Paula Abdul is back together with her dreamboat Simon Cowell - Access Hollywood

Penelope Cruz looking super hot as usual - Betty Confidential

Mel Gibson bombed, surprise, surprise - Starpulse

That's an awful lot of money for Pippa Middleton sexy times - Girls Talkin Smack

Gisele Bundchen makes boatloads more money than you - Hollywire

Reese Witherspoon spent Mother's Day at church - I'm Not Obsessed

Kate Beckinsale is still married - Babyrazzi

Which one of you keeps buying Ke$ha albums? - Celebrity Smack

Happy birthday to George Clooney - Celebrity Cafe

Kim Kardashian adds more cash to the family coffers - Fabulous Buzz

Vampire Diaries season finale spoilers - TV Fanatic

Amazing Raceseason finale - Reality TV Magazine

Jillian Michaels is leaving The Biggest Loser - The Wire

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Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul seem to be a match made in TV heaven. He is as biting and sarcastic as she is sweet and goofy. They seemed to have great chemistry when working together on American Idol -- that is, until she was booted off the show and replaced with Kara DioGuardi.

Cowell is excited to have his judging partner back for his newX Factor reality show. He says that one of the things that drew him to Paula is the fact that she can hold her own with him!

"What's interesting is she's snappy," he said in an interview. "She doesn't like you to disagree with her. And there were one or two disagreements. But that's why we wanted her on the show. I think it's important that everyone has their own viewpoint. But she is good at spotting talent. I mean I thought she was really on it the last two days and I said to her afterwards, this is the best I've seen you in a long time."

Cowell, who was recently on the list of Britain's wealthiest people, said that the American public also wanted Paula back.

"You know I've been doing interviews for months, you know we're talking about the show and getting people to audition and over and over again, whether it was radio interviews or TV interviews, radio interviews, the Internet, but mainly the public, I was hearing one message loud and clear: We want Paula on the show. I listened to the public, because they make or break our shows!"

Cowell and Paula will also be joined by British singer and TV personality Cheryl Cole and producer L.A. Reid on the X Factor.

This season of American Idol has been pretty drama free, save for Steven Tyler's sometimes-creepy comments and possibly the snub of former winner Lee DeWyze. However, there's usually 'that guy' or 'that girl' who brings the drama to the family show.

Check out five of the most scandalous American Idol moments ever.

Joanna Pacitti

Pretty Joanna Pacitti was thought to be a shoo-in for a top spot on the show during season eight. However, her quest for Idol gold was cut short in the top 36 when producers discovered she had a relationship with a couple of staffers.

Fox eventually disqualified Pacitti, deeming her ineligible to continue because of her "very personal connections" to Michelle Young and Roger Widynowski, two execs with American Idol's 19 Entertainment.

Frenchie Davis

Singer Frenchie Davis stole the show during her season two audition with her big voice and even bigger personality. However, Davis was later kicked out after topless modeling photos appeared.

Davis eventually found success -- and a Grammy nomination -- with her roles in the touring Broadway shows Ain't Misbehavin' and Dreamgirls. Oh, and now she's competing on another reality competition -- NBC's smash success The Voice.

Antonella Barba

Antonella Barba seemed better suited for the Jersey Shore than American Idol when several racy pics emerged around the time she was advancing on the Idol season six circuit. The real scandal wasn't the photo leak -- it was that Barba wasn't kicked off for the photos like Frenchie Davis was before her. She made it to the top 16 before she was eliminated.

Mario Vazquez

Latin cutie Mario Vazquez was one of the favorites to win season six of American Idol when he abruptly pulled out of the competition. The reason? Idol producer Magdaleno Olmos claimed that Vazquez made advances at him -- and even stared at him through a bathroom stall door.

"Vazquez stared lasciviously, smiled lasciviously and on one occasion followed him into a bathroom... knocked on the door of the plaintiff's stall and made eye contact through the space in the stall door," Olmos' lawyer wrote in his sexual harassment lawsuit.

Vazquez went on to get a record deal and achieved moderate success with his single Gallery in 2007.

Corey Clark

Corey Clark was disqualified from the second season of American Idol after he claimed that he had a sexual relationship with then-judge Paula Abdul. Clark claimed that Abdul advised him on how to dress and act on the show -- a claim she denied.

"There was love there. It was a relationship for like three, four months. She told me she loved me. I told her I love her. Do I still love her? No. I've moved on. Do I love her as a person? Yes. Do I care about her? Yes," Clark told ABC's Primetime in 2005. Abdul was investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing by Idol execs.

What do you think is the most scandalous moment in Idol history?

