She was first approached to join the
So You Think You Can Dance panel of judges three years ago while still on
American Idol, but now that Paula Abdul is free of her ties with Fox, she’s not ruling out the possibility of switching from judging singers to dancers.
“Nigel asked me to guest judge and I’m sure there’ll be a time when I’ll do that, absolutely,” Paula told
TV Guide Magazine when co-creator Nigel Lythgoe was honored at the Professional Dancer’s Society Fall Ball in Studio City, California, on October 16th. “It depends on the season, when he needs me to do it.”
Lythgoe says that he’d love to have Paula on the show and thinks she would be the perfect person to fill the gap following
Mia Michael's sudden departure. “I don’t know anybody that’s had her experience. She’s a dancer, a choreographer and judge. She loves and nurtures talent, that’s her great strength. There’s no question in my mind that she’d be fabulous.”
While Lythgoe has asked Paula to join the show twice since she announced she was leaving American Idol in August, he’s still waiting for a definitive answer from her. “The chair is there and empty. I don’t care if it’s Mia Michaels’ bum going on that chair or Paula Abdul’s, both of them are very welcome!” he joked.
Host Cat Deeley agreed that Abdul’s colorful personality would be a great asset to the show. “I’d be totally up for Paula, anytime that I’ve met her down at
American Idol she’s been an absolutely fantastic lady and no one can deny how competent she is at dance and her history so I think she’d be a great addition,” said Deeley. “Everybody wants to watch entertaining TV and I’m sure she would be.”