He went on to host the American version of The X-Factor from 2011 until its cancellation in 2013, and then he landed on the show where we can find him today — America’s Got Talent.

American Idol has moved from Fox to ABC since Simon Cowell’s time but still remains on the air. The show has seen a bit of a judging table switch-up lately, with Katy Perry exiting after Season 22, and Carrie Underwood replacing her as a judge 20 years after winning Season 4. There’s no official word on who’s coming back for Season 24, but there are rumors that Underwood may be leaving.

Still, don’t count on seeing one particular OG judge return to his stomping grounds: Simon Cowell has said he would likely never return to American Idol. Instead you can catch him on AGT, which airs at 8 p.m. ET Tuesdays and Wednesdays on NBC.

Paula Abdul took legal action recently, reporting two separate incidents of alleged sexual assault by Nigel Lythgoe, the famed producer behind such reality competitions as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. After the veteran dancer detailed the supposed encounters in a lawsuit, a 2015 interview with her and Lythgoe has resurfaced, drawing attention for one of Lythgoe’s comments, in which he joked about wanting to “abuse” the “Straight Up” singer.

Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe worked together on the early seasons of American Idol, on which the ‘80s pop star served on the judging panel alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Lythgoe, a producer on the singing competition, later reconnected with Abdul when she joined him as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. The two spoke about their professional history with US Weekly back then with Lythgoe saying: 

Simon Cowell was infamous for his blunt, often harsh critiques of the American Idol singers — though it turns out much of his rudeness was apparently faked for TV — while Paula Abdul took on more of a cheerleading role. That meant there were plenty of disagreements between the two in the competition’s early days, and Abdul joked in that 2015 interview that she had been “abused” by Cowell. In response, US Weekly reports that Nigel Lythgoe commented: 

Many are failing to find any humor in Nigel Lythgoe’s joke now, given the recent lawsuit. According to Paula Abdul, the first alleged assault happened in the early days of American Idol — which premiered on Fox in 2002. She says Lythgoe pushed her against a wall in a hotel, groping her breast and genitals as he tried to tongue-kiss her. Abdul reportedly tried to push him away and ran out of the room when a hotel door opened.

The second alleged incident occurred after she joined SYTYCD, with documents saying that Paula Abdul went to Nigel Lythgoe’s home for what she thought was a professional meeting, during which he reportedly tried to kiss her and force himself onto her body while she was sitting on a couch. 

Further accusations against the television producer include Paula Abdul saying he groped one of her assistants, taunted Abdul over the “statute of limitations” running out, pay discrimination, and further bullying and harassment. 

Nigel Lythgoe, who was announced to be returning as a So You Think You Can Dance judge for Season 18 — after being replaced by tWitch and JoJo Siwa in Season 17 — vehemently denied Paula Abdul's allegations, telling US Weekly: 

We’ll have to see if this lawsuit affects production of SYTYCD’s upcoming season, which is set to premiere on Monday, March 4, on Fox. In the meantime, take a look at our 2024 TV schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon. 

Paula Abdul – the veteran dancer, singer, choreographer and actress – is taking legal action against one of her former colleagues. The media personality has formally filed a lawsuit against Nigel Lythgoe, a former executive producer of American Idol. Per the filing, Abdul is accusing Lythegoe of two alleged instances of sexual assault that purportedly occurred while she was still on the long-running reality competition series and on another. The suit also contains details of the supposed encounters.

The 61-year-old entertainment industry veteran filed the lawsuit within California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. This particular bill allows potential plaintiffs a one-year window to file certain suits revolving around sexual abuse, with the deadline to file being December 31. Per Variety, Paula Abdul’s suit was filed on Friday, and she alleges that Nigel Lythgoe first sexually assaulted her during an early season of the former Fox show’s run. She says that in that situation, Lythgoe pushed her against a wall in a hotel and shoved his tongue down her throat while groping her breast and genitals. After she tried to push him away, she allegedly ran to her room when a door opened. 

According to the filing, the second supposed situation happened while the star was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. The producer reportedly invited her to dinner at his home, and the former Laker girl was under the impression that their meal would be professional. However, she accuses him of attempting to kiss her and forcing himself onto her body while she was sitting on the couch. The Idol alum also says that the Hollywood bigwig stated that the two of them would make a firm “power couple.”

Additionally, Paula Abdul accused Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting one of her assistants in 2015, saying that she witnessed him grope her without consent. On top of that, Abdul says Lythgoe taunted her, saying that "seven years and the statute of limitations had run." She further alleged that he verbally bullied and harassed Abdul while also discriminating against her by paying her less than her fellow judges on Idol. There are also claims that the show would be edited in a manner that would make her look less competent than her peers. The songstress is also suing American Idol Productions, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and Dance Nation Productions, as she claims the companies were all aware of Lythgoe’s alleged behavior.

The "Forever Your Girl" singer was on American Idol (which was part of the 2023 TV schedule) during its first nine seasons, which ran from 2002 to 2009 on Fox. She’s long been candid about her time on the show, discussing certain hurdles she faced, including her battles for equal pay. (That’s likely why she was asked for her take when current judge Katy Perry scored a $25 million payday.) As for why she’s only speaking out about the reported instances of assault now, the suit states that doing so earlier could’ve been detrimental to her career: 

Paula Abdul has remained a fixture in the entertainment industry over the last several years and has continued to appear on TV shows. In 2019, she joined with Simon Cowell again on America's Got Talent and reunited with Ryan Seacrest on American Idol in 2021. This year, she showed up on Hell’s Kitchen and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. She also served as a guest judge on the latest season of Dancing With the Stars (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription). 

As of this writing, Nigel Lythgoe has yet to issue a response to the allegations he’s facing from Paula Abdul. American Idol Productions, 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and Dance Nation Productions have yet to issue formal statements on the matter as well. Time will tell just how this situation pans out as Abdul seeks to move forward with the legal process. 

It’s hard to believe it has been almost 20 years since Fantasia Barrino was crowned the Season 3 winner of American Idol. Barrino hasn’t only garnered support and praise from critics and fans, but her Idol family as well. Former series judge Paula Abdul couldn’t help but gush about the R&B singer as Barrino garners Oscar buzz for her performance as Celie in the big-screen revamp of The Color Purple. Abdul also recalled the sweet way she helped the Idol alum ahead of her audition.

The former American Idol judge -- who rejoined Ryan Seacrest and more on it in 2011-- showed her support at the musical adaptation’s star-studded Hollywood premiere where ET caught up with her. Paula Abdul saw Fantasia Barrino’s rise to superstardom first-hand during the reality competition’s third season. While looking back at the the songstress' time on Idol, Abdul shared a touching story involving Barrino almost missing out on her chance to audition, saying:

The "Knocked Out" singer clearly knew a star when she saw one. Thankfully, the pop star did help the hopeful entertainer get through the process and ultimately sing before her, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson. Of course, the rest is history. Fantasia has released seven albums, acted on Broadway and won multiple awards, including a Grammy. Now, the Idol winner is making her big screen debut with the aforementioned stage-to-screen adaptation.

While at the purple-carpet premiere, Paula Abdul, who was "pissed" over Jennifer Hudson's elimination years ago, really had the chance to gush over the “When I See” singer. The famed singer and choreographer gushed about the former TV show contestant's journey and even sounded like a parent. She said about watching Fantasia grow over the course of her season on the former Fox show:

It's lovely to hear the pop singer beam about the Idol alum as if she were her own daughter. Of course, like many TV viewers, Paula Abdul watched Fantasia grow from a teenage single mom with a big voice to an acclaimed singer and actress. The two women even shared an emotion-filled reunion at the film’s premiere. Interestingly, Abdul's connection to the musical film goes beyond American Idol, as she and original The Color Purple (which Max subscribers can stream) star Whoopi Goldberg were roommates for a while during the early portions of their careers.

Of course, audiences will get to see Fantasia take over the role of Celie Harris Johnson from Whoopi Goldberg as a member of the Color Purple cast. So far the remake of the iconic musical has been critically acclaimed, with many singling out Barrino. Her come-up may be one of the greatest the entertainment industry has ever, and it's lovely to think that it was helped along in such a sweet way by Paula Abdul.  Here's to continued success for the fan-favorite singer as she continues to make her mark.

