After 'Idol,' Paula Abdul Could Land on Another Judges' Panel

Aug. 10, 2009 — -- Less than a week after announcing she was quitting Fox's "American Idol," award-winning choreographer, and ever-controversial Paula Abdul could be heading to another TV dance show.

The ex- "Idol" judge with eight seasons under her belt is reportedly a big fan of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and ABC's entertainment president Steve McPherson said the show would "love" to have her.

"Absolutely. I would love that," McPherson said Saturday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, according to a story in People magazine. "I was a little stunned by the decision, and we would love to have her on 'Dancing.'... There's a sensitivity and an empathy that balances out 'Idol,' and we'd love to get a piece of that."

"Dancing With the Stars" host Tom Bergeron told "Good Morning America" that he's been lobbying hard on Abdul's behalf within ABC.

"She'd really like to do it," Bergeron said. "I have pressed the case all the way up and down the ABC bureaucratic ladder. And I think it would be fascinating."

But ABC is not the only network interested. Last week executive producer Nigel Lythgoe of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" said the show was also courting Abdul.

"I don't know anybody who has had her experience being a dancer, choreographer and a judge," Lythgoe said. "I asked if she would be available."

While Abdul has been noncommittal concerning her future, in an April interview with ABC News' "Nightline" she appeared confident.

"Don't bet against me," she said, "because the most powerful kryptonite I possess is the connection with the people."

Controversies, Money and a New Judge on 'Idol'

For whatever network might pick up Abdul, it could inherit her penchant for controversy.

Before her departure from 'Idol,' Abdul teetered on the edge of being bounced from the show multiple times. She has been embroiled in public disputes, sometimes on-camera, with fellow judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, as well as the show's producers and contestants.

In 2005, former contestant Corey Clark claimed he had an affair with Abdul while on the show and that she promised to give him $2 million to fund his career. Clark's accusations prompted Fox to launch an investigation into Abdul's behavior and institute an "enhanced nonfraternization policy" between "Idol" judges and contestants.

Last year, would-be "Idol" contestant and Abdul fanatic Paula Goodspeed committed suicide after she was ridiculed and flatly rejected by the judges during her audition.

The addition of 'Idol's' fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, came as a shock to Abdul and led to speculation that producers were grooming her to replace Abdul.

"I was surprised because Simon has always been against the fourth," she said in April. "We've had guest judges come in before, and he banned that from happening anymore. I didn't understand the concept of what was happening."

According to TMZ.com, Abdul earned far less than the "Idol" comrades who've been with her since the show's start -- between $2 and $3 million a year. Last week, the Hollywood Reporter claimed that Abdul asked for about $20 million to continue with the show.

ABC News' Sheila Marikar contributed to this report.