Sources close to Paula Abdul say even though “Dancing with the Stars” ain’t gonna happen, she’s still talking to ABC about a show of her very own.

As we first reported, Paula met with ABC honcho Steve McPherson earlier this week and now we’re told one of the cards on the table is a possible variety show. And we’re told they also discussed a talent competition with Paula in the Simon Cowell seat. Sources say Paula also talked about her desire to become the executive producer.

And there’s this little tidbit. We’re told Paula’s feelings about being “disrespected” by “Idol” execs is more intense than ever after learning Victoria Beckham pulled in a fortune — reportedly $275,000 an episode.

But sources say she’d still come back to Simon — if the price ($10,000,000 a year) is right.

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It’s going to be a crowded ballroom for Dancing with the Stars’ ninth season. Sixteen celebrities — including Donny Osmond, Melissa Joan Hart and Aaron Carter — have signed on to do the cha cha, the paso doble on the ABC show, which premieres Monday, Sept. 21.

“When we increase the cast we find it makes the competition more interesting,” DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells People. “It was about trying to make it as big as possible and try to get that sense of fun and excitement and real character come through on the show.”

The sweet 16 lineup, which was announced live on Good Morning America Monday, also includes familiar faces like former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin, reality star Kelly Osbourne and supermodel-turned-billionaire businesswoman Kathy Ireland. Lesser-known celebrities, like snowboarder Louie Vito, Iron Chef’s Mark Dacascos and model Joanna Krupa join the cast as well. But by far the most eyebrow-raising contestant is former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

“He’s a fairly divisive figure in as much as Democrats will probably be hoping he fails and Republicans will probably be melting down the phones to keep him in,” Green admits. “I love that kind of level of engagement.”

Adds Green: “Tom loves dancing. He dances with his wife. He watches Dancing with the Stars religiously. For him it was a no brainer, but for us it was an absolute shock.”

Professional dancer/celebrity pairings will be announced on August 24, Green says, “because of geography, people will be meeting their partners for the first time at various times throughout the week.”

The complete cast for Dancing Season Nine

Mya, singer
Melissa Joan Hart, actress
Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboy
Ashley Hamilton, actor, comedian, singer-songwriter
Aaron Carter, singer
Kathy Ireland, former supermodel-turned-businesswoman
Debi Mazar, actress
Natalie Coughlin, U.S. Olympic swimmer
Louie Vito, snowboarder
Chuck Liddell, ultimate fighting champ
Donny Osmond, singer
Tom DeLay, former Republican congressman
Macy Gray, singer
Joanna Krupa, model and actress
Mark Dacascos, Iron Chef personality
Kelly Osbourne, reality star

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Even while he was on The Bachelorette trying to woo Jillian Harris, Ed Swiderski openly talked about having a girlfriend, former contestant Wes Hayden tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands now).

“Dave [Good] and I both remember Ed saying he had a girlfriend,” says Hayden, who also was accused of having a girlfriend while on the show. “But we are not the kind who are going to run our mouths.”

Finalist Reid Rosenthal tells Us Weekly some contestants knew Swiderski, 30, was bad news and “didn’t care to hang out with him.”

Adds Michael Stagliano, “There was definitely something, I can’t put my finger on it, where I did think, I’m not going to be best friends with this guy. Ed’s a shady character.”

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Bachelorette contestants are required to relinquish cellphones and laptops on the show to keep interaction lively among the participants. But because of Swiderski’s job as a Microsoft consultant, he “had an agreement” to keep both “because it was imperative for him to have access for work,” castmate Jesse Kovacs tells Us Weekly.

While he did some work, he also kept in touch with girlfriend Lindsey Johnson, whom he told he was only going on the show for fun. As Us Weekly first reported last week, he even texted her that Harris wasn’t his “type.” (Us also reported that he slept with Johnson a week after proposing to Harris and tried to bed another woman, Bethany Steffen, a few days later.)

On April 12, three days before he told Harris he had to leave the show to focus on his career, Swiderski emailed Johnson “I love you.”

Says contestant Kovacs, “Obviously, no one knew he was saying, ‘I’m not into [Harris] and I can’t wait to go home.’”

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Any recently engaged woman would be in soon-to-be marital bliss heaven, but that’s far from reality for The Bachelorette’s Jillian Harris, who was recently proposed to by finalist, Ed Swiderski.

But a recent tabloid cover story alleges that Ed hasn’t been faithful to Jillian — even after he had proposed — with two of his ex-girlfriends: Lindsay Johnson and Bethany Steffen.

However, Jillian tells OK!, contrary to the claims, the 29-year-old has been standing by her fiancé.

