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

While Cindy Crawford's success was found in modeling instead of music, if American Idol is looking for a judge who will be able to give advice on stage presence over vocal talent, Cindy Crawford might be one option to consider. She is one of the most prominent supermodels in the past two decades, so she certainly knows her way around a runway - which is not that much different from being on stage. In both places, you have to be confident and convincing, and you have to make an impression on your audience. If the analysis of vocal talent and marketability is left to Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, Cindy Crawford could fall into the mix quite nicely and provide advice on stage presence based on her own experiences.