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Former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi was staying at Paula Abdul's Los Angeles home when a hankering for some chocolate landed her in the hospital. The highlarious incident happened when Paula was on vacation and let Kara stay in her home, long before the pair shared the judges' table.

Kara DioGuardi spilled the details of the magic brownie drama on Lopez Tonight saying, "The maid at the time found some brownies in the freezer and put them in the refrigerator." A ravished Kara discovered the treats, not knowing they were baked with a special ingredient, and popped six of the bite-sized brownies in her mouth.

"Six hours later I was like, 'Heyyy... What's going on?'" Kara recalls. "I fell out of bed, on the floor... and the ambulance comes, and this guy is like, 'This [expletive] is high as a kite!'"

The diagnosis was news to Kara. "High as a kite? I was like, 'I don't even smoke pot!'" Speaking of Paula Abdul, Kara was sure to clarify, "They weren't even hers. Someone had left them from a party."

Kara DioGuardi went on to tell host George Lopez that no songwriting work was accomplished on her brownie binge, but that she was inebriated during the creation of one of her favorite songs -- Sober.

Kara and co-writer Pink were "totally drunk" during the writing of the anti-party anthem. "Pink? Man, she is fun and one of the best singers. She's the best out there."

"There are two things he was not counting on," an unnamed source told The Scoop. "One, he never thought American Idolwould do well this year, much less better than when he was on the show. And he definitely wasn't counting on The Voicebeing a hit. That might have him more worried than anything. Not only is there a question of how The X-Factorwill stack up against these other singing competition shows, but there's a question about whether anyone is even going to be in the mood for another one in the fall."

Obviously, American Idolwill return for a season 11 and newcomer The Voiceis not only set to return stateside, but word is BBC is preparing to air their own version, as well.

With The X-Factor U.S. auditions underway, Simon Cowell has already faced some drama. Cowell -- or Fox? -- axed UK sensation and X-Factor UK judge Cheryl Cole from the U.S. version. Word is she then refused to sign back onto the UK version. This left Kelly Rowland to head over the pond to join Take That's Gary Barlow and N-Dubz's Tulisa Contostavlos on the judges' panel.

One reported reason for the shakeup stateside was the fear that Americans wouldn't understand Cole's rough Geordie accent, but rumblings indicate it may really have been about the British darling's failure to work the Hollywood scene and build a reputation out here.

There was also talk of a personality clash between Cole and American Idol alum turned X-Factor judge Paula Abdul, which Abdul of course denied. "All I can tell you is that she is lovely, and I was really excited about the relationship and friendship we were forging and regardless, I am looking forward to continuing with that," Abdul said during a press conference in Singapore. "She's wonderful."

Cole's exit means X-Factor host and Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger will move to the judges' panel, alongside Abdul and Antonio "L.A." Reid. British TV personality Steve Jones, who was supposed to co-host, may now get to control the mike on his own.

Buzz aside, this isn't the first report of Cowell getting nervous over The X-Factor. The first round of buzz surfaced back in February, but that was about the $5 million purse. "I think you should be nervous," Cowell said in a conference call. "By putting up that kind of prize money, it's a massive, massive risk. But it's also an incredible incentive, and I think it puts everybody, rightly, under an enormous amount of pressure."

Fox has officially replaced Cheryl Cole with Nicole Scherzinger on The X Factor -- although Cole isn't walking away empty-handed.

"Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of The X Factor," the network said in a statement. "Nicole will join Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul on their search across America to find the next global superstar or group to win the life-changing 5 million dollar recording deal. Nicole has previously joined Simon Cowell as a guest judge on The X Factor for the UK version of the show in 2010. Steve Jones will act as sole host of The X Factor."

According to Cole's contract, she will still get her $1.5 million salary -- whether she appears on The X Factor or not.

Why did they "x" out her career on The X Factor? Sources are telling E! News that Cole and Paula Abdul were like "oil and water" and had "lack of chemistry." The two were both complaining about each other to the producers and sources say that Cole's leaving The X Factor was more a "mutual decision."

Her thick English accent had also drawn concerns that American viewers would not be able to understand her.

Tell us: Are you happy that The X Factor replaced Cheryl Cole with Nicole Scherzinger?

Simon Cowell was his usual self when he spoke to the press via live satellite today at the TCA -- in other words, he was confident as ever that his new import The X Factor will beat out all the competition this fall.

"It's not just Idol, it's any show," Cowell clarified from his cushy seat at a secret location. "We don't enter something for the silver medal. You do it because you want to be number one, and for the next few months we are going to throw everything at this to try and make it the best show on TV.

