No More AI for Paula Abdul?

According to US Weekly.com , it looks as though Paula Abdul may not be returning for ninth season of American Idol.

“Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on Idol,” Abdul’s manager, David Sonenberg, who has yet to receive a proposal for her return, told The Los Angeles Times. The new season is set to premiere in January.

“I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful,” he added of the holdup. “I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that [Idol production companies Fremantle and 19 Entertainment] haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do.”

According to Sonenberg, who began managing the star in June, he told the network Abdul would “love to be on the show,” but has not heard back as to any sort of proposal.

“She’s not a happy camper as a result of what’s going on. She’s hurt. She’s angry,” Sonenberg said. “I think at this point we’re going to be considering everything, including some kind of a competition show. She has tremendous ideas for a whole variety of shows.”

“I never said [I wasn’t returning]. I just said that I’m not sure,” she joked. “It’s called, um, ‘negotiating.’”

This week, Idol’s Ryan Seacrest signed a three-year, $45 million deal to continue on as host, tripling his previous salary of slightly less than $5 million per season. Judge Randy Jackson is signed onto the series through 2011, while Kara DioGuardi has also expressed interest in returning.

I honestly think if they don’t ask Paula to come back for another season it could mean the end for Idol…. It’s always proven true that when you try to change something that’s good, you end up running it into the ground. People look forward to her crazy remarks and her on-cue tears!