Abdul far from idle after leaving 'Idol'

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul is being wooed by several networks, which started before she left the hit Fox show, "Idol" team members said.

Abdul's announcement last week that she would not return to "American Idol" for a ninth season was greeted with comments about the unlikely prospect of finding a post-"Idol" job that was either prominent or lucrative, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Now Abdul is being wooed by NBC, ABC and the producer of another Fox show, "So You Think You Can Dance."

Her departure has left hard feelings on the "Idol" team, the Times said. People close to her said she left because she felt undermined and under-appreciated for years, and was trying to get more compensation from Fox for those slights.

One "Idol" team, however, said that although Abdul clearly contributed to the program's success, the costs and benefits of her histrionics were such that "Idol" could afford to stand firm in talks.

"Paula didn't place as much importance on remaining on the show as some other people did," one person close to Abdul told the Times. "She thinks there are a lot of opportunities out there for her, and she will be fine without that show."

Negotiations between Abdul and Fox heated up this spring, when she requested a raise to more than $10 million a year from about $3.5 million, people familiar with the negotiations said. Fox said it was prepared to offer no more than $5 million.