ABC Keen on Paula Abdul Joining ‘Dancing With the Stars’

By Germain Lussier on August 10th, 2009

ABC President Stephen McPherson seems to really, really like the idea of poaching Paula Abdul for his network now that she’s a free agent.

Specifically, he thinks her background in pop music, dancing and reality television lends itself to his big reality show, “Dancing with the Stars”

“We would love to have her on ‘Dancing,’ as a contestant, a participant or a judge. I think she’s a huge talent,” McPherson told MTV News. “I think there’s a lot made of her in terms of who she is. … There’s a sensitivity and an emotion to her that balances out ‘Idol,’ and we’d love to have a piece of that.”

He was “shocked” to hear that Abdul was leaving FOX’s “American Idol” and said he spoke with her after and Abdul was in good spirits.

In a news sense though, most important is that even if he wants her on the show, there have been no contract talks yet. “We have no formal plans,” McPherson said. “I think all possibilities are open. Really, it will depend on where her head is at.”

Either way, he’s going to have some competition.

Nigel Lythgoe is the executive producer of both “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” and feels like, even though Abdul left his one show, maybe he can get her on his second.

“I’ve offered her a judge/choreographer [position] ever since season one, but of course, [Fox] said, ‘No, no, we can’t have her judging ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘American Idol,’ ” Lythgoe said. “So now, if she remains free from ‘Idol,’ she’s got no excuse.”