American Idol has served as a launching point for some notable celebrities over the years, even if they weren't the winner crowned in the end. Singer, actress, and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson is without question one of the most notable examples of post-Idol success, and celebrates her thriving career on a daily basis. Despite her icon status, there are indeed fans out there who are still mad she was robbed of a win on the singing competition, as confirmed by former judge Paula Abdul. 

Paula Abdul appeared as a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show, in what some may view as something of a full-circle moment between the two. When the subject of her seventh-place elimination during Season 3 of American Idol came up, Abdul shared that fans will still talk to her about that controversial elimination almost twenty years later: 

Jennifer Hudson's elimination was certainly one of the more egregious and odd eliminations in American Idol's history. Hudson found herself in the Bottom 3 on elimination night alongside LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino. It's been speculated that the three hopefuls ended up in the Bottom 3 due to vote-splitting between fans, as all were praised by the judges for their obvious talents.

One had to go home, however, and it ended up being Jennifer Hudson, much to fans' decades-long feelings of disgust. Fantasia Barrino ended up winning Season 3, but the world clearly didn't give up on Hudson. Paula Abdul recalled the conversation she had with the future talk show host after her elimination, and pointed out how she predicted (if broadly) that Hudson's career would take off: 

Two years after her early exit on American Idol, Jennifer Hudson landed the role of Effie White in the movie Dreamgirls, which netted her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and things really took off from there. Following two Grammy wins, several high-profile films, TV appearances, live performances, and landing her own talk show, it's safe to say life turned out pretty well for her regardless of reality TV fates.

American Idol's judges, and the live-show fans who help vote the winners through, don't always get it right, if there's even an objective "correct" answer at play. While the show's creatives might have some regrets about orchestrating a position that put Jennifer Hudson at a disadvantage, it's hard to imagine that Hudson regrets much about the journey that followed. After all, she ended up getting a talk show just like Kelly Clarkson, who was famously the series' first champ. So maybe the idea of winning American Idol has always been overrated.

This story is a great thing for television audiences to think about as American Idol airs its current season on ABC on Sundays starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. Given viewers got it wrong with Jennifer Hudson, perhaps now might be the best time to revisit some of the audition episodes with a Hulu subscription to help be sure the right contestants are being voted for during the live shows. 

Social media is already a highlight reel of the moments of people’s lives they want you to see, at the right angles and backdrops users are comfortable with sharing with the world. On top of that, there is often so much editing and filters that can be added on top of a photo that the reality of an image can easily be lost and distorted. That appeared to be the case with Paula Abdul's latest photos, which the original American Idol judge posted after attending Kathy Hilton's annual Christmas party, but fans clocked it right away. 

Talk about a photoshop fail! The former American Idol judge and famed singer and dancer took to Instagram this week to share her attendance at Kathy Hilton’s holiday party, which was a star-studded affair, including the likes of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian reuniting. The latter has been called out for her own photoshop fails in the past. 

Paula Abdul thanked Kathy Hilton for throwing “the most fabulous holiday party” while also wishing all her followers a “wonderful day” and “holiday cheer.” However, the comment section was full of fans calling out the 60-year-old for altering her face for social media. 

The TV personality wasn’t fooling people on social media who noticed right away she looked different in the photos than she does in real life. Many thought Abdul looked unrecognizable and took to the comment section to share their distaste for the photoshop fail. 

Now, there were a ton of comments hyping up Paula Adbul and her beauty in the comments too. Paris Hilton said “Love you 😍❤️❤️❤️” after hanging out with her at the event. Many commented that she looks like a teenager, especially in the first photo with makeup artist, Kályd Sebastian Odeh. Here’s another comment: 

Paula Abdul has had an incredible career thus far and still looks amazing without a filter. From being discovered by The Jacksons, to topping the music charts with ‘80s hits like “Straight Up” and “Forever Your Girl,” to leading singers like Kelly Clarkson to American Idol glory alongside “mean judge” Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson from 2002 to 2009. Abdul is an idol in her own right to many people, so there was also frustration regarding her recent social media post. 

While it was disappointing for fans to see Paula Abdul change her appearance for social media, it goes to show that anyone, even the ridiculously fabulous singer and dancer, can get self-conscious about appearances! It’s great to see so many people hype up Abdul to own her real beauty, but it came at the cost of her being called out for a photoshop fail.

While Abdul is no longer on American Idol, you can tune in for the next season’s 2023 TV premiere date this February 19. 

Paris Hilton played a pretty significant role in what would become the Kardashians’ eventual takeover of all things pop culture. Before Kim Kardashian was the star of her own reality show — or even the sex tape — she was Hilton’s closet organizer/assistant. Before she was all over our screens, the SKIMS founder was often seen in paparazzi pics on the arm of the hotel heiress. Fifteen years later, the former BFFs were partying together again, at what looks like a festive holiday celebration. The photos Paris shared do, indeed, look “iconic,” but I can’t help but wonder what’s going on with Kim’s outfit.

Kim Kardashian and her momager, Kris Jenner, were featured in some of the Instagram photos that Paris Hilton shared from mom Kathy Hilton’s holiday blast. Jenner wore a classic black pantsuit, while Kathy, Paris and her sister Nicky Hilton all showed off fancy, Christmas-inspired dresses. Kardashian, meanwhile, sported high-waisted leather pants and a cropped T-shirt from the Up in Smoke hip-hop tour. See the look for yourself below: 

I’m not saying the starlet looks bad at all. The 'fit is actually pretty cute. However, next to the other partygoers in formal attire, she just looks a tad underdressed for the occasion. Quite a few people apparently felt the same way, as several comments seemed to wonder if the Kardashians star was the one who needed a little closet organizing of her own. Some of the comments read: 

• Kim's outfit is for a rock concert, not a Christmas party
• it’s cute but just saying threw me off
• Kim is so inappropriate anymore trying to dress like North at a playground ... Smh down with Kim Kardashian.
• she looks a bit under dressed doesn't she?
• Seriously!!!! Everyone dressed Beautiful.. Then she arrives in a t shirt 🤷🏻‍♀️
• Everyone dressed all nice and Kim looks like a 15YO teen that was forced to her parents party
• Did Kim not understand the holiday party attire assignment? 🧐

Of course, nobody knows what conversations or thought processes went into Kim Kardashian's decision to wear that particular ensemble for the Christmas party, but it’s worth noting that she was photographed in the same clothes earlier that day, at the bar mitzvah of her nephew, Mason Disick, who just celebrated his 13th birthday. 

The caption of Paris Hilton’s post acknowledged that Kathy Hilton always throws “iconic” parties, and this certainly seemed to be one to remember. Along with the representatives of the KarJenner clan, the Hiltons’ guest list included Heidi Klum and Paula Abdul, as two the posed for photos in front of a beautiful white Christmas tree. It looks like Abdul even joined Paris Hilton behind the DJ booth, and revelers were also treated to music from a gospel choir.

Kim Kardashian has worked over the past year or so to find her own fashion sense after filing for divorce from Kanye West, but her style has come into question even more since she began re-evaluating her partnership with Balenciaga amid their BDSM ad scandal. We’ll have to see how she continues to evolve when The Kardashians returns for the 2023 TV schedule. For now, however, Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream with a Hulu subscription. 

Big things are happening for Kelly Clarkson at this moment in her life. The fourth season of her daytime talk show premiered in the coveted time slot previously held by Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres, and the multihyphenate just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To celebrate her achievement, she reunited with some important figures from her past — Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, the three judges from American Idol who helped skyrocket her to fame. The reunion, however, was close to being incomplete.

Paula Abdul apparently had to change her flight plans late in the game in order to be at the ceremony — and People reports that she arrived during Simon Cowell’s speech. Two decades after Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, the “Straight Up” singer said there was no way she was missing a moment like this. Abdul told the honoree: 

It’s so fitting that Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were all there to mark the OG champ's huge milestone, and thank goodness the latter superstar was able to make it happen. Just as the trio provided Kelly Clarkson the nationally televised platform to show what she had to offer the world of entertainment, the singer changed the course of the judges’ lives as well. Check them out together once more!

