American Idol isn’t the same without Paula Abdul, says Simon Cowell.

On the Fox show’s upcoming ninth season, judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi return – along with celeb guest judges, including Victoria Beckham, Shania Twain and Katy Perry.

Cowell, 49, tells Extra the show is now “different. It’s like comparing a carrot to a banana.”

Though the judge says he doesn’t want to “get in the middle” of Idol execs and Abdul, 47, he says, “I miss her.”

He adds that Abdul – who denied to TV Guide that she left the show over money – is “someone who will always work.”

So what’s next for Abdul?

“I definitely want to do a talk show because it would be different,” says Abdul, who has shot a guest role on Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and will host VH1’s Divas Live Sept. 17. “It would be a lot of fun variety with a ton of unexpected stuff and tributes to everyday people getting their big chance.”

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While legendary singer and style icon Cyndi Lauper has her suspicions about whether or not Paula Abdul is actually leaving American Idol, she tells In Touch, she would love to be a judge next season.

“Of course I would. I think there is a lot I could do for the kids,” she revealed backstage at BergenPAC in New Jersey on August 16. So while she waits for Simon Cowell to call, the 56 year-old singer is focusing her attention on helping those in need.

She teamed up with BergenPAC to host a concert and food drive for the Center for Food Action in Englewood, N.J. “Food pantries are empty now because times are tough,” Cyndi tells In Touch. “So I just thought I’m going to be touring anyway, so let’s have a good time and help each other out.”

For more information or to make a donation, log on to cfanj.org.

Would you watch?

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First Victoria Beckham, then Mary J. Blige — and now Shania Twain? We’re hearing that the country superstar might take a seat next to Simon Cowell as a guest judge at upcoming American Idol auditions.

Twain may fill Paula Abdul’s vacant spot on the judging panel in Chicago on Aug. 30-31.

Blige teamed up with the Idol crew in Atlanta, while Victoria Beckham filled in for Abdul in Boston earlier this month.

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Jessica Simpson isn’t trying to fill Paula Abdul’s vacant judge’s seat on American Idol.

The New York Post reported Monday that the singer’s father Joe is pushing producers to cast Simpson as a replacement for Abdul.

But Simpson’s rep tells Usmagazine.com: “There is absolutely no truth to this.”

She is currently shooting her VH-1 reality show about beauty overseas. The show airs in 2010.

Meanwhile, Abdul still remains jobless.

She will not be guest-starring on Ugly Betty, as had been rumored, the Los Angeles Times confirmed over the weekend. (She had been in talks to play a temp who befriends Becki Newton’s character Amanda at Mode magazine.)

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Victoria Beckham plans to be the nice judge when it comes to critiquing contestants on American Idol — but she expects to trade some not-so-nice barbs with prickly judge Simon Cowell.

“I like that fact that’s he’s honest. I think he’s very funny,” Beckham told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Friday. “He has a very tongue-in-cheek British sense of humor, which I have too. I’m looking forward to a bit of banter. I hope he does give me a little bit of a hard time. I love that. I feed off of that.”

Beckham, 35, says she doesn’t know Cowell well, but has one very pointed memory of him. “He is the only man in the music industry who turned down the Spice Girls and said we would never work,” Beckham said with a laugh.

Asked if she plans follow in the footsteps of Paula Abdul, who’s always been the most kind and nurturing judge on the show, Beckman says, “I want to be nice to people. I know how it feels to stand there and be judged … I don’t want to shatter anybody’s dream, but at the same time there’s nothing wrong with constructive criticism.”

As for whether she feels guilty replacing Abdul, she says, “I don’t. I’m a spiritual person and I believe that you get back whet you put out there, and I hope she does something that is bigger and better …. There’s something great for her around the corner, I’m sure.”

So how should prospective contestants aim to please Posh Spice? “What I’m looking for [in an Idol winner] is a great singer and somebody who has that star quality. It’s about the whole package.”

One other quality the fashion-savvy star would like to see: a contestant who possesses “natural style.”

Beckham is currently in Denver, where she’s set to participate in the first round of auditions for the upcoming season of American Idol.

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Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice has confirmed that negotiations are over with Paula Abdul and she will not be returning to “American Idol.”

He said guest judges will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi during the seven weeks of tryouts.

Two have been confirmed to step in as guest “Idol” judges.

One of those judges will be Victoria Beckham and we have just learned that the other confirmed guest judge will be Katy Perry.

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Paula Abdul is out.

After eight seasons, she confirmed late Tuesday that she is leaving the hit Fox show American Idol.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol,” Abdul, 47, Twittered. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon.”

“What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me,” she added. “I do, without any doubt, have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”

Her announcement comes weeks after her manager hinted the singer-dancer was leaving the show because there was no contract on the table.

In a statement Tuesday, a Fox TV rep said: “Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Added host Ryan Seacrest (via Twitter): “I am shocked and saddened about Paula.” He said he “cant’ imagine” a judge’s panel without her.

With Abdul’s exit, the number of judges returns to three, with Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, who announced Monday she will be returning.

Taping begins Thursday.

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