"I wouldn't have made the show unless I thought it would be different," he added. "We see this as a game changer… We will show the good bits, the bad bits, the ugly bits -- and there are a lot of ugly bits."

Cowell also revealed he plans to get new mom Mariah Carey into the mix. "There's a section on the show I'm hoping Mariah will get involved in," Cowell teased. "She's been very enthusiastic about the show, then selfishly got pregnant, which is why she didn't end up as a judge."

Group Dynamics

After Cowell had enough time on his own, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones and The X Factor execs took the stage at the tour to shoot one liners at Simon via satellite and promise a big new show.

"It's grand scale," Abdul previewed. "It's an epic feeling. I've never witnessed so much talent. In each of the four categories, there are stars -- not just one winner -- that will emerge. The next stage, with the mentoring, is going to be extremely intense."

"Simon is a completely different species on the show," she added. "He's turning into me. He's turned into a pussy cat. It's very sweet."

That didn't seem to be the case, however. In fact, during the panel he got into it with Scherzinger, L.A. Reid and Abdul a few times, even pulling the 'scratch your nose while flipping someone off' move. Abdul also joked about being "back in a demented relationship" with him.

"It's kind of like mommy and daddy had a trial separation and now they're back together, and they still fight all the time," quipped Jones.

As to the question about the pending lawsuit between American Idol creator Simon Fuller and Fox, executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz shrugged, "Lawsuits are the cost of doing business in this country, but we're not at liberty to discuss it."

The X Factor Breakdown

Amid all the hype and pomp, Fox also revealed the schedule for the new season. While it looks like a lot of dates, the schedule also reflects how the show will break down as contestants go from anonymity to hanging out "at home" with the judges for mentoring.

The X Factor kicks off with two-night series premiere on Wednesday and Thursday, September 21 and 22 . These first episodes will showcase the live auditions of thousands around the country. The next week will cover the auditions from Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and Seattle, not to mention YouTube and the nationwide MyStudio audition booths.

Those who make the cut will head to Los Angeles for "Boot Camp," which starts airing on Wednesday, October 5. The contestants will face the panel of judges and a live audience to show off their singing, dancing and overall performance skills.

The next cut is the final four categories. The remaining contenders will be broken up into Young Guys, Young Girls, Older Singers and Groups. The X Factor producers will then surprise the judges by revealing which category they will get to mentor.

The mentoring kicks off Wednesday, October 12, with the remaining contestants visiting the "Judges' homes" They'll work with the judges to earn their chance at the live shows which kick off Thursday, October 13 and continue on a special Tuesday, October 18 episode.

Tuesday, October 25 is another special airdate. During the two-and-a-half hour episode, the judges will reveal who has earned one of the coveted spots among the season's finalists. It will then be up to America and the judges to decide who moves forward to the live shows.

November is the month of 90-minute live performance shows on Wednesday, followed by results shows on Thursdays, which of course resembles the American Idol format.

The season finale will air in two parts on December 21 and 22, setting someone up for a very happy, Christmas holiday, respite with $5 million and a Superbowl commercial deal.

Photos courtesy of Fox

With all the money TV stars make we could wipe out America's debt! So, who's making what on the small screen? According to a recent issue of TV Guide, you might be surprised.

Ashton Kutcher is now rolling in the dough as the highest paid sitcom actor for his new role on Two and a Half Men.

He'll make a whopping $700,000 per episode, while his new costar Jon Cryer will make $600,000. Angus T. Jones takes home $225,000 per episode.

Returning to TV will give Tim Allen and Kiefer Sutherland a nice payday at $225,000 per episode for their new new shows.

It pays to be a doctor on TV. Patrick Dempsey earns $275,000 per episode onGrey's Anatomy, while Kate Walsh rakes in the same same for Private Practice.

Nerds rule when it comes to money. The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki, Kacey Cuoco and Jim Parsons are now earning $250,000 an episode.

Over on the late night side of things, David Letterman earns $28 million a year, Jay Leno is hot on his heels at $25 million per year, with Jimmy Fallon brings up the rear with $5 million per year.

Last but not least is the world of reality. Ryan Seacrest earns $15 million for his mic skills on American Idolwhile Dancing with the Stars' Tom Bergeron nabs $150,000 per episode, America's Got Talent's Nick Cannon brings in $70,000 an episode, and So You Think You Can Dance'sCat Deeley, who was recently nominated for an Emmy, makes $60,000 per episode.

Over at The X Factor, Simon Cowell will take home $75 million per season, while his friend Paula Abdul cashes in at $2.5 million per season.

Are you jealous yet? We certainly are!

