Is Paula Abdul Exit An American Idol PR Stunt? –
Interview With Entertainment Lawyer John J. Tormey III, Esq.
Is Paula Abdul Exit an American Idol PR Stunt?
by Free Britney at August 6, 2009 10:36 am
Despite Paula Abdul's farewell Tweet and Fox wishing her happy trails, the latest American Idol conspiracy theory suggests she's not going anywhere.
Here are a few bits of evidence (albeit circumstantial) that make us wonder if the reality show and the wacky, but entertaining judge are really parting ways:
•Within an hour of Abdul's bombshell, celebrity gossip maven Bonnie Fuller, late of www.HollywoodLife.com, tweeted that "Abdul has already signed her new deal [with American Idol]. The whole sob story was a pure publicity stunt".
•Asked to comment if there was no way Abdul wouldn't be back on American Idol come the winter and the launch of the new season, Fox reps didn't respond.
•On his radio show this morning, Ryan Seacrest said Abdul's departure was real, "as far as I know". Randy Jackson
•Asked to comment if it was possible for a star and network to cook up a scheme, entertainment attorney John J. Tormey III said, "Anything's possible."
•Unnamed "television industry executives" told the New York Times they believe "Ms. Abdul's combative stance is simply a negotiating tactic". Of course, it could well be a one-sided tactic, if she really wants $20 million a year.
•Tormey didn't think it was a reach to suggest Paul Abdul would appear to walk away from a deal in order to sweeten it. "In television" ,the lawyer said, "it's not uncommon for talent to take a hiatus in the event of negotiations".
So? What do you think? While it sounds obvious, the only way we'll know is with the passage of time ... or the instant American Idol get a new judge (today's rumored replacement is Victoria Beckham), or Paula Abdul gets a new gig.
Until then, we say let the conspiracy theories pile up!
Would you miss Paula on American Idol?
Read more:
Is Paula Abdul Exit An American Idol PR Stunt? – Interview With Entertainment Lawyer John J. Tormey III, Esq., August 6, 2009
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NewsPaula Abdul Exiting Idol? Yeah, Right
by Joal Ryan Thu., Aug. 6, 2009 6:09 AM PDTMichael Becker/FOX
It's February 2010. The first singer from American Idol's first live show of the season—let's call him Obligatory Husky Guy (Who Can't Decide If He's Country or Pop)—has hit his last shaky note. Ryan Seacrest leads the poor fellow to face the judges.
Randy Jackson says the performance didn't do it for him, dawg. Kara DioGuardi says something valid but forgettable. Paula Abdul tells him she loves the color of his inner child, but that she preferred the song he sang next week.
Wait a second. Didn't Abdul tweet that she was leaving Idol? Didn't Fox issue the old "wish her the best" kiss of death?
Uh-huh. The leading and latest Idol conspiracy theory says Abdul's not going anywhere except back to Idol, while the two sides act out the greatest hoax since Elvis Presley's "death".
Why It Could Be True:
• Within an hour of Abdul's Tuesday night bombshell, tabloid maven Bonnie Fuller, late of www.HollywoodLife.com, tweeted that "Abdul has already signed her new deal with Idol. The whole sob story of not getting a deal was a pure publicity stunt". In another entry, Fuller further alleged, "Everyone was into the Paula PR stint [sic]".
• When asked to comment if there was no way Abdul wouldn't be back on Idol come the winter and the launch of the new season, Fox reps didn't respond.
• On his radio show this morning, Seacrest said Abdul's departure was real—"as far as I know." Jackson
• When asked to comment if it was possible for a star and a network to cook up such a scheme, entertainment attorney John J. Tormey III told us, "Anything's possible".
Why It Isn't True:
• Tormey finished his thought by adding, "I would hope that a major network would not play a game like that… I think that's a real jump".
• By this morning, Fuller was having second-tweets. She wrote that her sources were now informing her that the Fox/Idol camp was "stunned" by Abdul's exit announcement. "Guess Paula Abdul is as loopy as she appears".
• Seacrest ended his opening remarks on the Abdul matter with a blanket "Not a publicity stunt".
But Wait! Why It Could Be Partly True:
• Unnamed "television industry executives" told the New York
• Tormey likewise didn't think it was a reach to suggest Abdul would appear to walk away from a deal in order to sweeten it. "In television", he said, "it's not uncommon for talent to take a hiatus in the event of negotiations". To that end, old folks might remember the "fake" Duke boys on The Dukes of Hazzard. Or, less old folks might recall buzz about Nicole Richie being replaced by Kimberly Stewart on The Simple Life.
How We'll Know for Sure, One Way or the Other:
• "The only way we'll know is with the passage of time", Tormey said. "I don't know if we're there yet".
• According to Tormey, the second Idol hires a new judge or Abdul gets a new gig, we'll be there—and we'll know: Not a publicity stunt.
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Need more facts? Check out our complete Paula Abdul coverage.
Paula Abdul Exiting Idol? Yeah, Right – Interview With Entertainment Lawyer John J. Tormey III, Esq., August 6, 2009
