On the surface, Jessica Simpson may have seemed like the perfect replacement for Paula Abdul: Both are sweet, ever so slightly past-prime pop stars who aren't exactly the verbally sharpest chickens in the sea.
But sadly (for the missed YouTube potential, if nothing else), the switcheroo is not to be.
J.Simp's rep Cindi Berger has shot down reports that the blonde reality vet turned wannabe geisha will be filling the fourth seat at the American Idol judges' table, telling E! News the rumors are "not true at all."
Tongues started wagging over the possible replacement this morning, when the New York Post claimed Papa Joe Simpson was pushing for the casting coup.
Victoria Beckham she's not.
Not content to let the official denial stand, however, the ever hands-on Simpson patriarch took to Twitter this morning to further stick it to the tabloid.
"So, I am in thailand...But, of course, the post says I am in town trying to get ;ess to be the replacement for paula abdul...Do the lies ever stop????"
No, but the spell check clearly does.
However, in typical Hollywood-ending style, things may end up exactly where they started.
With Abdul's name failing to turn up on the call sheets of Dancing With the Stars, Ugly Betty or even So You Think You Can Dance, it seems our favorite underappreciated judge is keeping her schedule well and clear, should producers have a sudden change of heart. Or salary offer.
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Paula Abdul didn't make the cut for Dancing With the Stars, but check out who did.