Simon Cowell: Paula Abdul On 'The X Factor' Judge Shortlist

In taking on "American Idol," British import "The X Factor" may have found the winning formula: "American Idol".

Simon Cowell, who is bringing his monster British singing competition to the United States, hasn't yet found his judges. But there's a familiar name on his shortlist: Paula Abdul.

Cowell told Access Hollywood that he and the producers have spoken to Abdul and she's under major consideration for the job -- along with Mariah Carey and a number of other big names.

The two worked together as judges during the massively successful introduction and rise of "Idol," dominating the airwaves and pop culture for eight seasons before Abdul left the show. Cowell left after last season. When it came to talking to singing hopefuls, Cowell was the good cop to Abdul's bad cop, and their unique chemistry made them stars themselves.

Abdul started her own competition show, "Live to Dance," but it was canceled after one season on CBS.

"The X Factor" is pulling out all the stops in its effort to be number one, offering a $5 million prize and talking to potential celebrity judges such as Jessica Simpson.

For more, click over to Access Hollywood.

Comments

[c00keesweetz]

12:47 AM on 03/12/2011

if simon and paula ever got married they'd kill each other. i like saula as in simon and paula back together again. but saula as her and him TOGETHER IN A RELATIONSHIP? NO WAY JOSE!

[c00keesweetz]

12:45 AM on 03/12/2011

that's true the AI ratings went down low AFTER paula left. must be cool to be that irreplaceable that the show hires a ton of stars to fill your spot and they can't ever do it right! can i be that?

[cheetohman]

09:24 AM on 03/04/2011

When it came to talking to singing hopefuls, Cowell was the good cop to Abdul's bad cop...

I think you got something backwards, there.

[moonchild62]

10:55 AM on 03/04/2011

This!

I was just about to post the same thing...

[Lucille]

05:07 AM on 03/04/2011

There is no competition I love Paula and Simon together. Paula has a heart and does give constructive criticism and Simon's criticism is blunter but it has its value. I really liked them together on American Idol and after Paula left I haven't watch since. Simon and Paula balance each other out.

I watched Paula's dance show and I was so happy to see her, I thought the contestants found her presence very calming and reassuring. The problem with the show was it was about the purity of dance for all people, whether they were young or old, and that’s a nice attitude to have but it was boring to watch old people shuffle around the stage. Simon would have never allowed that sort of thing to go on on his show but hopefully on the X-Factor Paula will be there to soften Simon’s blows to the contestants.

[jcarterla]

04:12 AM on 03/04/2011

I don't watch these shows, but I hope they hire Paula. I love getting the condensed crazy on The Soup.

[merryjee]

04:11 AM on 03/04/2011

The two worked together as judges during the massively successful introduction and rise of "Idol," dominating the airwaves and pop culture for eight seasons before Abdul left the show. Cowell left after last season. When it came to talking to singing hopefuls, Cowell was the good cop to Abdul's bad cop, and their unique chemistry made them stars themselves.

http://www.biographystuff.com/2011-festival-beale-street-music

[way2sunny]

08:23 AM on 03/04/2011

You copied and pasted three sentences from the article above. What could possibly be the point?

[kubbikat]

11:52 PM on 03/03/2011

Don.t tell me Nick Cannon is pimping his soon to pop baby mama, Mariah - opposable thumbs down! - No to nepotism. Simon, you have a nose for talent, thumbs up for Paula, give some other near do well a break, remember those days of hunger

[auramac]

09:23 PM on 03/03/2011

Paula and Elton should do it- forget the rest!

[scorpioman]

07:17 PM on 03/03/2011

for 5 mil even I would try

[raviandsonia]

05:25 PM on 03/03/2011

Saw American Idol this week. Comments:

Best ever bunch of 12 Men & 12 Women
Judges have ZERO chemistry
Jennifer Lopez is just another Paula Abdul without the stupor over her head like Paula
Steven Tyler can sing but boy .... he can't comment
Meanwhile ... Poor Randy... he's the only voice of reason.

Overall, I bet their viewership is down quite a bit

Will I watch next week? Probably not until the final to see who wins... if nothing else is on.

[MiraMcB]

01:32 AM on 03/04/2011

Yup. Bottom line. It pretty much sux. Trying to do that without Simon was S T U P I D. I wish they would either cancel it or move it in the schedule so we could have X Factor U.K. in the Fall and then go right into X Factor U.S. after the Christmas/New Year holiday break. Let them put Idol in the summer sometime, as long as it doesn't interfer with BGT or AGT, that is.

[Pamwings]

04:46 PM on 03/03/2011

He's be a fool not to hire her. And how about paying her the big bucks she deserves. If Charlie Sheen was the highest paid sit-com actor because of the viewers he brought in, the same should apply to Paula. A huge number of Idol fans stopped watching when Paul left, the rest, including me, left with Simon. I wasn't originally planning on watching the X-factor, but will if Paula and Simon are a tantalizingly sparring duo again.

[CAMBEL]

05:06 PM on 03/03/2011

Actually the big drop in idols ratings came the year before Paula left. I frankly couldn't put up with her drunken on air rambling that would go nowhere.

[LeeLoPink]

05:20 PM on 03/03/2011

I like Paula, so I'm partial. I have to admit, she got a little annoying judging her dance show recently. But, that's why I think she & Simon are a package deal: it gives Simon room to be Simon. Paula can be the 'nice one', but Simon won't let her get away with acting too nutso.

[MiraMcB]

01:34 AM on 03/04/2011

I disagree. The Saulas are LEGION. I don't happen to be one of them, particularly, but they are a force to be reckoned with (in the millions) and they fled when Paula left. Huge dent. Big mistake on Idol producers' part. HUGE. One of many, unfortunately.

[LeeLoPink]

05:14 PM on 03/03/2011

I hope you are being serious because I totally agree! Idol is awful this year. I keep trying to watch but I end up bored out of my mind and annoyed with the judges. There are a couple of kids who didn't make it through who I think Simon would have put through in a heartbeat.

I hope Simon doesn't put Mariah Carey on his show. He really needs to team up with Paula again - they are so entertaining.