Image courtesy WENN/Dan Jackman

With The X Factor finally landing on Fox Sept. 21 and 22, Simon Cowell is featured in the Oct. issue of Redbook-- yes, we said Redbook! The TV meanie speaks about his relationship with fellow judge Paula Abdul and reveals he does, in fact, have a softer side -- sometimes.

"It depends," Cowell admits in the interview, hitting stands Sept. 13. "If I watch Bambi, I still get sad. That scene where Bambi's mum gets shot is sad! I swear to God, I'm a softie for that stuff. You don't believe me do you? Believe me. I promise you, I wouldn't say it unless it was true."

Cowell also tells the mag he brought Abdul to the judges' table because he actually likes her – or rather, appreciates her honesty.

"I do really like people who disagree with me," he reveals. "Probably my best friends in the world are the people I argue with the most, because they don't always say what you want to hear. From the minute I met Paula, I was fascinated by her. She's a complex person, but -- this is going to sounds very American -- she's got a great heart."

Cowell: how mean Will The X Factor get

Things were decidedly nicer on American Idol with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler on board last season, but when the juggernaut first took America by storm a decade ago, Cowell quickly became a household name synonymous with "mean." Considering the The X Factor judges' collective vibe at the TCA, recent promos and the sizzle reel SheKnows got to preview, nice isn't exactly in the cards for the new competition.

"We didn't make an intentional effort to be mean. That's just in us," Cowell quipped in defense of the reel. "The contestants are mean to us, and sometimes we can be harsh back to them. It's give and take."

With an age range of 12 to 80, it turns out the young contestants are meanest in the bunch, unless you count the parents.

"We've had to say to the 14-year-olds, 'Will you be kind to me?' because they are more lippy than any other contestants I've ever met in my life," Cowell revealed. "I was traumatized after the auditions. There was this one kid in New York, a little rapper. I mean, he absolutely chewed me apart. But I quite like that."

Whether the judges and contestants are naughty or nice, Cowell insists the most important thing about the tone of TheX Factor is that it's authentic. "There are cameras hidden all through this process, so you're seeing a really real process not even the contestants are aware of and, half the time, I'm not even aware of," he said.

That may explain how cameras caught Cowell having a complete melt down, respite with threats of a walk off as the producers surrounded him. On the other hand, that could have been the opposite, with the publicity dynamo hamming it up for cameras he knew were there.

"This was a section where it was during the 'Boot Camp' phase of the show," Cowell explained. "There were about 90 [contestants], and they were given a task to do. And everything went wrong. It wasn't their fault. It was just the arrangements they had chosen were terrible. I couldn't hear the piano player, which I was screaming about. The guitar sounded out of tune. So I was concerned for the day, and I was saying to the producers, in a very calm way, 'I don't like what I'm hearing, and could you sort it out, please.'"

Hm... SheKnows doesn't recall a "please" in there… In any event, the outspoken showrunner/judge added that his blow up clip was put in the reel because that's the kind of stuff that's going to make the cut, along with juicy backstories and powerful, heartwarming moments.

"We're going to show the good bits, the bad bits, the ugly bits," Cowell promised. "There are a lot of ugly bits."

The good, the bad and the ugly hit Fox in a two-night The X Factor series premiere on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 21 and 22 at 8 pm.

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Images: Fox /Getty Images

There has been a special brand of eccentricity missing from television this year: Paula Abdul. Now the talent judge is back and reteaming with her nemesis/true love Simon Cowell on The X-Factor -- but she had to set a certain someone straight that it isn't a ripoff of another popular talent show.

Abdul went on The Late Show to promote The X-Factor but had to put David Letterman in his place when he called it a carbon copy of American Idol.

"How is it not?" Letterman said, as Paula rolled her eyes. "You have Simon, and you, and then a guy who looks exactly like Randy Jackson [LA Reid] ... you go places -- you go to church basements and rotary clubs -- you get kids out, you get grownups out ... you get 'em to Hollywood and you have a weekly competition where the viewers gets to vote who will return."

"Now, tell me: How is that not American Idol?" Letterman asked.

"Can I talk?" asked Paula after an uncomfortable silence. "I feel like you're Simon Cowell reincarnated right now."

"Let me tell you something, if you let me talk for one second, mister, I'll start with the least significant part: $5 million recording contract. It's no big deal. $5 million. Never been done before," she said.

"What do they get on the American Idol?" Letterman asked. "Don't they get something on the American Idol?"

Paula rolled her eyes again. "Um, you know, $1 million."

"So the money's a little better on your show," said Letterman.

"A lot better," retorted Paula. "I mean, that doesn't exist."

"And they get to sit on Simon Cowell's lap," joked Letterman.

"I'll tell you what," Paula said, It's not all it's cracked up to be!"

