What Second Song, Paula? Who Could Replace Paula Abdul as a Judge on American Idol

Last night on American Idol, Paula Abdul appeared to have prepared statements ready for the contestants following their first song. She praised Jason Castro's first song, but then began to criticize his yet-to-be-performed second song. When Randy Jackson called attention to her mishap, she backtracked, saying that her criticism of Jason's second song was actually a review of David Cook's performance - only to later contradict herself by praising Cook's performance. This mishap made the audience suspicious not only of Paula, but of American Idol's overall credibility, wondering, were these prepared statements, or was Paula simply "out of it"?

That said, maybe American Idol should consider replacing her as a judge. While not an exhaustive list, here are some other women associated with the entertainment industry who would make suitable replacements for Paula, if their careers weren't already too busy to make a commitment to American Idol.

Kelly Clarkson

Having competed in American Idol, and winning Season 1, it's safe to say that she has an idea of what is expected of the talent, especially in the later stages of American Idol. Kelly would be able to provide advice based on her experience not only as a contestant, but as a performer.

Missy Elliott

As both an artist and a producer, Missy Elliott has the potential to see each contestant from two sides - from a performance standpoint, as well as a production and marketability standpoint. She'll be able to offer advice on how to bring a little something special to the stage, as well as help contestants who are "lost" to find the niche that will bring them the most success.

Cindy Crawford