Even the famously crotchety Cowell echoed Abdul’s sentiments, pointing out that Clarkson was also to thank for American Idol’s longevity. He recalled the moment she was announced as the winner, saying (via EW): 

He said it wasn’t just her voice, but her bubbly personality that attracted the judges (and America) to her — no doubt how she’s gone on to dominate daytime TV with the five-time Emmy-winning The Kelly Clarkson Show. Simon Cowell said: 

Do you think that’s why Kelly Clarkson says, “You’re welcome” so often? Hmmm, maybe Simon Cowell had even more of an impact than any of us realized!  

There’s no denying that the talk show host has made her mark in the industry. As well as her multiple Emmy Awards, she’s won three Grammys from her nine studio albums, had 11 top-10 singles on the Hot 100 chart, has been in movies, found success as a coach on The Voice and co-hosted American Song Contest. All of that is on top of raising two kids as a single mom, and somehow she’s still relatable enough to shop at Target like the rest of us. 

The newest Walk of Fame honoree took to Instagram to mark the occassion and pointed out the amazing placement of her star — “between Harry Potter and Deadpool ….I dare anyone to top that!” — and not only do we agree that location is hard to beat, she just continues to show how adorable she is and why her fans love her so much.

You can continue to catch the OG Idol champ on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings to see when and where it airs in your area. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what fall premieres are coming soon! 

These days, Keanu Reeves may be more known for gigs like the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4, but he’s also had a recent resurgence of roles that defined him early in his career. Among these are his role as Neo in The Matrix and his iconic role as Ted in the Bill and Ted films. Anytime I think about Ted or his merry compatriot Bill I think about them engaging in a round of air guitar, which is something Reeves also does in his personal life. Or at least so says Paula Abdul. 

On an episode of Watch What Happens Live!, a fan of Andy Cohen’s series notably asked Paula Abdul whether she and Reeves ever dated. The two starred together in the music video for her song “Rush Rush,” which came out in the early nineties, after both Abdul and Keanu Reeves had become famous--in his case for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and in her case for the hit single "Straight Up."

When Abdul went to introduce herself to the actor, he certainly pulled a full Bill and Ted on her, though when asked if they had dated, she had to admit the answer was no. But she did get a good story out of their time together, as she noted:

Keanu Reeves has now been dubbed “The Internet’s Boyfriend,” but back in 1991 he was starring as Paula Abdul’s fake love interest in the aforementioned “Rush, Rush” video and trying not to be convinced to change his name to Chuck Spadina. The music video itself reimagines Abdul and Reeves as the leads from James Dean’s famous movie Rebel Without a Cause. At one point, the actor even recreates the frequently gif’d scene with James Dean holding milk up to his face.

While they were filming a new take on the notable story, in real life Paula Abdul was one of a slew of women who enjoyed working with the actor but never dated him. In fact, this question has come up before with other co-stars, including Speed actress Sandra Bullock, who has also spoken on the topic of why she didn’t date Keanu Reeves. 

Meanwhile, this Paula Abdul comment is coming years after the “Rush Rush” video came out in 1991–the same year the actor and his pal Alex Winter reprised their roles as Ted and Bill respectively in the sequel Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. So, it actually makes total sense that Keanu Reeves would be in a phase where he might be hanging out and practicing his air guitar. He's probably been doing the same more recently as well. 

The air guitar has definitely continued in Keanu Reeves’ life in more recent years thanks to the greenlight and subsequent release of Bill and Ted Face The Music, the latest sequel in the franchise, which also just so happens to have broken the record for largest group of air guitar players in history. That may be a memorable moment for the sequel, but I do "straight up" think Paula Abdul has it beat with her own air guitar memory. 

Ryan Seacrest has been at the helm as the host of American Idol for the show's entire run, both during its long tenure on Fox and with the reboot on ABC. While Seascrest has a new panel of judges alongside him in Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan to help the young stars in the making nail every note and performance, Bryan recently had to step away from the show for a bit, which led to O.G. judge Paula Abdul stepping in for him. And, it's clear that Seacrest is tickled pink to have Abdul back on the American Idol set with him.

As fans now know, country superstar Luke Bryan started in his regular spot on American Idol for Season 19 during the pre-recorded shows, but recently had to announce that he wouldn't be on set for the first live episode of the season, due to his COVID-19 diagnosis (as opposed to another fishing accident). As Bryan continues to get better, which sounds like it's going well for him, Idol was ready with an assist from former long-time judge Paula Abdul, and Ryan Seacrest posted on Instagram about his happy reunion with the dancer / choreographer / pop star:

Cute, right? I believe this is actually a throwback picture of Seacrest and Abdul, but the only clue for that is the fact that his hair is currently quite a bit longer and wavier than it is in this photo. Otherwise, well, neither Ryan Seacrest nor Paula Abdul appear to be in any mood to have their ages show up in real time on their faces, so this photo could literally have been taken now or 20 years ago.

As Seacrest noted in his caption, Luke Bryan's seat is in good hands until he can return to set and continue filming with the live episodes of American Idol. Paula Abdul was a judge on the hit series from Seasons 1 through 8, and only left prior to Season 9 because she couldn't reach a deal on her contract. While not the longest running judge in Idol history (that title goes to Randy Jackson, who stayed through Season 12), Abdul was well known and beloved for being kind and compassionate while still giving the hopefuls on the competition critiques which would help them as artists.

Abdul was also pumped to be able to help out, and seemed to have fun on the live episode, especially in reuniting with Seacrest and Randy Jackson, who appeared on video for a bit to say hello to his former co-judge, and in working with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, whom she once said were already friends. And, Seacrest didn't just leave his happiness at being able to work with Abdul again in memories of the past, as he also posted a cool picture from the set:

We don't know right now how long Luke Bryan will be gone from American Idol's live episodes, though Katy Perry has said he might be back for next week's episode. You can catch up with all of the happenings on America Idol when it airs on ABC, Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EST.

After twelve pre-recorded episodes that went from debate-worthy audition rounds to showstoppers and duets with all-stars, American Idol is finally ready to dive into its live episodes, starting with the results that will whittle the Top 16 down to the Top 12. Unfortunately, judge Luke Bryan is having to forego his weekly duties, with the country singer revealing that he won't be around for the first live episode at all. Why not? It turns out Bryan recently tested positive for COVID-19. But there's good news in the form of a returning Idol legend.

Just hours ahead of American Idol going live on ABC with the Top 12 Reveal episode, Luke Bryan revealed his diagnosis on his Twitter page, saying:

Obviously the most important element to take away from Luke Bryan's post is that he's on the mend, and doesn't appear to be suffering too much from his health troubles. It sounds like he will be back in a timely manner, although no specifics were given on that front, and it's not entirely clear when Bryan first found out about the diagnosis, or how long his COVID symptoms have been evident so far. It doesn't seem like a sure thing that the award-winning musician will be back in the judge's chair during next week's "Oscar-Nominated Songs" episode, but we'll have to wait on an official update to be sure.

Now for the good news! While Luke Bryan is recovering and getting back to full strength, American Idol will welcome O.G. judge and Masked Dancer vet Paula Abdul back to the musical festivities. Though she'd appeared on Idol's last season finale during its Fox run, after having exited the show years earlier, this will mark Abdul's first time appearing on the competition series after its move to ABC. The show shared the news via its Instagram page, as seen below.

Considering Luke Bryan only recently showed off an eye-twitch-worthy injury he suffered while fishing, it's clear he needed a little bit of time to sit back and recuperate. And while we're perfectly happy watching Paula Abdul back in her element on American Idol, here's hoping Bryan feels better with the quickness.

American Idol airs Sunday and Monday nights on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET.

After the runaway success of The Masked Singer, Fox has decided to replicate the formula with the upcoming series The Masked Dancer. For the new project, Fox has brought an OG American Idol judge into the fold – singer and choreographer Paula Abdul. Given the entertainer’s dancer background, not to mention that of fellow co-judge Brian Austin Green, this series is on-brand. But Paula Abdul has already admitted that television audiences will likely never see her utilize those moves on the upcoming show.

