Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Paula Abdul was offered a new Idol contract in the range of $5 million per year — about a 25 percent raise — to stay as a judge on the show.

Of course, that’s only about half of what host Ryan Seacrest’s new contract calls for, which might have ruffled Paula’s feathers.

Meanwhile, the story talks about the possibility of Paula becoming a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Here’s a link.

Other worthwhile reading on the Paula issue:

* USA Today has compiled a reaction piece, with comments from several former contestants.

* Could it all be a publicity stunt? E! Online explores the possibility.

* Ryan Seacrest says it’s definitely not a publicity stunt in this San Francisco Chronicle story.

* Here’s a touching tribute to Paula, posted Wednesday by season season contestant Syesha Mercado on her MySpace page.

* And, if you missed it, here’s a blog I posted Wednesday afternoon after interviewing Brooke White, who talks about how Paula always made time to console eliminated contestants.

I’ve yet to find a definitive story to answer my most pressing question: Will Paula be replaced, or will Idol go back to three judges?

* And now there’s this, posted just a few minutes ago (shortly after noon Thursday), on the Los Angeles Times Web site: Fox says negotiations with Paula are definitely over and the auditions will be used to try out replacements.

Hey, guys and gals, can I suggest Jewel as a replacement. She already served as a guest judge during an audition episode (season seven, I think) and she’s done her time on the awful Idol-ripoff, Nashville Star.

* Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune was reporting that Fox executives were saying the show is likely to stick to a four-judge format and that Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham will be among guest judges to appear on the show for season nine.

Television Critics Association summer press tour