Access Blogs
Inside Idol: What Made Paula Lose Her Mind...Again?
I'm not going to sit here and defend Paula Abdul because we all know she is strange, to say the least. However, in all the years I have been covering "American Idol" and attending the tapings, none was more frenetic than last night.
There were several factors contributing to the chaos that was last night. First, it was a Top 5 show, where for the first time this season the contestants would be singing two songs. The show was in a huge time crunch because besides the two songs they also had to show the Neil Diamond mentor packages.
Second, they have never allowed contestants to use instruments on this show before this season. So, during commercial breaks and the taped segments stagehands were frantically moving equipment in and out. There were several times when Ryan was standing with the contestant giving out the phone numbers while other contestants were being ushered on stage beside them.
Third - and most important in the Paula situation - was that they have never in the history of the show asked the judges to hold their critiques. The judges also clearly did not know this "twist" was happening. As soon as Ryan made this announcement, the judges leaned into each other to discuss this new wrench in the plan. According to Paula on KIIS-FM this morning, they had decided at that moment they need a notepad and a pen.
This explains why during Jason Castro's taped segment executive producer Nigel Lythgoe walked over to the judges table with the notepads and pen for them. It was like a grade school moment. Randy took his and then passed one down to Paula who then passed one down to Simon. After each performance Randy seemed to he the most diligent about writing information down. Paula looked like she was scribbling something and Simon barely touched his. In fact, Simon looked so bored and horrified by the first performances that it was fairly obvious what his comments would be.
During Syesha's performance of "Hello Again" it seemed even more chaotic. Both executive producer Ken Warwick and Mike Darnell (the head of alternative series at FOX) had made their way to the stage. I've seen Mike running around but never Ken on a show night, so I knew something was up. According to Ryan Seacrest, it was at this point, during Syesha's song, that the executives at Fox decided they wanted a first round critique from the judges. So, Ken had come out to lead the contestants out to the middle of the stage. The stage manager, Debbie, didn't even seem to know what was going on and had to jump up on stage to lead the contestants out.
So, this all explains why Paula may have been confused. However, having said that - the entire audience took a collective gasp when Paula launched into her diatribe about Jason's "two" songs. Everyone was looking at each other in disbelief. If 400 or so people knew they had only sung one song, then why was she so confused? She claimed this morning on KIIS-FM that she had caught the last minute of Jason's rehearsal of "September Morn" and that is why she was got confused -- but I don't buy it.
Ryan asked the judges to give their opinion on the first half of the show. Even if she had seen Jason's rehearsal, she had not taken notes then and she, like everyone else, had just sat through five performances by five different people.
Either way, I rather enjoy the return of loopy Paula. We haven't really seen that side of her this season. Who would have thought she could ever top her moth, melon ball and butterfly critique?!
Hi,
I think it's a shame that some can not make a mistake . Yes Paula was confused, so was everyone else.
I think Paula has a problem for sure. But she is holding her own.
Give her a break.
I dont care about Paula's mistakes I still think that she is a great Judge and she reads people well! She has a big heart and loves them all no matter what. People make mistakes! Get over it. Your not perfect either.
I disagree with the first two comments. I think Paula has some serious issues that have not fully been addressed by her or the show. For whatever reason, no one seems to want to help this poor girl. She needs an intervention. I don't know if she "self-medicates" or what. All I know is there is some kind of chemical inbalance going on here. I keep hoping that she'll make it through a season without rambling or babbling or looking like she just stepped out of a bar. But, so far - it's the same thing each year. Sorry Paula - everyone I know is thinking the same thing.......12 steps may be the way to go.
I have listened before to all of her songs and most are great and clean and sends a good message. Although at my church alot of the congregation are asking me if Carrie is a "Christian" and I tell them yes as far as I know and from what I have read. Now if she truly is, then she should be ashamed of some of the songs that she has sung and or wrote, either way she sings them and they are played dozens of times on the radio. The first song she should be very ashamed about is: ( Before He Cheats-) it sends the wrong message to everyone to go and smash up your ex-boyfriends car if he cheats on you and it has been reported by various Police Departments that there have been some teenage idiots male and female that have already done this just because they heard this song and look up to Carrie. Now it is very wrong to cheat and commit adultry, but you move on and thats it, the old saying is true what comes around goes around.... The next song is:( Last Name-) what is she thinking singing a very sexually immoral song such as this, it just promotes having "drunken one night stands" and then going to Las Vegas to get Married and not because of love, but because of drunken stupidity. CARRIE, YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN THIS!! You obviously do not care about your faith in "Christ" but you should at least care enough about the young girls who look up to you as a role model, but it's clear you don't......Get yourself right with "The Lord" before it's to late for you to do so.... I am going to post this on many different message boards until she denounces those songs publicly in a statement.........
I Can NEVER understand anything Pauls is saying....I stopped watching Idol.
Hello and wake up AMERICA! Paula was confused and so what, we all can be. I have much respect for a person to admit they are a little confused or if they even made a mistake, then to sugar-coat and act like nothings wrong. Sure it may have happen on tv, but it happens to the best of all of us whether we are in the public eye or not! GET OVER IT! Do ur thang PAULA!