Auditions for Paula Abdul’s new dance competition show are set to be held this fall, starting at the end of September, and the former American Idol judge says there is no age limit.

“You can be of any age, from like five or six to 105 or 6 and you would be surprised at the unbelievable, beautiful, niche-oriented, passionate dancers coming forward,” Abdul told OnTheRedCarpet.com before the 2010 Emmy Awards on Sunday. (See a list and photos of Emmy winners as well as red carpet pictures)

The show is tentatively titled Paula Abdul’s Dance Show and is modeled after the British series Got to Dance. It is set to debut on CBS in the middle of next season.

People interested in competing on the show, which was announced in May, are encouraged to upload audition videos at paulaabduldanceshow.com, register with the website and attend an audition in Los Angeles or New York in the fall.

“You can enter as a soloist, a duo, a group, in all styles of dance,” said Abdul, an award-winning choreographer. “In fact, I’m encouraging people to fuse styles together.”

Abdul, who left American Idol in 2009 after serving on the judges panel since the show’s debut in 2002, will produce, judge and mentor contestants on her new series.

The former Laker Girl was seen as the “cheerleading” judge who offered a more sympathetic ear and words of encouragement, in contrast to Simon Cowell’s typically-acerbic tone and dry and sometimes insulting comments. Cowell left the singing contest series after the finale of its ninth season in May to start a new show – an American version of British talent series The X Factor.

“I needed some time to really kind of reflect on the amount of hard work that I put into American Idol,” Abdul said about her departure from American Idol. “It was the biggest blessing of my life. I learned so much and it was so wonderful to be able to go back to my roots, where I was when I started, behind the camera, rooting and nurturing talent to take flight.”

Check out the video interview with Paula Abdul, carried out by reporter Rachel Smith

OTRC

Gallery update: 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. August 29, 2010

Enter Gallery

Paula Abdul returns to “Drop Dead Diva” for the second season finale, but this time out she isn’t playing a judge — she’s playing Jane’s (Brooke Elliott) wedding planner.

“What is great about that is I can now come back as anything. I could just pop up anywhere. I could be painter Paula Abdul. I could be plumber Paula. I could be proctologist Paula. You never know!” the former “American Idol” judge tells ET.

In the two-part finale — one episode airs at 9 p.m.; the other at 10 p.m. on August 29 — Paula has put her judges’ robes aside for a wedding-appropriate dress as she walks Jane down the aisle, but who Jane is marrying is top secret. Fans of the show know, though, that the love of Jane’s life — back from when she was Deb and in her model-sized body — is Grayson (Jackson Hurst).

“Jane is considering telling Grayson at several moments this season that she is really Deb and it reaches a pivotal point for her,” Brooke reveals to ET.

“Drop Dead Diva” airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Lifetime Television.

ET

Check out Paula Abdul as she perfects her “booty walk” on the set of “Drop Dead Diva.”

The pop star and former “American Idol” judge tells ET that it’s a shame she didn’t get a chance to do her “booty walk” when she filmed her guest-starring appearance on the Lifetime show, but she’s showing it off now — only for ET!

Watch Paula as she sashays for the cameras! And check her out on the two-part season finale of “Drop Dead Diva” on August 29 on Lifetime.

ET

As she prepares for her next TV gig — guest-starring on Drop Dead Diva’s season finale (Aug. 29 on Lifetime) — Paula Abdul talks exclusively to TV Guide Magazine about prepping for her new CBS dance show, Got to Dance, and what she thinks about all those American Idol changes.

TV Guide Magazine: What is it about Drop Dead Diva that keeps bringing you back to the show?
Abdul: I’m such a fan. It’s charming. I love the characters, and it’s so well written. I love the message and the positivity — accepting who you are and where you are and making the best of it. I love that Brooke Elliott’s character, Jane, is always looking at the glass half-full. When they asked me to start coming on as Judge Paula Abdul, I was in my eighth season of Idol and it was cute. I play Jane’s conscience and her cheerleader. It’s fun.

