Former American Idol will return on TV this summer

Mar 16, 2010 13:24 GMT  ·  By

After leaving American Idol last year for reasons that still haven’t been disclosed to the media, Paula Abdul has kept out of the spotlight and off television screens. That is about to change really soon, though, as the former AI judge is tapped to be involved in the Star Search reboot that aims for a summer 2010 release, Michael Ausiello of The Ausiello Files has learned.

As of now, the degree of Abdul’s involvement is not known, as neither is how that will affect her schedule on Simon Cowell’s US version of the X Factor, in which she’s also allegedly to be a part of. Word in the industry has it that Paula will act both as judge and occasional host of Star Search, though that is yet to be confirmed – as also is her involvement for that matter.

“This just in: Paula Abdul is straight up headed back to TV! Sources confirm to me exclusively that the ex-American Idol judge is finalizing a deal to headline an updated version of Star Search, the great-granddaddy of all televised singing competitions, for ABC. Abdul’s role is still being defined, but I hear it will likely include some combination of hosting and judging. An ABC rep refused to comment,” Ausiello writes, citing his ever-reliable inside sources.

“The Alphabet network had been wooing Abdul since last summer when she officially announced her departure from Idol. There was talk of her joining Dancing With the Stars in some capacity, but a deal never came to fruition. It’s not clear if Abdul’s Star Search gig would preclude her from joining former colleague Simon Cowell as a judge on the forthcoming US version of his UK monster hit, The X Factor, which is slated to debut on Fox in the fall of 2011. (Star Search is being targeted for this summer.)” the report goes on to say.

On a recent appearance on Jay Leno, Simon Cowell let it slip that he and Paula would be working together on a future project, though he did not say what that was or when it might happen. Since Mr. Nasty is known to be working on a plan to port X Factor to the US, it is believed he’s got his sight set on bringing his former mate on American Idol along for the ride.