Abdul could shift to So You Think You Can Dance as Idol mulls replacements

The ongoing saga of the fate of one Ms. Paula Abdul continues. She is still without a contract for the new season of American Idol. Word has it it's a money thing -- who knew?!

Now someone has been talking around about her because executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has said that he would absolutely consider Abdul for a judging role on So You Think You Can Dance. As a successful choreographer and a known commodity, that would probably help the profile of that show tremendously as it moves to a fall season for the first time.

Another report has American Idol, and Simon Cowell himself approaching British pop star Cheryl Cole to consider replacing Abdul on the Idol dais. The rumor is that she turned down the position due to family commitments in England, but it does make one wonder. If this is all just tough negotiating for a new contract, everybody's playing hardball.

Abdul would be very well received on So You Think You Can Dance, probably both as a choreographer and as a judge. She could take a permanent spot and they could retire the rotating judge's panel, or keep that and go with a four person panel. Or she could simply join the existing roster of judge/choreographers on the show.

And as Cheryl Cole sat in as a judge for Britain's The X-Factor alongside Cowell, it's a pretty bold statement by the producers of the show that they're serious about continuing the show without Abdul, should they need to. Honestly, I'm not sure who would have the upper hand at this point. Yes, Idol is a bigger show than SYTYCD, and will likely remain that way, but it would still be a huge move for Abdul. And if SYTYCD soars in the ratings, she can claim some stake in that.

As for Idol, I'd think they'd want to go with someone more familiar to American audiences. One of the reasons Abdul worked in the beginning was that of the three judges, she was the one we knew. And she was the one we knew as a performer who'd done exactly what they're looking for these kids to do. Hell, Kylie Minogue would be a more recognizable face over here than Cheryl Cole. And without Abdul, we would need familiarity and comfort. After all, we're still getting used to Kara DioGuardi.