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The reality star explains to OK! that the tabloid story “claimed Ed and I broke up, when in fact we have not even come close… I really want out of the spotlight so bad. I hate it so much.”

This is not the first time the Canadian native has suffered heartbreak on national television. On the last season of The Bachelor, Jason Mesnick did not pick Jillian, who ultimately came in third place.

Yet audiences fell in love with the bubbly brunette and Jillian was offered the opportunity to be the next Bachelorette, giving her a second chance at love.

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While he was wooing Jillian Harris on ABC’s The Bachelorette, Ed Swiderski was also texting then-girlfriend Lindsey Johnson he loved her, according to the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands now).

Contestants are supposed to relinquish cellphones during taping, but Johnson, 29, tells Us Weekly Swiderski, 30, frequently texted her. On April 8, he wrote: “Miss you.”

“We were in contact the entire time,” Johnson tells Us Weekly. “He kept saying he loved me and that he couldn’t wait to get back to me. All he said about Jillian was, ‘She’s not my type. I like tall blondes!’”

Adds Johnson, “I believed everything he said to me when, in actuality, he was saying the same things to Jillian at the same time.”

Swiderski’s other girlfriend, Bethany Steffen, has also come forth to warn Harris, telling Us Weekly that she slept with the Chicago Microsoft consultant just eight days after he popped the question to Harris.

Swiderski denies cheating on Harris, 29, who said on Wednesday’s Good Morning America that she believes his word that the ladies’ claims are “not true.”

But Steffen tells Us, “Lindsey and I are both smart girls, and Ed just has this way of making people believe what he wants. Jillian needs to be careful.”

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On June 4 – eight days after he popped the question to Jillian Harris on The Bachelorette finale – Ed Swiderski slept with former girlfriend Lindsey Johnson, according to the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands now).

A day later, he tried to bed a different woman, Bethany Steffen, texting her to “bring beer and condoms” over to his place, Steffen tells Us.

The humiliated women are speaking out now to warn Harris, 29, about her new fiancee’s two-timing ways.

Says Steffen, “Ed’s not worth my time, but if I can help someone avoid heartbreak, I’m gonna do that.”

According to Us Weekly, Swiderski had been dating both Steffen and Johnson behind each other’s backs prior to filming The Bachelorette in late March (the finale, taped in May, aired July 27).

Even while he was on the hit ABC show he texted Johnson that Harris wasn’t his “type” and that he prefers “all blondes,” she says. “I love you,” he also wrote her.

Us Weekly reports that he lied to Harris when he said he had to bow out of episode five because he thought he’d lose his job as a Chicago Microsoft consultant.

While away, both women say they slept with Swiderski.

He then told them he was off to “a business trip in Texas,” when in reality he returned to film episode seven of The Bachelorette and declare to Harris that he had “reprioritized” when it came to work and romance.

Of the women’s claims, Harris tells Extra, “It’s not possible… This is a bump in the road and we’ll get through it.”

But Steffen warns Harris, “Lindsey and I are both smart girls, and Ed just has this way of making people believe what he wants. Jillian needs to be careful.”

Adds Johnson, “I feel gross, used and completely violated. It shocks me that he was able to do something like that to me.”

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Bachelorette Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski say they’ll likely wed sometime next year.

On Tuesday’s Bachelorette: After the Final Rose special, the couple also revealed she would ditch Canada and move in to her fiance’s Chicago apartment Sept. 1.

“It feels good so far, and I’m just excited to really get out there [together],” said Ed, 29, adding that they’ve only been apart about five days total so far this summer.

“I’m in a very good place right now,” said a bubbly Jillian. “I’m so lucky.”

“I think we’re just such a great team, whatever works for the two of us, works for the two of us,” she added.

Said Ed, “We’re certainly going to get married within the next 12 months.”

After an audience member asked about the night in the fantasy suite when Jillian and Ed didn’t have a passionate connection, she said things are different these days.

“No bedroom problems,” said Jillian.

The special also featured Jillian’s other men, Kiptyn and Reid, who wanted answers on why Harris didn’t pick them.

“What could I have done differently?” Kiptyn asked Harris.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Jillian replied. “You’re somebody that made me feel very loved.”

He said her rejection was “crushing.”

Reid — who made a surprising return from elimination and even popped the question — also wanted to know why she passed him up. He said he thought his proposal would be a “slam dunk.”

“When I came back, was there a part of you that wanted to say ‘yes’?” Reid asked.

Replied Jillian, “I think you know I knew that when I let you go I wasn’t ready to let you go.”

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