Paula Abdul sported a black church lady hat and Adam Lambert rocked a skinny bow tie, but it was Snoop Dogg who elicited catcalls from the media when he strolled into the Beverly Hills press conference to announce nominees for the 2009 American Music Awards. The rapper had traded in his signature football jersey and braids for a vest, a velvet blazer, a slicked-back ponytail and a pair of nerd glasses. "This is about me stepping up and becoming a bigger, better person and becoming a business," he confided after the presser. "I'm the new President/Creative Director of Priority Records." Does this mean the iconic hip-hop star has turned over a new leaf, so to speak? Well, judge for yourself. When we asked him if marijuana should be legalized, he had this to say: "You know how I stand. I stand very high on that!"

Lambert tells us he's been buried in a studio, working on his new album - which he described as "glam rock packaged in a pop sensibility." He gave a thumbs-up to the gay rights rally that took place in D.C. over the weekend, saying "I think it's great. I think it's a civil rights issue, and I think people deserve to be heard on it. I believe in equal rights for everybody." He said his Rolling Stone cover story was liberating. "To really sit down with a reporter and talk about me from the ground up was really, really great, and I feel like we got a lot of stuff out of the closet - literally cleaned out that closet - so hopefully people can focus on the music." His debut CD hits stores November 24th - two days after he performs on the AMAs.

As for Ms. Paula Abdul... she gave us this Sarah Palin-esque answer when we asked if a show in Vegas was in the cards as part of her post-"Idol" life. "I have many different opportunities in Las Vegas, which I've been offered for years, but the timing is right because I have TV projects that I'm doing - a lot of different things that are very exciting that I get to continue to live my dream now."

However, she was much more succinct when discussing frustration that the "Idol" women have been pitted against each other in the media. "No one ever said anything about the guys, and I know for a fact there was jealousy going around with the guys - bigger dressing rooms, trailers, someone buys a house for X amount of millions, and the other one says, 'Well, I bought the whole land.' And then somebody got J. Lo's interior designer. 'Well, I bought J. Lo!' That's how it would work, you know."

Dear Paula,

First off, we're really sorry to see you leave "American Idol." Even though we don't quite understand why the reported $3 million you were making on the show wasn't enough, we respect your decision. And yes, we are looking forward to seeing you host the return of “VH1 Divas" on Thursday night. Because we really do love you.

And it's because we love you that we feel it's time for some tough love and blunt advice: Fire your team. Whether it was your PR people, manager, agent, or gardener who advised you during your "American Idol" contract talks, someone clearly and repeatedly dropped the ball. And as your business-minded ex-colleague Simon Cowell would agree, somebody on Team Paula deserves to get sent packing. Need convincing? We count at least three colossal goofs that were made on your behalf in recent weeks:

1.) In July, presumably during the height of your salary talks with "American Idol," your manager told the Los Angeles Times that you might not return to the show. If that was a ploy to rally the American people into a "Save Paula" frenzy that would have folks jamming phone lines, taking to the streets and packing town hall meetings until "Idol's" producers showed you the money, then it backfired big time. Instead, that defiant public statement during what had been private salary talks probably made both sides dig in their heels. Your fate on "American Idol" likely was sealed right there and then. Strike One.

2.) To announce your departure from "American Idol," you opted not to work with your former employers to issue the standard "Paula-has-decided-to-pursue-other-opportunities" press release. No, that would have just let everyone save face - and left open the door for you to come back later. Instead, you blindsided your "Idol" colleagues (and closed, barricaded and nailed shut the door to your return) by announcing your "Idol" departure in a short Twitter post. Now, Paula, this one was mostly your bad. But it was your team's job to save you from yourself - even if it had meant hiding your BlackBerry. Strike Two.

3.) The day Ellen DeGeneres was announced as your replacement, "Showbiz Tonight" asked your publicists for a comment. Their response: "No statement from Paula. She has moved on." This was the most baffling mistake yet! A warm statement of congratulations and best wishes would have made you look classy and cost you nothing. Instead, you looked petty. Yes, your people eventually did release a more gracious statement. But a star of your caliber needs a team that gets it right the first time. Strike Three.

