Celebrity / Paula Abdul Paula, Don't Let Door Hit You On Way Out: Idol Staff Employees toast departure of 'difficult diva' By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Aug 6, 2009 8:49 AM CDT Copied Paula Abdul, a judge on "American Idol," poses backstage following the show's finale in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Ryan Seacrest may be sad to see Paula Abdul go, but he’s in the minority: Longtime American Idol staffers were so overjoyed at her announcement, they threw an impromptu party, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. “Can’t you hear our celebration?” one veteran staffer says. “We broke out the good champagne tonight.” More: Rumored replacements for Abdul—if producers decide they need one—include Diana Ross and Natalie Cole. Abdul reportedly wanted a deal “very close to, if not quite at” Ryan Seacrest’s $15-million-a-year level, a source says, and she was not happy with a final offer that would have more than doubled her current salary of between $2 million and $3 million. Paula’s next stop could be Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. Producer—and former Idol producer—Nigel Lythgoe wants her “if I can afford her,” he tells the Los Angeles Times. NBC would also welcome her. Another possible option? The View. “We love Paula,” a rep tells E! “Long before the Idol news broke yesterday, we had asked her to fill in as a celebrity guest cohost, during Elisabeth's maternity leave.” Unfortunately, the show isn’t currently hiring. Meanwhile, another possible replacement for Paula on Idol is Victoria Beckham, Simon Cowell’s old friend. She has agreed to make a “one off” appearance as a guest judge for now, her rep tells the Mail. (More Paula Abdul stories.) Report an error