Simon Cowell has made it known to the powers that be that he wants co-judge Paula Abdul back on American Idol for season 8.

It was announced yesterday by Abdul’s manager that it was “unlikely” the former singer would be renewing her contract with the FOX network reality show; however, both Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest have said Paula will be back.

“She’ll be fine. She’ll be on the show,” Cowell told Extra on Monday. “I don’t get a lot of say. I’ve just made it clear that I want Paula on the show. Full stop.”

Host Seacrest said: “I think as far as I know you’ll see everybody back. I hope so.”

Word on the street is that Abdul’s contract has yet to be renewed because of on-going talks regarding money issues. Apparently, since both Seacrest and Cowell have received massive pay increases for the coming season, Abdul’s singing out for more money as well – $20 million, to be exact.

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The latest season of American Idol may have been Paula Abdul’s last, with the reality television judge’s manager revealing that she may not be returning to the hit series.

At this point in time, Abdul’s manager David Sonenberg says it “doesn’t appear” Paula will be back, as there has been no proposal for a new contract sent for his perusal.

Earlier in the year, Kevin Reilly – the Fox entertainment president – said that Abdul was “an integral part of the show.” However, with auditions for the new season of Idol starting later this month, it’s looking highly unlikely that Abdul will be back for another series.

Other Idol stalwarts Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest are already on board, with both Cowell and Seacrest snagging substantial pay rises with their new contracts.

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Simon Cowell’s American Idol contract is up, and the infamously snarky judge wants more than last year’s $36 million to stick with the series – so Fox has reportedly offered the British national a whopping $144 million per year!

Contract negotiations between Cowell and Fox’s co-producers has been leaked to the press, and the figures involved – a sum too great to comprehend for most of us – are believed to be 100 % accurate.

Fox has declined to comment about the salary negotiations, but a source close to the Idol set has revealed that the sum Cowell is expected to receive is “only a fraction” of the estimated $900 million that the reality television show rakes in yearly. The source labeled Cowell as the “lynchpin of the show,” and said that without his “dramatic tension” with fellow judge Paula Abdul, Idol wouldn’t be the hit it is today.

“[Cowell is] due for a raise,” the source added.

Cowell’s current contract with the Fox-produced reality show expires in May next year.

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Star is reporting that Katie is feeling conned by Tom Cruise, because he hasn’t helped her to become a major  star.

Part of the ‘agreement’ when they started ‘dating’ was for Tom to make all her dreams come true. Apparently Katie is like many others, with her only dream being to become a major movie star.

The trouble is, none of that has happened for Mrs Cruise No. 3. While Tom helped launch frozen face Nicole’s career, he has failed to deliver the same rewards for Katie and she is not too happy about it.

Tom had apparently made the bold statement that with him managing her career, she would be a major star and the No. 1 female box-office earner in the World within 5 years.

Due to his controversial statements and behaviour, Tom’s star has itself waned considerably and presumably his Hollywood power along with it. With Valkyrie, he may reclaim some of his lost sparkle, time will tell.

I wonder if Katie’s contract has a get-out clause written into it???