Paula Abdul recently interviewed with E!’s Daily Pop to promote The Masked Dancer, which the dancer and singer said she was unfamiliar with until producer Rob Wade approached her to be on the panel. Abdul’s placement is no surprise, given her years as a Laker Girl and choreographer for film, television and music. But Abdul’s famous moves will remain uncaptured by cameras here, as the multi-tainer spoke about pulling out some Seinfeld-inspired moves for audiences with fellow judge Ken Jeong.

Having Abdul as the judge of a dancing show fits more with her rhythm-centric persona than her long and tumultuous run on the rating juggernaut American Idol. While the general public no doubt knows of Abdul’s celebrated music career – shout out to MC Skat Kat – but perhaps fans more attuned to the 1980s and 1990s will remember she made a name for herself choreographing for Michael and Janet Jackson, along with George Michael and Deborah Gibson, among others. She was not a choreographer for Julia Louis-Dreyfus or any other Seinfeld characters, but she apparently picked up some of those moves naturally. Too bad audiences likely won't be able to see them in action.

Paula Abdul even served as a choreographer for films such as Coming to America, American Beauty, as well as for the famous piano scene in 1988’s Big. On top of those accolades, Abdul has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for The Tracey Ullman Show and her American Music Awards performance. If anyone's dancing needs to get showcased on The Masked Dancer, it's probably her. Somebody get this woman a mask!

Abdul’s career has spanned five decades, with her music career lasting from the 1980s into the mid-1990s. Her debut album Forever Your Girl spawned a record-setting four Billboard Hot 100 number singles with two more number ones from her second album Spellbound. Her career yielded multiple awards, including a Grammy for Best Music Video. Could she possibly secure another Emmy for her work on Masked Dancer? It might help if they showed her dancing more.

Along with judging on American Idol and The Masked Dancer, the entertainer has previously been a judge on CBS’s short-lived competition Live to DanceI, along with two other Fox productions – So You Think You Can Dance and the U.S. version of The X-Factor. Abdul is joined on the show’s panel by The Masked Singer’s Ken Jeong, Brian Austin Green and Ashley Tisdale, with comedian Craig Robinson as the host.

You can check out Paula Abdul on The Masked Dancer on Fox when it premieres on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. ET, before moving to its normal Wednesday night time slot. To see what else is coming soon, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our 2021 Winter and Spring TV rundown.

Fox made a brilliant decision when first ordering a U.S. version of South Korea's The Masked Singer. Its ratings success can easily be measured by the network airing four seasons in the span of slightly less than two years, along with a Season 3 premiere that earned the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot. Adding another notch to the franchise's belt is the upcoming spinoff series The Masked Dancer, and below is a quick rundown of just about everything viewers should know before going into Season 1. (Bonus detail: it's currently an event series, but Season 2 will probably happen if the ratings are solid.)

The Masked Dancer's Judges Include Ken Jeong And More

In true spinoff form, The Masked Dancer isn't just an offshoot by name, but it also includes one of the flagship series' stars. For the new show, resident excellent-guesser Ken Jeong is joined by American Idol vet Paula Abdul, Beverly Hills 90210 vet Brian Austin Green and the High School Musical series' Ashley Tisdale. All three non-Ken judges have many years of combined experience within the worlds of music and choreographed dancing – and it's not like Ken can't belt out a tune – so they should all make for qualified game show detectives. Plus, Green already has the expertise of being a former Masked Singer contestant.

Another bonus detail! The Big Bang Theory vet Mayim Bialik already confirmed via wardrobe malfunction post that she will be one of the guest judges during the season, partly in promotion of her own new Fox series, the fourth-wall-breaking comedy Call Me Kat.

Craig Robinson Is The Masked Dancer's Host

Anyone who's a fan of Craig Robinson knows that the comedic entertainer knows how to get his groove on, both with his voice and his moves. So he's as natural a fit for The Masked Dancer as Nick Cannon was for The Masked Singer. Viewers can probably expect to see Robinson bust a move at least once during the show's nine-episode season. Fingers crossed it happens at least once an episode, though.

The Masked Dancer Features 10 Contestants

The Masked Singer has featured everywhere from 12 to 18 celebrities across its four seasons, so The Masked Dancer is setting a franchise low by only featuring ten different celebrity contestants. Everyone has to start somewhere, though, and The Masked Dancer is kicking things off with a lineup of themed costumes that includes Cotton Candy, Cricket, Disco Ball, Exotic Bird, Hammerhead, Ice Cube, Miss Moth, Sloth, Tulip, and Zebra. As it goes with seasons of the flagship series, expected to be impressed, confused, and sometimes a little creeped out by the over-the-top visuals.

The Masked Dancer Originated As A Parody

Not every TV show can make the claim that its existence ties back to a spoof segment from a TV show on a completely different network. But so it goes here, with The Masked Dancer being ordered straight-to-series at Fox after a popular run of spots on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which went on to include enough Masked Singer judge cameos that it almost seemed silly for it not to exist as a full-blown series. Will the Fox show pull a fast one on fans by featuring a star who already showed up on Ellen? It's definitely a possibility.

The Masked Dancer Will Feature More Clues Than The Masked Singer

At this point, The Masked Singer viewers are aware that some of the clues used for its contestants are incredibly silly and hard to decipher, but take note that the producers were aware of that notion when putting The Masked Dancer together. They totally understand that it's more difficult to recognize someone's dance steps as opposed to someone's voice. Here's what Brian Austin Green had to say during the show's panel at Fox's virtual Television Critics Association presentation.

What's more, Paula Abdul followed that up by saying the clues are absolutely everywhere for viewers to pick up on. Not just in the clue packages, but also from within the costumes that the contestants are wearing, as well as the stage decorations and even in the choreography. It'll be interesting to see how particular dance moves may provide pertinent information about one of The Masked Dancer's competitors.

The Masked Dancer Will Include A Clue Type That Couldn't Happen On Masked Singer

Not only will The Masked Dancer include more all-around clues than its predecessor, but the spinoff series will also introduce a new kind of clue that wouldn't have been possible to utilize on The Masked Singer without the risk of spoiling people's identities. Here's how executive producer Craig Plestis explained it during the show's TCA panel.

Hearing someone's undisguised voice would definitely be a major giveaway clue on The Masked Singer, but that element wouldn't necessarily shake things up on The Masked Dancer. At least, assume the celebs they apply that clue to don't have the world's most recognizable voices. So don't expect to see Friends vet Maggie Wheeler or Picard's Patrick Stewart or South Park's Eric Cartman. (If any show on TV would feature an animated character as a contestant, it's going to be one of Fox's Masked shows.)

The Costumes Were Designed Differently For The Masked Dancer

To be sure, the elaborate and eye-grabbing costumes that are created for The Masked Singer aren't exactly designed to making stage performances easy feats for singers. But the producers had to come up with a different game plan for The Masked Dancer, since it requires a different set of physical skills, and all while being produced under COVID-19 guidelines. According to executive producer Craig Plestis, the designers took care to consider the wide variety of movements that go along with dancing. In his words:

Clearly, the biggest takeaway from that answer is: we're gonna see contestants flipping around at some point, and it's probably going to look weird and/or awesome. One of The Masked Dancer's trailers did show a contestant falling to the ground from a large hoop, which may have involved some flips, but hopefully that wasn't a serious accident.

The Masked Dancer Premieres On December 27

Before 2020 has bid everyone its final farewell, Fox is giving viewers a post-Christmas taste of The Masked Dancer on a special night. The competition spinoff will debut on Sunday, December 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the network giving the series premiere a key time slot after that day's NFL games, which is consistently helpful for The Simpsons and Fox's other animated series. After that, though, The Masked Dancer will flip to regularly airing on Wednesday nights starting on January 6, where it will serve as the lead-in for the game show revival Name That Tune.

Well, you should have just read when The Masked Dancer will make its premiere on Fox, so we won't reiterate that. But while you're waiting to start logging your guesses, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring TV premiere guide to see what other new and returning shows are on the way.

