Focus groups to decide Paula’s ‘Idol’ fate

Just how much is Paula Abdul worth? For “American Idol” bigwigs, that’s still the undetermined multi-million dollar question.

As buzz about Abdul’s possible return to the reality show's judging panel gets louder every day, sources claim that confused network executives are now relying on focus groups to determine her final fate.

It suddenly seems that those guest judges due to take musical chairs-like turns in Abdul’s old “Idol” seat aren’t just filling in; they’re also helping Fox suits and their marketing associates figure out how much the past panelist is worth.

“Fox loves focus groups,” an insider revealed to RadarOnline. “If Paula consistently scores far higher than any other person in her chair, they will feel compelled to make her an offer she can’t refuse and make this deal happen.”

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According to a source close to Abdul, that just what the singer-dancer-choreographer believes will happen, as she’s confident the show can’t go on without her. Evidently, she’s not the only one who feels that way.

“There will be four judges at ‘American Idol’ come January,” another insider stated with certainty. “And that fourth judge will be Paula Abdul.”

LiLo’s dad has a change of heart
After ranting and raving about Samantha Ronson in various blogs, videos and tabloid interviews over the last year, Lindsay Lohan’s father has finally had a change of heart.

According to the New York Post, lens-loving Michael Lohan now believes his daughter’s gal pal, whom he once described as “dark, hideous and a disgusting representation of humanity,” isn’t so abominable after all.

Slideshow: Celebrity Sightings “I was misled by people who had their own agenda,” Papa Lohan confessed. “I was wrong and I’m very sorry.”

That’s some switcheroo, and it came complete with his blessing for LiLo’s Ronson romance.

“I wish the best for them,” the celebrity dad added.

Dish on the fly
Move over Madonna! Those 28 years that separate the queen of pop and Brazilian boy toy Jesus Luz hardly seem worth the headlines compared to the latest May-December celebrity hookup. According to the Daily Mail and a couple of cozy paparazzi photos, actor Jeff Goldblum, 56, is now dating 21-year-old former “Lost” star Tania Raymonde, who played Alex Rousseau on the ABC drama. “Despite the (35-year) age-gap, Jeff and Tania appeared smitten with one another and couldn’t keep their hands to themselves,” a source told the paper. … Actress Alicia Silverstone, who plans to share her secrets to all-natural eating in her upcoming health food handbook “The Kind Diet,” recently admitted she has an au naturale secret in her garden. “It probably started when I was doing my garden the first time,” she told Health magazine. “I’d be out there, and it would be scorching hot, so I would take off all of my clothes and garden.” Silverstone stressed that while she’s never bared all on film and never plans to, “in my own home, in my garden, (nudity’s) OK.”

Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines.