paula abdul simon cowellConfirmed: Paula Abdul has been ousted from The X Factor along with host Steve Jones and judge Nicole Scherzinger. Apparently her (admittedly complicated) past with Simon Cowell wasn't enough to protect her from pink slippage after all, as some speculated might be the case.

Or maybe Abdul's history with Cowell was just enough to protect her from something potentially worse than getting fired from The X Factor -- staying on for another season of The X Factor.

I know Cowell has a rep for being cold and heartless, but I still think he has a soft spot for his old American Idol sparring partner. Which is why I'm betting Abdul's forced departure was less of an execution than a mercy killing.

Think about it ...

By all accounts, Abdul was floundering in her role -- or lack thereof -- on The X Factor. What was the point of her being there, exactly? Even Paula didn't seem to know.

American Idol worked because Cowell, Abdul, and Randy Jackson all knew exactly why they were there and which role they were supposed to play. And each individual persona was equally essential to the show's dynamic on the whole. Basically, they had good chemistry. And in showbiz, good chemistry can be used to hide a multitude of (loopy, unpredictable) sins.

Unfortunately, there was no such chemistry on The X Factor. No buffer zone of banter, no crutch of barely concealed sexual tension. Had the show continued "as is" for another season, Paula's public approval rating would have suffered a huge dip, and her career might have been finished.

Who knows, her career might still be finished. But at least she has another shot.

Do you think Simon Cowell did Paula Abdul a favor by firing her from The X Factor?

 

Image via the x factor usa