The X-Factor premieres tonight on Fox.

Watch Paula Abdul on The Late Show with David Letterman:

Image courtesy FayesVision/WENN.com

The X Factor had its first live show on Tuesday night and they pitted Simon Cowell's team, The Girls, against L.A. Reid's team, The Boys. Cowell is wasting no time in gloating over his team which he says is sure to create a superstar.

"I was happy with the show and… more happy that my contestants just killed everyone else's" he told Access Hollywood. "I'm so doing better, I'm thrilled… my artists are better."

The Girls team consists of Melanie Amaro, Rachel Crow and Drew, while Reid's The Boys team consists of Astro, Marcus Canty and Chris Rene.

"L.A. Reid doesn't want to sit on this live show and see me do better than him, which I plainly did tonight," he boasted.

Judge Paula Abdul has The Groups, which consists of InTENsity, Lakoda Rayne and The Stereo Hogzz, while Nicole Scherzinger has The Over 30s, consisting of LeRoy Bell, Stacy Francis and Josh Krajcik.

Cowell said he is confident that The X Factor will find stars. "I'm excited. I can see stars emerging here -- artists that are going to sell records in the real world, that was the job," he said.

Abdul agrees, saying "I can only dream that we have the same level of success [as American Idol]… I'm just happy, I'm very blessed… mentoring is my strongest suit," she said.

Abdul and Cowell were, of course, American Idol judges together and enjoyed bantering back and forth -- and this show is no different. After Cowell complimented Abdul on "the incredible job" she has done with her groups, she said the compliment was unexpected. "It was a little weird! It will only happen once, I'm certain. Might as well enjoy it if it's short-lived!"

The X Factor next airs on Nov. 2 on Fox.

Photo: WENN

Nicole Scherzinger wants everyone to know that she's the one responsible for sending The X Factor favorite Rachel Crow home.

"In the moment and under pressure, it's not as easy to say 'you're going home.' I own the decision I made right then,"Scherzinger revealed earlier this week.

The tearful elimination came under scrutiny after TMZ reported that Paula Abdul advised the torn Pussycat Dolls lead singer to "just let it go to a deadlock."

That's how they interpreted it,"Abdul told Jimmy Kimmel of the footage. "I adore [Nicole] and know what she was feeling like [having to send someone home.]"

"I can't make this decision," Scherzinger said among a chorus of boos. "Please, I can't make this decision because I've been up there and I know how it feels. I love and adore both of you, so I have to go to a deadlock."

The decision led to Crow's elimination -- and death threats for the judge.

"To get death threats is like, really scary for me. I was like, 'Now America is going to blame this on me, and it's not in my heart!'" she told Extra.

For her part, the 13-year-old Crow got over the initial heartbreak and accepted her fate. "[Rachel] came into the room [backstage] and she was a little angel. She said, 'I'm okay. Everything will be okay,'" Scherzinger said.

Crow added to her feelings in another interview last week. "It's nobody's fault," she said Thursday. "It's just what God had in store for me and it'll be okay."

She's right: Rachel Crow is going to be a superstar, with or without The X Factor.

Image courtesy Josiah True/ WENN.com

Do you blame Nicole Scherzinger or Paula Abdul for Rachel Crow's elimination?

We always thought there was a lot more behind the perpetual bickering of The X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul than meets the eye. Turns out we were right, and that thing is incredible sexual tension.

On Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People Wednesday night, Cowell said he considered taking Abdul to bed -- but quickly reconsidered.

Simon Cowell is all a-Twitter>>

"We didn't like each other in the beginning," Cowell said, adding, "I think it was sexual tension -- on her part."

"That she really wanted you?" Walters asked.

"A million percent," Cowell said.

"What happened? Did you want her?" Walters asked.

"I considered it," Cowell admitted. "But then I thought, 'I don't think the after would be as good as before.'"

Simon Cowell: Rachel Crow's X Factor elimination was "ridiculous">>

Of course if it had happened, don't think Cowell would have cuddled afterwards.

"I'd let her stay for a few hours, but then it would have to be, 'Good night,'" he said.

Lest his judging table partner think he was just messing with her, Cowell offered this reassurance for her ego: "If you're watching Paula, it is true," he said.

Eh. She could do worse.

Cowell and Abdul first met while preparing for the first season of American Idol in 2002. Abdul has been married twice, to Emilio Estevez from 1992 to 1994 and fashion designer Brad Beckerman from 1996 to 1998. Her relationship with restaurant owner J.T. Torregiani ended in 2008. Cowell has been engaged to makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy since February 2010. No wedding date has been set.