Though fans might have expected American Idol to be taking a longer hiatus in the midst of Hollywood's shutdown, given the reality series' reliance on live in-studio performances to win over the viewers and judges, the show must go on! American Idol will be testing out remote episodes with its next installment, but don't go thinking stars like Ryan Seacrest will be slumming it while at home. The longtime host actually found a way to bring in a stellar callback to Idol's original run on Fox.

Taking to Twitter as everything is getting set up and ready to go for the weekend broadcast, Ryan Seacrest scored some big Wow Factor points by revealing he'll be sitting at the original American Idol judge's table, which he'd taken home after Fox pulled the plug. Check out the video below!

For those who aren't able to watch the video, or couldn't check it out with audio, here's what Ryan Seacrest had to say:

As hyperbolic as it might sound, the original American Idol judge's table should probably be in some kind of TV museum at this point. It's one of the most popular unscripted series of all time, even if its current numbers are deep in the shadows of the peaks of the original Fox run. Even if it was only used in the early years solely by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, it would be a cherished piece of TV history, but let's not forget all the other judges who sat there during Idol's original run.

In any case, the American Idol desk will once again show up in the spotlight for the upcoming live episode. It's no coincidence, either, that the fanciful furniture will be utilized by the one O.G. Idol star to have transitioned from the Fox iteration to the current ABC version. Good on Ryan Seacrest for knowing when to hold on to keepsakes, even when the only place they can properly fit is the garage.

Now, who else thinks the set-up at Katy Perry's house is going to be one of the most watchable elements of the entire American Idol episode? In any case, I can't wait to see how well everything plays out, and am hopeful that all of the homebound hopefuls get a fair shot at sounding good enough for audiences. The show revealed that the current Top 20 will get cut down to the Top 10 for the May 3 episode, so a lot of talented people will be saying goodbye.

American Idol will more forward with Season 18 by airing "Top 20 Sing for America" on ABC on Sunday, April 26, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Though Idol isn't wrapping up just yet, there are several other shows ending soon that can be found in our TV finale rundown, and take note of all the big premieres on the way with our Summer 2020 TV schedule.

For nearly 20 years, American Idol has served as one of the most famous, popular, well-viewed and influential reality TV shows/competition programs in TV history. Television in the early 21st century has undeniably been shaped by the success and influence of American Idol, but the famous TV show hasn't always stayed the same. As American Idol has molded and adapted itself through new eras of television, the show's panel of judges have been changing in the process. Once, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul sat around the table and determined who might be the next musical superstar. Nowadays, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry serve as the three judges on the panel, determining who'll make it into the finals of American Idol.

Particularly during the show's less stable years, the judges chairs were left in a constant rotation, featuring a variety of famous faces only serving a limited amount of time in the judge's chair. Some people have stayed on the show much longer than others, and there are certainly some judges who didn't have a great time during their tenure on the popular series. Therefore, let's take a look at the history of American Idol judges and why they left.

DJ Stryker (No Seasons)

There's a good chance you're not familiar with the name DJ Stryker, though if you listen to the radio station KROQ, or played the video game Burnout 3, you might recognize the voice. In the early days of American Idol, there were plans to have four judges at the table instead of the custom three that audiences are used to seeing on the show. In the fourth chair was DJ Stryker, if things had originally gone to plan, but the radio personality decided not to take part in the TV program due to what he deemed "image concerns." It is hard to know what that means; maybe we will never know for sure.

Granted, this one might be a bit of a cheat, since DJ Stryker didn't ultimately accept the position as one of the judges on American Idol. Still, it's fascinating to know that this radio personality had an opportunity to become part of the one of the biggest shows of the early 21st century and turned down the chance. Do you think Stryker regrets it? Maybe. Maybe not. Ultimately, just like DJ Stryker, you're only left to wonder, "what if?"

Angie Martinez (Season 2)

In season two of American Idol, there was a second attempt to add a fourth judge to the American Idol panel, but it didn't work out this time either. In the audition segments of the reality television program, musician/radio personality Angie Martinez was on-hand to judge, critique, and evaluate the contestants and hopeful musicians who came into the audition room. But the process of turning down so many singing hopefuls weighed heavily on her. After only a few days of auditions, the radio personality left the program, claiming that the grueling process of destroying so many people's musical dreams and aspirations weighed heavily on her. In the time since she left the music reality TV series, Martinez has continued her radio career.

Paula Abdul (Season 1 - Season 8)

Among the core trio of the original American Idol judges, Paula Abdul was a world-famous musician before she became an American Idol judge. But the reality TV series provided a second career for the celebrity, allowing her experience as a singer to provide key insight and criticisms of the singers on the show. Allow with her bitter-and-sweet chemistry with Simon Cowell, Abdul served as a key component in making American Idol the immensely popular show we know it to be today. 

While she was there from the beginning, Abdul opted to leave the popular series after the conclusion of Season 8, marking the beginning of the end for American Idol as many viewers knew it. The singer left the series after she was unable to come up with an agreement with the producers of the series. Since her American Idol tenure, following a 26 year-pause from singing, Abdul began performing in 2016.

Simon Cowell (Season 1 - Season 9)

Quite likely the most famous and contentious judge in American Idol history, Simon Cowell was not afraid to speak his mind — even if what he had to say wasn't the least bit kind. While the music manager made more than his fair share of contestants shed tears, the British judge wasn't in the game to play it nice. Rather, Cowell spoke his honest truth — as he saw it (and heard it), at least. It cemented the show's pop culture legacy in the process.

But Simon Cowell wasn't mean simply for the sport of it. The music executive could usher out just as many compliments too, if the singer had the chops. Simon Cowell just spoke his mind. That forthright style resulted in many of American Idol's most memorable moments. He served as one of the core trio of judges from American Idol's inception, alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, but Cowell left the popular reality TV show in 2011 to usher in an American version of The X Factor in 2011, which was cancelled in 2013. In 2016, Cowell took a chair as one of the judges on America's Got Talent, where the television personality has remained ever since.

Kara DioGuardi (Season 8 - Season 9)

As it has been mentioned in this article before, American Idol has tried to incorporate a fourth judge onto the panel with little-to-no success. The past two attempts to include a fourth person at the table went south for separate reasons, and the show kept its central three judges for the majority of the show's run. But in Season 8, the producers were ready for a switch. In Season 8, singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi joined American Idol as the fourth judge. Evidently, the third time was the charm for the popular TV series, as DioGuardi stayed on American Idol. Well, for a little while, at least...

Kara DioGuardi remained on the reality TV show for two seasons before leaving after the ninth season's conclusion. In a statement, DioGuardi said she felt like she "won the lottery" when she was picked to be a judge on American Idol, but the musician felt like it was "the best time" to leave the hit series. There were rumors that the producers ultimately preferred the three judge format, but it's hard to know for certain if this is the reason. For the next couple seasons, American Idol did return to its three judge format before briefly returning to the four judge panel in Season 12. Nevertheless, since Kara DioGuardi stepped away from American Idol, DioGuardi continues to perform and produce, and she starred in Chicago on Broadway.

Ellen DeGeneres (Season 9)

When Paula Abdul stepped down as a judge on American Idol following a dispute in her contract, Ellen DeGeneres stepped in to fill the now-vacant fourth judge chair. But the talk show's host tenure on the reality TV series was ultimately short-lived, as Ellen had only one season on American Idol. At the time, Ellen admitted that American Idol "didn't feel like the right fit," both due to her intense talk show schedule and the pressures that resulted from this position, which involved judging people and hurting their feelings publicly. There were several folks who were critical of Ellen's time on Idol, as the comedian doesn't have a lot of experience in the music industry, and there were a few claims that Ellen had a tough working relationship with Simon Cowell. Later on, DeGeneres called the American Idol "one of her worst decisions." These days, Ellen continues her show and doing comedy.

Steven Tyler (Season 10 - Season 11)

With Simon Cowell stepping down from his tenure as one of the founding judges on American Idol, the Fox reality TV series was in a serious changing point. With the double digit seasons came a few new faces in the chairs, especially with Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres stepping away from the show as well. In comes Steven Tyler. The veteran rock performer certainly knows how to pack a stadium, but he didn't have an especially long stay on American Idol. The musician came on-board in Season 10, but then he left following the eleventh season. As Tyler explained in a statement, he left the show in order to continue working with Aerosmith. Tyler is still rocking with his band these days. It doesn't seem like the absence of American Idol from Steven Tyler's professional career has become any sort of monumental loss.

