“Watching Lost is what I imagine it must be like to be trapped inside the brain of Paula Abdul.”

– Jimmy Kimmel, at ABC’s upfront presentation of its new fall schedule

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It’s a huge secret, but America Idol producers might be trying to woo Paula Abdul back to the struggling show.

Although still immensely popular, ratings are way down this season compared to when Paula was on the panel, and executives fear the loss of even more viewers when Simon Cowell leaves after this season.

“They want Paula back,” the insider says. “They’re not sure if she’d be the fifth judge, but they are talking to her. People tuned in to see Paula’s wacky antics and her chemistry with Simon. The show is just not as much fun to watch without her.”

What do you think? Should Paula return to American Idol? (I’m not watching it this season, because I think it’s quite possibly the worst season to date!)

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Fame

Ellen DeGeneres doesn’t mind a little mocking!

After Paula Abdul impersonated her American Idol replacement while hosting Thursday night’s VH1 Divas Live concert, the talk show host Twittered that she loved it.

“You’re hilarious,” DeGeneres, 51, posted Friday.

Abdul, who wore a blonde wig and DeGeneres’ trademark suit and sneakers, told the crowd, “All kidding aside, [I have] nothing but love for Ellen, and I wish you the best of luck and congratulations on your new gig.”

DeGeneres, who will be the fourth judge on the Fox show’s upcoming season, Twittered her respect to Abdul.

“You’ve left me some big shoes to fill…unfortunately I don’t wear high heels. Nothing but love for you too.”

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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.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

VH1 has confirmed that Paula Abdul is hosting its live VH1 Divas 2009 concert. Abdul first announced the news last night on Twitter. The latest edition of the franchise will include performances by Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, and Jordin Sparks, and VH1 says additional performers and presenters will be added in coming weeks. The concert will air on Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. ET, live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Abdul used Twitter earlier this month to announce that she was leaving American Idol.

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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.)

Source, Bauer-Griffin