Image courtesy FayesVision/WENN.com

"Off you go!"

Steve Jones -- the Welsh television personality once called "as charmless as a Ken doll and even less animated" -- will not be back to host a second season of the Fox talent show The X Factor.

Also leaving the series is Nicole Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman who found herself at the center of death threats after her failure to deliver a crucial vote sent fan favorite Rachel Crow, 13, packing three weeks before the finale.

The cast brouhaha comes just a month after Fox and Jones vehemently denied whispers that anyone would be leaving the show.

Jones was originally slated to host X Factor alongside Scherzinger, who replaced British pop star Cheryl Cole as a judge when executive producer Simon Cowell and other showrunners developed second thoughts about having the British pop tart join the series.

On Monday, Jones and the network released statements confirming that the U.K.'s answer to Ryan Seacrest will not be on the other end of the microphone when Simon Cowell's hit talent show returns to the tube in September.

"I wont be hosting next season's X Factor, which is a shame, but I cant complain as I've had a great time. Good luck to everyone on the show, " Jones tweeted Monday evening.

"There have been mistakes and he just doesn't seem to have the knack for dealing with contestants," a tabloid tattle told The Chicago Sun-Times last month.

Steve has blamed his seemingly "rude" hosting manner — which saw him fail to comfort Crow when she collapsed to the floor in tears upon elimination — on "screaming" producers.

Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger voted off The X Factor?>>

Nicole proved herself an indecisive judge when she waffled on a vote and Crow ended up going home. When asked at a press conference last month whether she'd return for a second season of The X Factor, the Pussycat Dolls singer refused to give a straight answer.

"I've had a lot of fun this season," she said. "The reason I took this job is I wanted to mentor, first and foremost… It has been very hard on me, the elimination process. It's something I could never have been prepared for."

The "Don't Cha" songstress now plans "to focus on her music career," informants say. Ex-Destiny's Child girl bander Kelly Rowland, a judge on the British adaptation of The X Factor, is reportedly being courted as a possible replacement.

Nicole Scherzinger owns up to Rachel Crow heartbreak>>

Cowell, Paula Abdul and former record executive L.A. Reid make up the remainder of the judges panel. But that could soon change.

Paula is expected to announce her departure from The X Factor sometime in the coming days, if tipsters for trade industry website Deadline Hollywood are to be believed.

No reason has been given for the cast shakeup. But despite consistent viewership, X Factor has failed to achieve popularity similar to American Idol -- the long-running singing smash Cowell left to import X Factor Stateside.

"None of the three left on their own accord and that it was cleaning house day at the so-so rated reality series," Deadline wrote on Monday.

The X Factor currently averages about 12.4 million viewers a week, compared with the 21 million pairs of peepers per episode that typically tune in for Idol.

Photo credits: FayesVision/WENN.com

Could Mariah Carey swoop in and save The X Factor? The mother of Moroccan Scott and Monroe Cannon is on the short list of celebrities fans want to replace the ousted Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul on the hit show.

"Simon Cowell wants to add some newness and originality to the show," a source told Hollywood Life.

"[Simon] felt that Paula was replaceable because her groups didn't succeed and [he] didn't want the Idol comparisons to continue."

Cowell wanted the U.S. incarnation of the hit U.K. talent show to surpass AmericanIdol ratings, but it failed to the make the grade. The acerbic Brit reportedly blamed Abdul, Scherzinger and host Steve Jones for the chaos on the show, including Rachel Crow's emotional elimination.

Now, Cowell is looking for mega-watt replacements so they can compete with Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler on Idol, along with Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and the gang on The Voice. Carey is the logical choice, according to sources.

"She wants to be a judge and she has been in secret talks with Simon. The two are good friends and she promised to help pull in monster ratings this coming season," an insider told the National Enquirer in early January.

And Cowell sings her praises.

"I met her recently and she was on great form," Cowell said of Nick Cannon's wife. "And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with. She'll be involved in some form. I literally adore her. I love her to bits."

Plus, she wants to remain relevant in music without touring. What better way than with a high-profile television gig? It's working for Lopez.

So, we're really expecting this to happen — especially since no replacements were immediately announced. Carey is a diva and likely wants a spectacular announcement.

We can't help but be a little sad for the fired judges and host, though.

"I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of The X Factor last year. We had a lot of fun making the show together and importantly, we found some real talent and stars," Cowell said in a statement.

"You do develop friendships with the people you work with and Paula, in particular, is a very close friend and I expect to be working with her on another project in the near future. I'm sure all three are going to have massive success in what they do next, but now is the time to thank them all for everything they did last year."

Image courtesy A. Benjilali/WENN.com

Do you think Mariah Carey should be a new judge on The X Factor?