Mariah Carey (Season 12)

After Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez (temporarily) left American Idol, there were a couple judges chairs that needed to be filled. In the show's 12th season, Mariah Carey joined Nicki Minaj as newcomer judges on the popular program. But their time on American Idol would equally be short-lived. After only one season, the record-breaking singer stepped away from the reality television series, and Mariah Carey said she outright hated her time on American Idol. As a replacement for Lopez, Carey claimed working on American Idol was like "going to work every day in hell with Satan," which may have been in reference to her fiery working relationship with Minaj. While the feuds between judges like Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul were playful, Carey and Minaj apparently really got on each other's bad sides, resulting in both of them exiting Idol. Mariah Carey stays busy as a musician and actress.

Nicki Minaj (Season 12)

Similar to Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj joined American Idol's twelfth season after Steven Tyler and (temporarily) Jennifer Lopez left the program. Alas, the hip hop artist wouldn't stay on the reality television show for long. As it was mentioned earlier, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey didn't get along. At least, by Carey's admission. Minaj hasn't talked as much about her departure from the series. Based on her short tenure on the show, however, it's possible that she either didn't care for the show or her feud with Mariah Carey wasn't what the producers wanted. In any case, Minaj continues to perform as a musician.

Randy Jackson (Season 1 - Season 12)

With the notable exception of host Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson was one of the longest-running celebrities in American Idol's history. The bassist became a household name thanks to his involvement as a judge, and through his signature line-up of catchphrases and warm personality, Jackson became an endearing presence throughout the majority of American Idol's hit run. Alas, while Jackson stayed involved with American Idol for a long time, nothing can last forever. Following Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell's departures before him, Randy Jackson became the third and final judge in the show's original line-up to call it quits and move on following Season 12. Ultimately, the judge stayed as long as he could, but it was time to leave.

Jennifer Lopez (Season 10 - Season 15, Skipping Season 12)

American Idol's tenth season served as a major shake-up for the reality TV series. With Simon Cowell leaving the hit show following Season 9, and Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi following his footsteps, American Idol shaped up to be a different series than before as it hit the double digits. In addition to Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez came on-board to serve as one of Idol's new judges. While Tyler only lasted two seasons on American Idol, Jennifer Lopez served as a judge for five seasons in the long run. Although, admittedly, it happened in a rather unorthodox fashion on the hit show.

Similar to Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez came and went from American Idol from Season 10 through Season 11, though the musician/actress came back during American Idol's 13th season and she remained involved through Season 15, when American Idol got cancelled by Fox. While Lopez claimed that American Idol's commitments were tough on the musician when she quit before Season 12, they convinced her to return in Season 13 and Lopez remained a fixture on the popular series until its cancellation. Recently, Lopez received a great deal of acclaim for her supporting turn in last year's Hustlers. She received a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actor's Guild nomination, but she was ultimately snubbed for the Oscars.

Keith Urban (Season 12 - Season 15)

Following Steven Tyler's leave from American Idol, musician Keith Urban stepped in alongside Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey to be an American Idol judge. But unlike Minaj and Carey, Urban stayed on the reality TV show for the following few seasons. Specifically, the singer-songwriter remained a mainstay on American Idol for four more seasons before leaving after Season 15, when the TV series came to a temporary end as Fox cancelled the once-popular show. When American Idol was given second life at ABC, much like Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban was replaced by new judges. Specifically, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry. They ushered in the renewed reality TV show's surprise rebirth on a new network.

Harry Connick Jr. (Season 13 - Season 15)

Once American Idol's longest-standing judge Randy Jackson left the reality TV show's panel after Season 12, there was another chair that needed to be filled. That's when Harry Connick Jr. came to American Idol. The actor/singer-songwriter was the final celebrity judge to stay on the program as the show winded down towards its final years on Fox, and he joined Keith Urban (the only judge to return from Season 12) and Jennifer Lopez, who made her return following her absence in Season 12, as the three American Idol judges during the show's decline. Unfortunately for Connick Jr., Idol was on the outs. American Idol was cancelled following its 15th season. When it made its return on ABC, Connick Jr., Lopez and Urban were replaced by Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan. The three musicians remain the program's three judges as American Idol continues with its second run.

With that, American Idol has continued with three additional seasons on ABC. While the show is renewed for a 19th season, which will likely air later this year, it's unclear whether or not Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will all be returning as judges. Therefore, if any or all of them decide to leave the show, it will continue a tradition of judges entering and exiting the popular music reality television show. Which judges were your favorites? Do you still swear by the original trio of Paula, Randy, and Simon, or do you prefer any of the folks who joined or replaced them? Let us know below.

Paula Abdul, along with being a celebrated dancer, choreographer and recording artist in her own right, was one of the OG judges on American Idol when the show premiered all the way back in 2002 on Fox. When American Idol was revived by ABC in early 2018, an all new judges panel was introduced, with pop superstar Katy Perry pulling in $25 million for a season on the show. If you've been wondering whether or not Abdul is feeling some kinda way about Perry's massive payday, well, you now have your answer.

When Paula Abdul appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen recently, they took a call from a viewer who wanted to know if Abdul had seen any of the American Idol revival, and what she thought of Katy Perry making so much coin for judging one season of the popular singing competition. Here's what Abdul had to say:

The move to become a judge on American Idol helped to revitalize Paula Abdul's career, making her a household name once again for being a kind and much more understanding counterpoint to fellow judge Simon Cowell's often brutal appraisals of competitors' performances. It was hard not to appreciate her sympathetic words and compassionate criticism when performers would show up and bring less than their best to an audition. For many contestants (and fans), Abdul's thoughts were more of a guiding hand than Cowell's, simply because they felt understood by her instead of unnecessarily torn down.

While Abdul's time on American Idol led to many more opportunities for her, including some time reporting on Entertainment Tonight, the recording of new music and work on a TV pilot where her life inspired the title character, Abdul ended her stint after Season 8 when she was unable to come to an agreement with producers over a pay raise for her work. So, how much did Paula Abdul get paid for being so kind to contestants? From $1 million to $3.5 million per season. The pay dispute that ended her time on American Idol saw her ask for $5 million to do Season 9, and when producers balked, Abdul quit.

Considering how relatively low Paula Abdul's salary was for American Idol during what was, arguably, the heyday of the show, Andy Cohen is right that she's got a good attitude about Katy Perry making so much for the same job. Hopefully there's just a part of Abdul who's glad that the show has been able to progress to the point where the producers understand the worth of the talent they have on the judging panel, and are willing to pay up to keep them around, especially when Perry and co-hosts Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have careers they have to put on hold for a bit to stick around the judges table.

Not to take anything away from Paula Abdul's positivity, but did anyone really expect her to poop all over Katy Perry's payday on national television? I mean, only someone who is done caring about anything will badmouth their former show and / or a new person who's got their old gig for raking in the dough.

Even though Abdul left the job of her own accord when she felt she wasn't getting her due (and that was many, many years ago), I do wonder if her response would have shown any hint of jealousy or regret had this caller asked the same question, say, after coming upon Paula Abdul in the airport? For me, it would sting a little to know I wasn't worth a measly $5 million, while someone else has been able to make $25 million off the same job. But, I'm willing to accept the idea that, maybe, Paula Abdul is just a better person than me.

Paula Abdul began touring again in late 2016, and started her first Las Vegas residency, Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl, at the Flamingo in August 2019, with shows going through January 2020. For more of what you can see on the small screen right now (which doesn't include any more surprise appearances from Abdul on America's Got Talent), check out our fall 2019 TV premiere guide!

Slight spoilers ahead for the Season 14 finale of America's Got Talent on NBC.

Simon Cowell hit the mainstream on the American side of the pond when he debuted as the "mean" judge on then-Fox's American Idol, working with "nice" judge Paula Abdul and moderate judge Randy Jackson. Cowell has since moved on to other projects, and is currently a long-running judge on NBC's America's Got Talent. In the Season 14 finale, Cowell got a huge shocker when one performer whipped off a mask to reveal not an AGT contestant, but rather Paula Abdul!

