American Idol / Paula she can't seem to talk well

She looks like 80 miles of bad road.

God, I wish people would just give this Paula Abdul thing a rest. Okay, she's not a wordsmith. That honor goes to Randy Jackson with comments like: "I'm just not feeling it, dawg." and "It was really pitchy." As as for Simon, he actually can put together two words: "It sucked."

Paula likes to give constructive criticism along with a pat on the back. She shows a lot of compassion for contestants, some of whom are very young for the business. That is a far more intricate verbal process than simply saying, "That was a absolutely horrible performance." Okay, she stumbles on her words, but most of us (with the notable exception of Simon) understand the point she's trying to make. Her approach to judging contestants should be lauded, unless we're as mean-spirited as her Brit sidekick. (And yes, I agree that Simon is right much of the time, but I simply wish he could be a little bit less bitchy.)

Poor Paula needs help, of what type is what I'm unsure of.

I haven't watched that since the first season relatively consistently each week ? I know it's still on, what season # are they on now ?

After reading a bunch of these responses I want to apologize for my initial flip answer on the thread.

I don't know if Paula has a problem with pain killers, I just posited that as the most likely culprit based on my interaction with her and watching the show. That's why I included that my diagnosis was non-clinical. I've had friends who have developed drug addictions to pain killers (I was well on my way to one myself) and found a lot of similarities between her behavior and theirs. A LOT of similarities.

That said, I appreciate NJ & JustAsking pointing out exactly how fucked up she is from damage to her body. I knew that, but discounted it, and I feel like a bit of a schmuck because I sustained a back injury in the past few years that left me FUCKED UP, and mine wasn't even CLOSE to being as severe as hers. I'm also an insomniac and I wouldn't wish that hell upon anyone.

I still don't rule out that she's got pain-killer issues... but I also wouldn't blame her.

As to Paula's contribution to Idol... look, the show wouldn't work without her, or someone just like her. Simon is the judge that offers the cold hard truth of the music industry. I very rarely find Simon's comments - good or bad - to be off base, and I have a lot of experience in this arena. What Paula offers is an equally important role as cheerleader, because we all have bad days, and if all we got afterward was Simon's perspective we'd likely be crushed. Paula reminds the talented folks that they're there for a reason. And for the untalented, she opens up her feedback by telling them how good they look. The fact is the people on that stage, regardless of what experience they have in the music industry, are incredibly unprepared. Paula serves a valuable purpose to them, and by extension to the people who watch the show.

Randy is the most useless of the bunch because he's the moderate between two extremes. But also, by nature an essential part of the mix, because in the event of Simon/Paula split, whichever side he agrees with is usually right.

Anyway... just wanted to offer a more reasoned response.

I like watching it and she is much more coherent than she was a season or two ago.

Randy has a good ear for things and is usually right but I find simon to almost always hit the nail on the head. He makes the show and I enjoy watching him diss people or give them props.

And I like that blonde girl who played the guitar and sang your so vain and stared at simon the whole time; she got that off.

All these armchair diagnoses of what's wrong with Paula are sad. You don't know what the problem is, so you shouldn't speculate. And if it bothers you, you shouldn't watch it.

A friend of mine had a bit of stammer as long as I had known him. Over the past 3 years, it seemed it had been getting worse, and yes, at times, he would slur, and sounded tipsy. But I knew he wasn't a drinker. He was accused of being drunk on the job a couple of times.

Cool! We found out after a couple of months of testing, it's amyelotrophic lateral sclerosis. Woohoo!

He has his good days and bad days.

You really shouldn't gossip and snipe at Paula. Until she personally tells you why she doesn't talk so well, you just don't know and everything you hear or read in you favorite gossip outlets (TMZ and The Enquirer, inter alia ) is nothing more than gossip.

Duly noted DC.

I'd like to think you've noticed by now that I'm not a dickhead.

I'm still not going to rule out extraneous reasons for her behavior... I've been around that block too much and she fits the mold way too much for me to give her a complete and total benefit of the doubt. But I also don't deny that she's got a lot more going on than most of us can possibly relate to. And I also admit that my round-the-blockness makes me a not entirely objective judge.

And I'm not entirely comfortable using the term "judge."

I like Paula. Sure she has problems putting words together but somehow always seems to get something out. I shall leave the criticism to those best suited for it.

I watched every episode of Hey Paula. It was an eye opener, aside from being very emotional at times she is a human being after all.

I agree DC. Her self-induced lack of sleep is a self-admitted factor--which is why I spoke of it. She talked about it while promoting her failed reality show "Hey Paula!"

Amateur, boring, cruise ship cabaret, and a little bit scary.

What's with the beefeater?

I don't think she is annoying enough to not watch the show...she is sort of out there with some of her comments, but I think she means well. However, I have noticed that when she is going to say something that might not be positive, she always starts with how nice the person looks or how wonderful the person is...then zaps them in her round about sweet way.

Thank you for all your posts. I have seen Paula at a few events I've attended, but I have never spoken to her. I was not aware she was taking pain medication, this obviously is not good, if there is abuse of it.

I enjoyed some of her tracks in the early 80's, but always thought of her as a dancer and choreographer more than a singer.

I've only started to watch American Idol this season, approx two weeks ago for the top 25. I will not continue watching because I find it boring, and difficult listening to Miss Abdul try to speak. But I agree with some, she does try to boost all the singers, even when they don't seem to perform very well one night. I also find Randy with his " Hey Dawg" just rude, or "You guys" there are women on the show as well Randy.

Thanks again