Paula Abdul finally admitted what we all assumed after Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones were fired from The X Factor: She was let go, too.

"Yes, it's true; I won't be returning to The X Factor next season,"Abdul tweeted Tuesday afternoon. "I've learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations. Simon & I, along with Fox & Fremantle, have been communicating about this for a while now, & I have absolute understanding of the situation."

Insiders are whispering that Cowell blamed Abdul for the show's lagging ratings.

"[Simon] felt that Paula was replaceable because her groups didn't succeed and [he] didn't want the Idol comparisons to continue," a source told Hollywood Life.

Is that the reason? We'll probably never know the whole story, but both sides are adamant it's just about business and they'll still be friends.

"Simon is, and will remain a dear friend of mine," she added on Twitter. "I want nothing more than for The X Factor to exceed ALL of their wildest dreams. This truly has been a blessing and I am most grateful."

Cowell echoed that sentiment, adding a cryptic remark about future collaborations.

"You do develop friendships with the people you work with and Paula, in particular, is a very close friend and I expect to be working with her on another project in the near future,"he said in a statement.

Could that new "project" be a relationship? The two have flirted for years, though Cowell admitted he thought about sleeping with Abdul at one time.

"But then I thought, I don't think the after would be as good as the before. I'd let her stay for a few hours, but then it would have to be goodnight," he told Barbara Walters.

Ew. So, no relationship — what will they do together? Let's just hope it's not another talent show. We have enough of those.

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If Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are total BFFs like we thought they were, how on earth could he have fired her from The X Factor? Cowell said it actually was not his choice at all, and if he had his way she's still be sitting next to him on set.

The head honcho told Reality Rocks that he was perfectly happy with the status quo and it was the network who balked.

"I was happy with the show last year," Cowell said. "I was kind of thinking this year, as we all were, what the marketplace was going to be like in a year's time. And what we anticipated was a big competition between us and American Idol, plus the chance that The Voice may compete with us in the fall. Plus the change in the music scene, which is we predicted that pop music was going to make a big comeback -- you're definitely going see that starting with One Direction, who ironically were on the U.K. X Factor, a boy band who could debut at number one on the album charts in a couple weeks' time."

Simon Cowell wanted to get it on with Paula Abdul>>

"This is just the beginning, so the show was really gearing up to take all of that into account. And the thing with Paula in particular was that the network felt was that it was still too similar to what we had done on Idol, and they wanted to separate the shows further. So it's sad that we're losing them, but you hope that the changes will overall make the show do better this year, because that's all we were thinking about."

No worries though -- he claims Abdul took the news like a champ.

"I loved being back with Paula again. We had a fantastic time, and I had to speak to her on the night [the firings were] announced. But she was very, very gracious and cool and very grown-up about it. But the network felt quite strongly; they wanted to say that those days of me being associated with Idol are over and it's time to see something brand new."

Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell hint at new project>>

And as for those who say he kinda sucks for letting longtime friends like Paula and Cheryl Cole get the ax, Cowell said that it's quite the opposite: He's helped them make a ton of money already.

"I would counter that by saying that [Paula and Cheryl] worked with us on shows for a long time, I've supported them, and everyone's made a lot of money out of it! So look at it in the real world: That is show business," he explained.

"I don't make these decisions on my own. Of course, you can fight for people, but you don't always win the battle. I had to really, really push to get Paula on the show on the first year and I'm glad she did it, as I think it's been good for her. She's going to go on now to other things, so it's slightly unfair for people to say that about me. Because on the back of what we've done for these people, they have massive opportunities ahead of them."

Auditions for The X Factor season two are currently underway at The X Factor USA website.

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-We'll really "Miss You Much" as a potential judge for the next season of The X Factor, Janet Jackson! The pop legend and brother of Michael Jackson was heavily rumored to fill a spot left vacant by Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, but she has publicly declined any offer to do so.

The singer said in a statement that she is "very flattered that X Factor let me know that I was being considered for next season, but it just wouldn't be possible."

Why not? A representative of Jackson's camp told E! News that the singer is simply too busy to adjust her schedule for the show, due to her commitment to her Number Ones Up Close and Personal Tour and an upcoming Tyler Perry movie.

Good thing she clarified things early -- apparently, Janet Jackson claims that they had "absolutely no meetings" with anyone from The X Factor in regard to a possible judging spot.

Still eyeing a seat alongside L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell are Avril Lavigne, LeAnn Rimes and Britney Spears, and fans are calling for weekly doses of Mariah Carey and Beyonce on the talent show. Producers are looking to book a few big female names in order to raise the bar -- and the ratings!