The reveal of Paula Abdul came at the end of a performance, so let's first skip ahead to see Abdul blow Simon Cowell's mind with her unexpected appearance:

America's Got Talent always packs its season finale results shows with filler performances to hold off on the big champion announcement for as long as possible, and that opened the door for Paula Abdul. So, how did she manage to sneak in among the acts and totally shock Simon Cowell?

Young violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa from Season 14, who won a golden buzzer from Simon Cowell earlier in the season, teamed up with Season 13 violinist Brian Joseph King for an electrifying performance, compete with an active and incredibly entertaining dance act by Light Balance Kids.

Both Tyler Butler-Figueroa and Light Balance Kids are Season 14 finalists, so it's only natural that all eyes were on the performance, rather than on the dancer who didn't belong! Paul Abdul's appearance came at the very end, so she didn't overshadow the performance of the kids and Brian Joseph King. Instead, her surprise American Idol reunion with Simon Cowell was more of a punchline.

Take a look!

This performance happened in the first half of the two-hour finale, so there was more fun than tension in the performance. Tyler Butler-Figueroa and Light Balance Kids were still in the running, along with Kodi Lee -- who it was hard to imagine losing going into the finale -- and plenty of others.

The American Idol reunion on America's Got Talent was a great surprise, especially since it's unlikely they'll appear on ABC's American Idol reboot together. Simon Cowell was asked to return for the ABC version of the show, but he revealed why he never wants to do Idol ever again. In fact, Cowell revealed that he wasn't even watching the new Idol. I only wish that Randy Jackson had made an appearance as well to join Cowell and Paula Abdul. Or at least Brian Dunkleman!

America's Got Talent is finished for Season 14, but there's plenty of goodness on the way on the small screen in the not-too-distant future, and you can find your options on our fall TV premiere schedule.

Get ready for the nostalgia motherlode to come to a city near you! New Kids On The Block just announced that they are about to kick off a new tour, and in case that wasn't enough throwback goodness, the boy band (I guess now it's man band) is bringing along Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul as well.

New Kids On The Block made the surprise announcement on TODAY Tuesday morning, bringing out the members of Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul as they announced the artists who would be joining them for the newly announced 2017 tour, which will be called the Total Package Tour. Check out the exciting announcement below.

The New Kids On The Block have toured with Boyz II Men just a few years back when the R&B group opened for them during their 2013, but this is the first time that either group has toured with Paula Abdul. Though Abdul was one of the most successful artists of the '80s and early '90s, she hasn't actually gone on tour for over 20 years, choosing to focus more on her career as a reality show judge and television personality than her music in recent years. Though Abdul is probably best known now for her roles as a judge on music competition shows like American Idol and the short-lived X-Factor on Fox, she's about to remind the world that she got those spots for a reason.

New Kids On The Block confirmed that tickets for the tour will be available for purchase from their website starting this Saturday. The shows will be scattered across North America throughout the summer of 2017. The new tour will be the ninth consecutive summer tour that New Kids On The Block have headlined since their reunion in 2008. For most of those tours, the pop band has chosen to bring along fellow nostalgia acts to perform with them, such as the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, and Jesse McCartney to name a few.

While the tour announcement was definitely a warm moment of coming together for the three music acts, there was one person notably missing. New Kids On The Block member Jonathan Knight couldn't join his bandmates in New York City for the announcement, but he more than made up for missing out by sharing his own bit of good news: he's engaged! The singer, who is currently in Africa, revealed on Jenny McCarthy's radio show Tuesday that he popped the question to his longtime boyfriend Harley Rodriguez while on the trip.

Grab your scrunchies and find somebody to babysit your Tamagotchi for you, because tickets for the Total Package Tour featuring New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men, and Paula Abdul will go on sale this Saturday!

There’s nothing more adorable than competent child dancers on So You Think You Can Dance. But sometimes those competent and adorable child dancers can still throw the audience for a curveball, such as when they vomit all over a judge on the series. Recently, 12-year-old Chi Tahani totally blew us away before blowing chunks all over Paula Abdul. Watch the unexpectedly gross moment, below.

Chi Tahani chose a dance to Beyonce’s "Countdown" to kick off her So You Think You Can Dance audition for the Fox competition series. She totally crushed it, incorporating some acrobatics and some epic facial expressions during the dance. Her moves were enough to land her praise from the judges, who immediately stood up and waved plane tickets at her, letting her know she was moving forward to the next round. The 12-year-old old was ecstatic and made her way over to the table, where she promptly hugged the judges and then vomited all over Paula Abdul. She's not the only person to vomit on TV during the last several months, either, as the new Top Gear trailer also featured Chris Evans losing his lunch. (That one's far less amusing.)

Abdul is actually a really kind lady, and totally took the whole thing in stride, cracking a joke about how that’s the first time she was vomited on while filming a TV show. The vomiting happens around the :38 second mark, for those who don’t have time to watch the actual cute dancing toward the beginning. Actually, we’ll just go ahead and highlight the particularly gross moment.

There’s nothing like the amazing shock factor of seeing a little girl contestant just throw up on one of the most popular reality TV judges of all time, except maybe when that little girl responds to throwing up all over one of her idols. Here’s what she had to say:

She said it in such an adorable manner, it kind of just made me want to squeeze her. Until I remembered exactly what would happen if that action was attempted.

So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation is currently airing its 13th season on Fox. You can catch new episodes on Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET. If you want to find out what other fascinating TV is airing this summer, you can check out our premiere schedule.

If James Corden has made a name for himself as anything, it is as a person who will do just about anything imaginable in the name of comedy and entertainment, and we will hopefully have many more years with him on the late night scene. His latest foray into giving it his all came in the form of an all-live-action recreation of Paula Abdul’s seminal (or something) music video for “Opposites Attract.” I may not know art, but I know that this is on the same city block as art.

I didn’t know my life needed this, but after watching it five times, I can attest that it’s is better than most air and water. I’m not entirely sure why “Opposites Attract” was the song to go with here, since it’s 26 years old, but I think it probably has something to do with Corden already having an MC Skat Kat costume in his closet, along with all the dance skills necessary to pull this recreation off. I mean, you don’t just accidentally fall into this kind of performance.

The resemblance between these two isn’t uncanny, but it’s something.

It’s awesome just how much choreography went into this clip, and it’s great to see that Corden can work it just as easily as Abdul, who hasn’t lost a step. Speaking of steps, the one part from the video I wished they’d spent more time doing was the part on the stairs, especially since they used the staircase to get into the crowd. But then that makes me someone who judges things based on how closely they resemble the “Opposites Attract” video, and that’s not exactly the most promising way to live life. At least Corden brought a bong into it. Check out the full original video below.

Corden is a big fan of bringing music into his Late Late Show bits. We’ve seen him sing karaoke in the car with Justin Bieber and others, go head to head against Anna Kendrick for a riff-off, and pit beat boxing family members against one another. And it helps that the always imaginative Reggie Watts is his bandleader.

Now if we could only get Corden to do musical versions of the similarly part-animated Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Cool World. Anything could happen, and you can find out what he’s doing next when The Late Late Show with James Corden airs every weeknight on CBS.

Paula Abdul has had some trouble with Fox in recent years, but today the network announced that the formal American Idol and The X Factor panelist will return to judge a competition series. This time around, Paula Abdul is going to put her dancing knowledge to work. She’s signed on as the latest So You Think You Can Dance judge along with pop singer Jason Derulo. Both will sit at the judges table opposite veteran judge Nigel Lythgoe. Mary Murphy will not be returning.

So You Think You Can Dance is returning for Season 12 this summer, and along with the additions of Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo, the show will have a few more brand new tricks up its sleeve. According to Fox, So You Think You Can Dance will also feature a new gimmick where stage dancers will compete against street dancers for a chance to win the big competition. Auditions for the new season begin this Saturday, January 24, in New York City.