We know that you're an incredibly sweet person. So if you find it hard to summon the ruthlessness to fire your team and save your career, just re-read this letter. And then ask yourself one simple question: what would Simon do?

To paraphrase one of our favorite songs of yours: "We're Forever Your Fans."

I’m going to try real hard not to incur the wrath of Ellen DeGeneres fans here. The announcement that Ellen will replace Paula Abdul as a judge on “American Idol” this coming season left me cold.

Sure, I know Ellen loves the show and appreciates music. For that matter, so do I.

But, in my opinion, that hardly qualifies one to be a judge on “Idol.”

It reminds me of last season when Quentin Tarantino served as a coach. He too has a love of music and all things “Idol,” but watching him try to guide contestants through their rehearsals was just plain painful.

For all of her bucket of crazy, Paula at least brought the perspective of a performer. She knew what it was like to face an audience on your best – and worst – days and I believe that contributed to her desire to always try and find the positive.

Perhaps if there weren’t going to be four judges (which felt bloated and unnecessary to me last season), I might be more enthusiastic. With Paula, Randy, and Simon there was balance. With the addition of Kara DioGuardi things just felt out of whack to me and a strong judge is needed to counterbalance it all.

I imagine Ellen will provide more than a few laughs, but I am trying to envision what else she will bring other than the enthusiasm of a super fan.

What do you think? Was Ellen DeGeneres a good choice for a fourth judge?

A few weeks ago I posted a blog where I said that I wouldn’t mind if Paula Abdul left American Idol for greener pastures. At the time, I never thought in a million years that she wouldn’t come back to Idol, I just was voicing my opinion that I wouldn’t be devastated if she didn’t. For all of the flack that Paula gets, I didn’t think I would be the only one that felt that way.  Boy was I wrong! 

Ever since Paula sent out her bombshell tweets, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for her. I have to tell you that I honestly didn’t know how many people liked her on the show. It seemed to me that Paula was constantly the butt of every American Idol joke that was made- so how is it that so many people are threatening to boycott the show now that she is gone? I don’t understand it!

I think it is wonderful to be supportive of someone; I am truly touched by how much people seem to care about Paula and her future.  My question is simply this: where were these people when she was on Idol? When she had a hard time stumbling through her sentences and at times was a little bit of a national joke? Remember when she couldn’t remember if a contestant had sung once or twice? People were saying that it was time for her to leave the show. So why the public outrage now? What changed?

What do you think? Will you watch American Idol without Paula?

For all of the latest details on the Great Paula Abdul American Idol Debate, be sure to watch Showbiz Tonight at 11pm ET/PT on HLN- don’t miss it!

ABC entertainment president Steve McPherson wants former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul to join "Dancing with the Stars" in some capacity, according to The New York Times, calling her a "huge talent."

The Hollywood Reporter says that "Twilight" was the big winner at the Teen Choice Awards, with nine wins.

Casting continues on the remake of "Red Dawn" and EW.com has the latest updates.

It's a boy for Elisabeth Hasselbeck of "The View." Her third child was born Sunday.

It’s a dark day in the history of “American Idol.”

Right up until the bitter end I believed Paula Abdul and the producers would be able to work it out.

After all, there is no one else like Paula. Her special mix of kindness and kooky has left such an indelible mark on contemporary pop culture that whenever a new talent show appears, featuring a panel of judges, the inevitable question is asked: “Which one is the Simon and which one is the Paula?”

Paul’s dizzy sweetness was the perfect foil for Simon Cowell’s sometimes caustic criticism.

Sure, their juvenile antics could test fans' nerves on even a good day (the poking, the silly zingers and the time Simon drew on her face), but beneath the japes appeared to be a mutual respect for one another’s career and their shared good fortune to have landed on television’s most popular show.

Now word comes that Paula is out and Kara DioGuardi is the new, reigning chick on the block. No disrespect to the Grammy-nominated DioGuardi, but the only thing she seemed to share with Abdul was a sometimes tragic fashion sense.