TV Guide Magazine: Now you’re playing someone other than Judge Paula … a wedding planner.
Abdul: It’s very clever the way [creator] Josh Berman writes. He decided, “We want to be able to bring you back more often and we want to make it so it’s not predicated on you always being Judge Paula.” So now this time in her dream Jane’s like, “What are you doing here, Judge Paula Abdul.” To which I respond, “This time I’m Paula Abdul…your wedding planner.” [Laughs]

TV Guide Magazine: What’s going on with Got to Dance?
Abdul: It’s very exciting. We’re in the middle of hiring the directors, the production designers, casting the experts. I’m happy to be able to bring in really passionate, artistic people that are going to have an opportunity to do things that are a little bit different and real creative.

TV Guide Magazine: What will set it apart from other dance competitions — other than the fact that the other competitions don’t have you?
Abdul: There are some amazing things up my sleeve. It’s going into the heart of why people love to dance. It’s any age between 6 and 106 — that’s what we’re saying. It’s any style of dance and any number. You can enter as a soloist or a duo or a group…as many people as can fit on the stage. It’s tapping into all different areas. It’s a whole different feel.

TV Guide Magazine: TVGuide.com just ran a poll asking if fans want Paula back on American Idol and the answer was “Yes!”
Abdul: I just saw that. I’m very grateful. I have tremendous gratitude that people want to see me on television and that people miss me on Idol. That leaves me speechless. It really does.

TV Guide Magazine: Nigel Lythgoe is confirmed as returning to Idol as executive producer. What do you think about that? He’s on record saying he wants you back.
Abdul: They are very kind words. I just found that out at work here, because people told me. [Laughs] I have the utmost respect for Nigel. Him going back to American Idol is in many ways a very big blessing. He’s a wonderful producer and I’m taken by the kind words he had to say. I have tremendous respect for him.

TV Guide Magazine: What do you think of all the changes going on since you left?
Abdul: I’ll always be a fan of the show. I had an amazing time. To be part of something from the very beginning that grew into such a worldwide phenomenon is really awe-inspiring. It’s going to go down in history. It’s always wonderful to be part of something that’s larger than you could have ever imagined. People grow with time and you can always expect change. I’m forever a fan of the show and I’ll always watch.

TV Guide Magazine: Should they keep Randy? Should he stay?
Abdul: I read this is Randy’s last year under contract. I think it’s important for people to have familiarity with someone. I haven’t been able to ask Randy what it feels like, because it’s not the time to ask him. Randy is a great guy — he really is. Everyone loves Randy!

TV Guide Magazine: What do you think about the names being bandied about — Jennifer Lopez? Steven Tyler?
Abdul: That’s the legacy of the show that I get to feel a part of. It’s a show that’s going to go down in history. I’m just honored and blessed that I get to be a part of it. It has certainly allowed for so many wonderful times.

SeattlePI

Lifetime hasn’t yet picked up “Drop Dead Diva” (9 p.m. Sundays) for Season 3, but Paula Abdul’s already on board as a guest star.

Make that in bed.

The former “American Idol” judge, a recurring guest star as an actual judge in some of the dreams of lawyer Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott), not only appears in the show’s two-hour season finale on Aug. 29, but she’ll also be in next season’s premiere, “Diva” creator Josh Berman said Tuesday night.

The finale, Berman said, “starts with our best dance number yet and it ends with an amazing cliff-hanger. Natasha Henstridge guest-stars for the whole two hours [and] we have Gloria Reuben in the episode,” as well as Abdul.

“I love this woman, and she’s so embraced the show . . . and when she was there for the finale, she says to me, ‘You know what? I want to shoot another scene.’ And I say to her, ‘Paula, this is our season finale. There’s nothing else to shoot.’

