I think Paula was a little on the tipsy side most everytime she was judging on the show, it's possible that they wanted her off badly and wouldn't give her more money because she was on drugs or drunk all the time...she just seemed too loopy for a normal human some nights. I'm one of the people in this world that will not be watching AI next year. I tried out for AI in KCMO and found out what a joke the whole thing really is. You audition for producers at first and it takes like 5 rounds and several more days before you might get to see the real judges. They always take freaks and almost never take the millions of incredible singers that show up there. It's a big TV joke and not a talent search at all, they got lucky with finding Carrie Underwood and David Cook but IMO the rest of the people that came from that show were one hit wonders except fourth place (shoulda been first) winner Daughtry who is yet another mega hit, and have you realized that almost ALL country people on the show become famous on CMT and GAC and get much much bigger than they would have with AI.
I'm not in favor of this show any longer now that i've seen the real side of it, and i'm not sure i'd watch it with Ellen because i don't approve of her personal life and don't want the show to turn into a Pride Parade like it was last year.
This is all JMO from what i've seen firsthand and how i feel about the show!
Hope you all love it next year and that it does go well, i most likely will try one or two episodes but won't tune in nearly as much as i used to