Who do you want to see as a judge on The X Factor next season?

Photo credit: Aaron Gilbert/ WENN.com

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With so many details about the negotiations already leaked, it seems like Britney Spears is a shoe-in for a vacant spot on The X Factor's judges' panel, right?

Not so fast, says Simon Cowell. The show's ringleader shared a recent surprise regarding the race to fill the seats left empty by Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, as well as details on his ideal hosts and a crucial amendment to audition guidelines.

"You’ll have to wait and see," commented Cowell on Spears' potential role during an appearance on Good Day New York. "I can’t confirm or deny anything right now. The truth is, we are talking to a number of people. It changes on a daily basis to be honest with you."

He mentioned that Britney isn't the only one in the running as of last night.

"You think you've made your mind up, then last night, two other people threw their names in the hat -- one a very famous singer, one a very famous actress -- and you gotta talk to everybody."

Cowell also answered questions about who will host the show's second season, since Steve Jones will also not be returning.

"Too many Brits on the show, if I’m being honest with you. One Brit allowed," he joked. "I always wanted a boy and a girl to host the show. And I like hosts who don’t kind of have a hosting background, you know. I like them when they’ve done acting and stuff like that. It’s a different kind of dynamic."

There won't only be fresh famous faces at the judges' table -- Cowell addressed a new policy change that welcomes auditionees who already have management contracts.

"We always said from day one that we're trying to take away as many rules as possible: The lower age limit is 12, you can be in a vocal group, there's no upper age limit. And then we thought it's kind of crazy to exclude people who've got management contracts, particularly if they're good. They're invited along as well -- so basically, everyone is."

One thing that remains the same? "The five million dollars is back on the table. The winner gets that."

Photo credit: WENN.com

Read more headlines for The X Factor

Britney Spears' huge payday for The X Factor
Janet Jackson: Out of X Factor judge running
Paula Abdul was "grown-up" about getting canned

Make us laugh again!

I, for one, shed an internal tear upon learning of Steven Tyler's decision to depart. He provided the levity the show desperately needed amidst dramatized ballads and Randy Jackson's overuse of the word "dawg." The wacky rocker simply knocked our socks off with his nonsensical commentary— really, who can say things like "It's as clear as the balls on a tall dog" and "I love every bone in a woman's body, especially mine" on air and get away with it? So, in light of the somewhat incoherent lothario leaving, we propose you replace him with another someone who can keep us in stitches. Not in the Paula Abdul kind of way... we were laughing at her, not with her. Our pick? The eternally witty Betty White.

Add an Average Joe to the mix

Half of my time watching American Idol is spent scratching my head over the judges' feedback. Are they listening to the same singing we are?! For the love of Cher, throw an Average Joe on the judges' panel so we can hear at least one opinion that mirrors our own. And, since we're pretty sure we'd be great at the job, give us a shot at our fifteen minutes of fame — have some sort of "win your chance to be a judge on American Idol" contest for we plebeians who can't carry a tune in a bucket but know a good song when we hear it.

Were Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez asked to leave Idol? >>

Crown a king and queen

In the beginning, American Idol churned out powerhouse female winners like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Nowadays, not so much. Can we even remember the last time a female took top honors? Oh yeah, it was Jordin Sparks... five seasons ago! As the show's fanbase of fanatical tweens and teens with unlimited texting has grown, a distinctive trend has surfaced — the good lookin' guys get all the votes. It seems as though, when forced to choose, the little ladies of the audience will continue ponying up their picks for the heartthrobs. Whatever happened to girl power?? Let's level the playing field by eliminating the battle of the sexes, thus crowning both a king and queen of the show.

Get rid of the judges' save and give us a special vote

When the judges interrupted Jessica Sanchez's "singing for her life" song to give her the season's only save, many people cried ratings conspiracy upon watching the seemingly scripted scene. Any way you cut it, the judges' save makes the show look rigged. We normal folk deal with disappointment daily — nobody offers us a free pass. That special vote would be better served by allowing the audience to vote off a judge at each season's end. Since the show has been playing musical chairs on the judges' panel the last few seasons anyway, producers should save themselves the trouble and lend the audience the upper hand.

American Idol: The good, bad and just plain tone deaf! >>

Throw down the gauntlet

If all else fails and American Idol's ratings continue to drop — even with rumored replacement judges like Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin— we can offer one other surefire suggestion for getting viewers to tune in to the talent show. Instead of having contestants sing one last song for a save, toss them into an obstacle course à la Wipeout. We'd much rather see heads bouncing off those big, red rubber orbs than suffer through another nasally rendition of a Whitney Houston megahit.

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