“She said, ‘What about Season 3?’ I said, ‘You’re absolutely right.’

“She goes, ‘If you want to go write a scene, I’ll shoot it right tonight. Just keep the cameras, I’ll wait as long as you want, I’ll hang out in my trailer. Grab me when you’re ready. I love the show.’ So I literally wrote a scene and we shot a scene for Season 3 for the first episode already, which has Jane and Paula in bed together,” he said. “Lifetime doesn’t even know.”

And, yes, “It’s a dream. At first you think she’s in bed with a woman, and then she taps her shoulder and she turns around and reveals Paula, and Fred’s on the other side of her,” Berman said. “So we have [a bit of] Season 3 shot already even though” the show hasn’t officially been picked up for next season.

“They’ve given us every indication that we’re picked up. But

we’re probably the first show in history that has shot a scene for a new season without having a pickup yet,” he said.

Philly

THIS JUST IN…
…from CBS Entertainment

CALLING ALL DANCERS!

AUDITIONS FOR PAULA ABDUL’S UPCOMING CBS REALITY-COMPETITION SERIES
“GOT TO DANCE” (working title) HAVE BEGUN

Nationwide Search For The Chance To Be Crowned America’s Dance Champion

The audition process for the upcoming CBS reality-competition series GOT TO DANCE (working title) has started. To get a leg up on the competition and apply for the chance to appear on GOT TO DANCE and audition for Paula Abdul, prospective dancers can log on to www.cbs.com/dance for an application and further details. This is a nationwide search open to all U.S. residents. There is no age limit or minimum. Dancers can perform any type or style of dance, as an individual or in a group.

Paula Abdul, the award-winning dancer/choreographer, dynamic performer, multi- platinum recording artist and popular entertainment personality, is executive producer, creative partner and lead expert for the show. She will also serve as coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the performances and elimination process, providing critical input and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful contestants.

GOT TO DANCE is based on the British hit that debuted earlier this year and has been a ratings sensation for Britain’s Sky 1, making it one of the UK’s top-rated pay TV series this season. In the most inclusive talent search on television, amateurs with raw talent of any age group from across the nation (either performing solo or in a group) can audition any form of dancing—from ballroom to break dance, bhangra to ballet and tap to tango. The most talented and entertaining dancers will be invited to audition for Abdul and her panel of experts, all world- class dancers themselves. The very best will perform live in the Semi-Finals and Finals, where they will battle for the right to be crowned GOT TO DANCE champion.

CBS Television…

GOT TO DANCE is based on a format created by Princess Productions and Shine TV and is produced by Reveille. Elisabeth Murdoch, Howard T. Owens, Mark Koops, Robin Ashbrook, Anthony Dominici and Paula Abdul are executive producers. Distribution is handled by Shine International.

CBS

Gallery update: VH1 Do Something Awards. July 19, 2010

Enter Gallery

Former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul has an idea for a replacement for Simon Cowell, who left “Idol” to concentrate on his new show, “The X Factor.”

“I keep saying his mom, Julie, should be a judge because Simon came from her,” Abdul laughed with “Extra” at the opening of the new L.A. salon Syndicate.

There is one Simon rumor she insists is true. “It’s the inevitable. Simon is going to be knighted. And he will make everyone call him ‘Sir.’”

Watch our interview with the lovely Abdul as she gives us a tour of the new salon!

Extra

Paula Abdul sure likes “Drop Dead Diva.” The Lifetime dramedy, shot in Peachtree City, gets a regular flow of guest stars such as Rosie O’Donnell and Liza Minnelli, but Abdul is the first to be on the show four times.

The first three times, she was in Jane’s fantasy sequences as a judge in a black robe and encouraging words. For the final episode of the second season, which is set to tape Friday, Abdul will play a wedding planner in yet another dream sequence, according to People. Her episode is set to air August 29, a week after one featuring “Bachelor” and pilot Jake Pavelka.

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