Valerie Macon/Getty ImagesFox wants Paula Abdul back, but not in the way you're expecting.
The former American Idol judge isn't returning to the singing competition show...she's trading in her microphone for dancing shoes! That's right, Abdul is in talks to take over the vacant seat at the judges table on So You Think You Can Dance now that Mary Murphy is exiting the show.
"We're in conversations with Paula," Fox boss Gary Newman told a small group of reporters at the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour. "We don't' have a deal closed so we have nothing to announce, but we hope to soon. We think Paula is great. America loves her and responds to her."
The network is excited to see what Abdul will bring to So You Think You Can Dance if a deal closes.
"Paula has an amazing personality from all those years on Idol and in particular, America always loved her," Newman said. "She brings an tremendous amount of credibility to the dance world and that's what you're looking for in a judge, to be credible and entertaining."
But why did the show decide not to renew Murphy's contract?
"We love Mary. She was a huge part of that show," Newman said. "She was a great advocate for the show and advocate for the network. We wish Mary well and she really was a great partner over the years, but we just felt the show needed to be shaken up a bit. We worked with our producers and are trying to do that."
Murphy was on the show from 2007 to 2009 and then returned in 2011 and has been there since. According to a release, Murphy's contract option was not renewed.
"I'm saddened of course to be released from my contract," Murphy said in a statement. "I'm very grateful and proud to have been part of such an extraordinary television show, So You Think You Can Dance, for 11 seasons. I'm sure there wasn't a person watching that didn't know I loved what I did!!"
But a new face at the judges table won't be the only different part of the show when it returns.
"There have been some other creative changes to the show which we'll be announcing in time," Newman teased.
So You Think You Can Dance season 12 will premiere in the summer on Fox.