Watching "American Idol" won’t be the same without the chance to be treated to the uniquely Paula feedback to contestants like “You found the matrix of the song” or “I want to squish you, squeeze your head off and dangle you from my rear-view mirror.”

I’m going to say it (and you can cue the groans): for this die-hard “Idol” fan, Paula is forever my girl.

So what do you think? Will you miss Paula on the show? Post your comments here or head over to iReport to upload a video response.

It's official: Paula Abdul, the occasionally loopy judge who spent eight seasons lauding "American Idol" contestants even as fellow judge Simon Cowell tore them apart, won't be back in January for season nine.  And to hear the show - and Abdul - tell it, it's her call.  Here's the statement from FOX, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment:

"Paula Abdul has been an important part of the AMERICAN IDOL family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show.  While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best."

And here are Abdul's tweets, for that handful of fans not checking her Twitter activity every five minutes:

"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to #IDOL. I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all..."

"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1 become an international phenomenon."

"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me"

"It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month"

"I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all"

So what had been rumored seemingly forever - especially since Kara DiGuardi joined the judges' table - has finally come to pass.  How do you feel about it, "Idol" fans?

Am I the only one that wouldn’t mind if Paula Abdul left American Idol? Don’t get me wrong, I like Paula, just not on Idol. For me, Idol is about the singers, not about the judges. Over the years, the producers have tinkered with the judging formula and it just never gelled for me. Truthfully, the only one of the original three who I really like is Simon!  The guy tells it like it is and 9 times out of 10, I agree with him.  Randy sits in his seat and says “dawg” about 200 times an episode and Paula just rambles.  Seriously, sometimes I can’t figure out if she is speaking in actual sentences or if I just have processing difficulties. 

The worst part is that this all takes away from the actual performances. If we didn’t have to deal with the judges’ incessant bickering, the contestants would have  more time to perform.  Say what you will- and I know this is a touchy topic among devoted fans- but I thought Kara DioGuardi was a breath of fresh air this year.  I would argue that she is more qualified to be up there judging than Paula- and as a bonus, I can understand what she says!

Paula, you are a beautiful woman.  You have overcome obstacles in your life and have reinvented yourself multiple times.  It’s time to do it again.  You have a successful jewelry business- maybe expand that into an entire fashion empire.  Hollywood is about moving onwards and upwards- your time has come.

What do you think? Do you want Paula to stay on American Idol or should she leave the show and try something new? Make sure to watch Showbiz Tonight for our fired up debate tonight at 11pm ET/PT on HLN- don’t miss it!

Whenever I hear that Lionel Richie song "Hello," I can't help but remember the music video where he was stalking that blind girl.

Danny Gokey sings "Hello" before Lionel comes out to sing his new single, "Just Go," with Gokey, which I actually like. Lionel may want to consider kicking Akon to the curb and re-cutting that song with Gokey.

What I love about Lionel is he knows what the fans really want, and he and Danny launch into "All Night Long." That song will always be the jam, and Paula is up and dancing, of course.

Danny sounds really good, and his dancing has improved. Go-Go-Gokey!

Ryan said just under 100 million votes came in. Wow!!!

On to the judges, who are all gussied up. Why is Randy wearing a huge red bow tie that matches his red glasses?

I love the retrospective they do on the judges cutting together certain words and phrases they always say. For Randy, it's "For me," for Kara it's "sweetie," and for Paula, it is any crazy thing that comes out of her mouth.

They also make fun of Simon's "What?" Perhaps he can get one of those little hearing amplifiers I see advertised on TV for like $1.25.

But enough about judges. Adam and Kris look so hot in white. They've stationed Mikalah Gordon in Conway, Arkansas, and she tries so hard to get a cute little girl to play along for the camera, but no haps.

Carly Smithson has returned home to San Diego and is surrounded by Lambs.

Here's what I have been waiting for - the first group performance, which is Pink's "So What." Jasmine hits a really ill note. Ouch!

I can imagine the horror in some second-grade class tomorrow when a little kid comes strolling in singing "And you're a tool, so what." Geez!