I wouldn’t have guessed that Abdul was on particularly good terms with Fox. A couple of years after Abdul left American Idol in 2009, she signed on with Fox for The X Factor, a brand new singing competition series that at the time was expected to be the next big thing. After the first season failed to gain the ratings momentum that Fox and Simon Cowell hoped it would, Abdul was asked to exit the series (along with host Steve Jones and other judge Nicole Scherzinger). It was a pretty huge deal at the time, as The X Factor continued to sink lower in public opinion after Abdul left and was eventually cancelled after its third season on the air.

Even if she did have some minor beef against Fox, it’s obvious that Abdul has let bygones be bygones at this point, otherwise she wouldn’t have signed the contract with the network. (In fact, Paula also appeared in the Fox TV movie Fox's Cause for Paws: An All-Star Dog Spectacular in 2014.) Additionally, she should be a great fit to judge a dancing-related series. She’s done professional choreography for an extremely long time and choreography was always her strong suit on The X Factor and during her career.

Plus, if you’ve been keeping tabs on the “Straight Up” singer, you should know that in 2014 she signed on as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance Austrialia, so she’s pretty primed for the Fox gig at this point.

So You Think You Can Dance is one of those reality competition series that has been on the air forever, but it still has a legitimate following and prominence on Fox thanks to the athleticism and talent it takes to make it to the final rounds on the competition series. Here’s hoping that Abdul and Derulo are a good fit on the judging panel, as I would assume they could have gigs for years to come on the competitions series, should they prove to be a good fit and want to continue. We’ll let you know as soon as So You Think You Can Dance gets a summer premiere date. In the meantime, you can check out midseason return dates here.

With three eliminations, only two are left to move forward in the second season of the U.S. version of The X Factor... If only we were talking about contestants. In less than twenty-four hours, reports have been circulating that in addition to host Steve Jones making his exit from the Fox singing competition series, Paula and Nicole are also reportedly out.

While no official word from the network has been released yet, reports are circulating of some drastic, though not entirely surprising changes are being made to The X Factor. Host Steve Jones tweeted that he would not be returning for Season 2. And then came reports that judge/mentor Nicole Scherzinger was bowing out, looking to spend more time working on her music. And now it seems Paula Abdul is done with the series as well. The sources for the latter two exits are unnamed, but EW states that sources near the show confirm that Jones, Scherzinger, and Abdul are all out.

While Jones and Scherzinger’s exits aren’t entirely surprising, Paula Abdul’s departure feels a bit less expected, given her longstanding working relationship with Simon Cowell, whom she judged alongside for years on American Idol. Whether leaving was her choice or came down from above is unknown at this point. The series definitely has some work to do to tighten up its format and hopefully improve on its concept between seasons. Assuming all of this shuffling around is official, it’ll be interesting to learn who is brought in to replace the two judges and the host.

The newest 'will-they, won't-they' relationship on television has finally come to an end... and they won't. Of course, I'm taking about the seemingly never ending drama surrounding Cheryl Cole's judging position on the American version (and subsequently the British version) of The X Factor. After another weekend of rumours, announcing both her potential return and her potential replacement, it seems Fox has finally made up their minds, the Geordi accent will not be sitting on the panel.

Fox, and mastermind/dickhead Simon Cowell, made their official announcement today that Cole would not be joining the talent-search show and instead Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Doll and Dancing With the Stars champ) will sit on the panel with Cowell and Paula Abdul. Scherzinger was oringally set to host (with Steve Jones, who'll be flying solo now) but now, after the drama surrounding Cole, she gets promoted to the judges table (don't you actually need talent to judge talent? Maybe not...).

Anyway, it's nice that the drama has come to an end and I'm sure everyone at Fox and in the Cowell camp is excited about the publicity this has all generated for the reality show. I know I can't wait to not tune in!

The official word from Fox is in. Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul is set to join the judges table on Fox’s upcoming singing competition The X Factor. This puts Abdul back at the judges table next to Simon Cowell, with whom she’s shared many a moment.

There's been plenty of talk about Abdul possibly serving as judge on the series and it looks as though the deal's been done. Fox made the announcement today, stating that Abdul will join Cheryl Cole, Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Simon Cowell as a judge for the U.S. adaptation of the popular U.K. singing competition series The X Factor.

"I am excited beyond words to be a part of THE X FACTOR. I couldn't be happier to bring my love for cultivating talent and performance to such a wildly anticipated show," said Paula Abdul. "I'm looking forward to being back with the FOX/FremantleMedia family and know that it will be an extraordinary journey -- we're going to have a blast. I'm also delighted and grateful to be sitting next to Simon again...but you might want to check back with me in a week or two!"

Cowell expressed his own pleasure at working alongside Paula again, stating, “This show would never have been the same without Paula and I can’t believe I am saying this - I have missed her a lot, and I am thrilled she’s on the show.”

Paula’s judging style on Idol was a bit random at times and sure, sometimes it was hard to understand what she was trying to say, but there was chemistry between her and Simon. She was the “nice” judge and he was the honest, sometimes mean one. They bickered and flirted. It got awkward sometimes but that was all part of the show. Idol wasn’t the same when Paula left and it’s definitely not the same since Simon left. Knowing these two will be back to judging together on X Factor is one more reason to check the series out when it premieres.

X Factor is still doing auditions and is set to resume its talent search on Thursday, May 26th in Dallas.

Yesterday Paula Abdul announced via Twitter that she would not be returning to American Idol next season. Word is, she’s on her way to Vegas to talk about possibly joining So You Think You Can Dance.

E! Online’s Kristin Dos Santos posted in her blog that Abdul is set to meet with So You Think You Can Dance judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe about joining the show. Dos Santos doesn’t specify whether it would be a permanent spot at the judges table, a guest-judge gig or a spot as one of the choreographers. At present, the judges table on So You Think You Can Dance consists of Lythgoe, along with Mary Murphy. Each week, one of the choreographers serves as a guest-judge. As Abdul has a long career history as a dancer and choreographer, I think she might actually fit in better on SYTYCD than she ever did on Idol. If they were to bring Paula on full time as a judge, that would mean changing the judging format a little, either by eliminating the guest-judge or else cluttering up the table with four judges each week as they did with Idol last season.

Interestingly enough, Dos Santos went on to say that Nigel Lythgoe isn’t entirely convinced we won’t be seeing Abdul returning to American Idol come next season. Whether he knows something we don’t (he was once a producer on Idol) or it’s just a hunch, who knows?

Paulagate ’08 might be the most exciting thing that’s happened during this mostly predictable season of American Idol. The drama Abdul stirred up when she critiqued young Jason Castro’s second performance before he’d performed it has certainly gotten people talking. It’s not just the fans that have something to say about the ordeal. It looks like some other people in the industry have some opinions to share as well.

Country singer John Rich, who’s set to judge the newest season of Nashville Star had a few things to say about Paula’s mess-up. The Hollywood Reporter stated that Rich “laid into” Abdul for her inattentiveness. Rich said, “American Idol infuriates me as an artist. They're being fake about it. When you can't make a cognizant comment about someone's performance and you're commenting on something that happened the day before, why don't you just walk up onstage and slap them right across the face while you're at it? As an artist, I would just flip them the bird and walk off the stage. ... She wasn't even paying attention to what was going on.”

As Rich made this comment while on a panel to promote NBC’s Nashville Star, one could argue that he was just trying to get people’s attention with his comments in an effort to boost awareness of the country music talent show. Then again, he’s not exactly alone with his opinions on Abdul’s inattentiveness.

Fox responded to Rich’s comments, saying “John Rich's ungentlemanly and opportunistic comments are particularly disturbing considering the fact he attended a taping of American Idol last April, told producers, judges and performers he enjoyed himself and also did an interview with a crew from 'American Idol Extra' where he was extremely complimentary toward the show.”

Opportunistic, maybe but “ungentlemanly”? That just seems like an odd adverb to use in this context. Would it have been more “gentlemanly” for Rich to have kept his negative opinions to himself? Or is it ungentlemanly that he thinks the judges on Idol should pay attention to the acts they’re critiquing?

Anyway, to those of you who might’ve been concerned that Adbul’s blunder might’ve cost her her spot as the token nice-judge on Idol, rest assured, her job on the show appears to be secure.