Yesterday, rumors about Paula Abdul being about to be replaced as judge on the popular talent competition 'American Idol' started all over again. While this is something that literally happens each year, at the beginning of each new season, this time the decision to sack Paula would have been somehow more justified because of her recent weird behavior.

Then again, the possibility that Fox would ax Paula, a celebrity who was one of the original judges when the show premiered and whom people have learned to accept despite her so-called 'flaws', and to put in her stead rocker Courtney Love, an even more scandalous public figure was hard to understand. That would have meant that 'Idol' were set from the start to lose the fans that tune in just to see the lovely triangle that Paula, Simon and Randy make, without even mentioning their comments and responses to the wannabe superstars.

As unreasonable and unjustified as this idea seemed to many, Courtney was the one who gave the rumor a more 'official' look, by speaking with a reporter from 'Us Weekly' and confirming that she had been contacted by the executive producer of the show, Nigel Lythgoe, for a possible job contract.

'[Lythgoe] called. He was wondering if I was interested. I thought it was kind of weird but brilliant', Love told the magazine. Although she refused to give any more details about the call (meaning, if she were to be only a guest judge or a permanent replacement for Paula Abdul), tongues immediately went to work, claiming that sources from inside Fox have already confirmed that Paula is on her way out.

Not being the kind of man who would let such topics run wild in the press, Lythgoe released a press statement that sets the record straight: why would he even think of replacing Paula (or any one of the three judges as a matter of fact), when the show and Fox now have the perfect recipe that puts them on the number one spot in terms of audience ratings.

'I did not call Courtney Love and am afraid someone may have misrepresented me. Courtney Love is a very talented artist, but the judges for "American Idol" are Paula, Randy and Simon. We have no plans to add to or replace any of them.', was how Lythgoe made his point. That only leaves one alternative: if Love did receive a call from someone claiming to be Lythgoe but Lythgoe did NOT call her, then this means she was punk'd. Ashton Kutcher, where are you?