The show is worse without Paula. But it was already dying.
Have they had a breakaway star since Chris Daughtry? He was on in 2006.
The show has never really produced a significant talent. Some of them have sold records, but none of them have been important or groundbreaking or iconic. Just disposable pop. Nobody people will still be listening to in twenty years, or even ten.
David Cook is pretty solid, I think.
Britain’s Got Talents’ judge lineup is way better anyway. Amanda is way hot, you still have Simon, Piers is a wonderfully cool name, and they have those accents. And Susan Boyle.
Well, agreed about none of them being groundbreaking or indisposable. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have been huge, though. I’m pretty sure they will be remembered when discussing pop music of the '00s. And, as much as I hate to admit it, Clarkson’s album Breakaway was very well put together for what it was trying to be. It did its job.
David Cook creeps me the fuck out, and I haven’t heard anything about him since maybe a month or 2 after he won. Has he had a hit single this year?
i confess having a minor crush on Paula so it’s ba not to see her in those rare occasions I see AI.
By the way, if you think the AI juges are bad, the Latin American Idol ones are talking turds…and talking may be stretching it.
While Simon, Randy, and Kara have all had a good deal of previous success in the music industry, Paula Abdul was the only judge who was herself once a bona fide pop star. That’s what this show needs–replace Paula with another former pop idol, but this time find one who can be constructively critical and can speak coherently on live television. That last part is crucial, but I don’t know who might fit that bill. Probably would be another female to keep the gender balance. Cindy Lauper? Pat Benetar? Melissa Etheridge?
Ooh! I know–Courtney Love!
(just kidding)
I would probably watch with more interest than ever if Cindy Lauper was Paula’s replacement.
Jordan Sparks has gotten a ton of play, including singing at the Super Bowl, IIRC.
So we need someone similar to Paula, possibly someone who was also a pop star. I’d like to nominate MC Skat Kat! He’ll be more animated than Paula was half the time.
…
Okay, I can’t justify that joke. I’ll be in my corner.
Hmm… Get rid of Paula and replace her with MC Skat Kat. Talk about “two steps forward, two steps back.” 
I am only exposed to AI when my wife watches it.
I am really glad to see the back of Paula Abdul, though. Her voice cuts through my sanity like a rusty hacksaw through some fluid with neglible viscosity.
I wouldn’t cry if she lost a fight with a steamroller, Warner Bros. style.
I don’t hold her in any special regard, but if they can pay Ryan Seacrest 15mil a year for an equally no-brainer job, they can definitely pay Paula more than her initial offer of 2mil. It’s just insulting.
Replace her with Debbie Gibson. Although I think these days she’s Debra Gibson.
I think Ryan is the best thing about that show, as much as I like to rag on him. It’s no easy task hosting a show like that, and say what you want about the guy, but he’s good at what he does. For instance, compare him to the two useless boobs on Britain’s Got Talent, or the one useless boob on America’s Got Talent.
You have to be charming, witty, engaging, aware of the cameras, aware of the timing of everything, able to engage in banter with the judges and the contestants, turn on a dime, and able to take the inevitable slings and arrows from the general public and the media. Just ask Brian Dunkleman how hard it is.
Although I am emphatically NOT a fan of hers, you gotta admire Jennifer Hudson’s ability to parlay a mid-season elimination from AI into a slew of awards and noms for her role in Dreamgirls, including an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Good point. I forgot about J-Hud. I stand corrected.
Susan Boyle is awful. I’ve never heard her sing anything except ALW songs and she badly messed up one of those. She will sell one album, or maybe two then fade away. She’d better have an accountant that counts on zero income in two years. She has the bizzaro fan base that likes the underdog even if they aren’t really as good as they pretend.
::dramatic sniff:: Will you be my BFF?
I would so watch this. Except Bjork would probably back out of the show at the last second for reasons not revealed to anyone. 