I should hope that regular Premium Hollywood readers know by now that I’m in no way the person who should be writing about “American Idol.” That title goes to Mike Farley, of course, whose regular blog for the series has developed a loyal following over the past several seasons, and God bless him for being able to watch the show week after week after week. Still, I figure there are enough “AI” fans floating around who might be interested at least this one highlight from the show’s panel during the TCA tour, so allow me to offer it up for you.
Obviously, the predominant focus on the conversation was on Ms. Kara DioGuardi and her addition to the “AI” mix as the series’ fourth judge. Alas, neither Simon nor Randy could be in attendance, but in an unexpected turn of events, we were gifted with the presence of one P. Abdul, whose name had appeared nowhere in any of Fox’s schedules for the day. It was a nice bonus, and, of course, we all had our fingers crossed in hopes that Paula might gift us with a couple of batshit crazy remarks, as is so wont to do. Sadly, she remained coherent throughout the proceedings, but she did at least completely freak Kara out with her decision to divulge some information about their history together.
DioGuardi immediately dismissed suggestions that her primary role on “AI” was to take care of Abdul; in turn, Abdul assured us that she actually used to take care of DioGuardi “back in the day,” denying all claims that she had any issues with the producers’ decision to add her to the mix.
“Kara and I have a 10-year friendship,” Abdul assured us. “Kara was a stranger to me that I met in New York, and I moved her into my home in Los Angeles and introduced her to some of the top publishers and songwriters because I believed in her talent so much that I moved someone who I don’t even know into my home. And, by the way, she was my best roommate that I ever had, except for one thing: she walks in her sleep. And there would be many times…”
“Okay,” began DioGuardi, uncertain as to where Abdul’s story was headed.
“With my white carpet,” Abdul continued, “I would get up and I’d see food grounded into my carpet leading to the kitchen.”
“I’m Italian,” said DioGuardi, defensively. “I’m hungry.”
“She doesn’t recall ever doing that, but it was one of the most hysterical things,” Abdul said. “We had the best time. We were partners in crime, and for her to come on the show is the irony of all ironies, because it’s fantastic. We’re great friends, and I think that everyone wants to make it like, ‘Oh, there’s going to be rivalry,’ but for me it’s been fantastic.”
It’s clear that DioGuardi has similarly fond memories of her time living with Abdul, though it would seem that one has a slightly different recollection of how long that living arrangement lasted.
“Her house was amazing,” DioGuardi recalled. “I never felt such great silks on the bed and beautiful couches. Everything was so wonderful. I’ll tell you, I walked in, and everything smelled so wonderful, and I would sneak into her bathroom when she would go away, because she would leave me to go on her cheerleading camps that she would do, and she would give me the keys to her car, and I would have this amazing car. I would be running around L.A. in it thinking this is the greatest thing ever. And then I would go home and sneak in her bathroom, and she had all these very fancy lotions and perfumes. And I think I even got a rash at one point. It was so fun. She treated me incredibly well.”
So how long were you there, Kara?
“At least a month, if not more,” replied DioGuardi.
“She was there off and on for a year,” corrected Abdul.
“No, it wasn’t a year.”
“Yes, it was a year, Kara.”
“Maybe I would come in for a weekend…”
“Kara has a selective memory,” explained Abdul. “The funniest thing ever…and at first it really aggravated me, and then one of her best friends, they were schoolmates from college…”
Horrified, DioGuardi asked, “You’re not telling this story, are you?”
“She asked, ‘Kara, do you remember being at Mardi Gras in New Orleans?'” asked Abdul, with a grin.
“Oh, my God…”
“‘And you remember the guy grabbed a body part and stole your purse?'”
An incredulous DioGuardi looked helplessly at her fellow panelists and said, “I can’t believe she just said this.”
“I didn’t say what body part, Kara,” Abdul defended herself. “And she goes, ‘No, I don’t remember.’”
“I don’t remember,” said DioGuardi, weakly.
“How do you forget that?” demanded Abdul.
“There’s some things I don’t want to remember,” DioGuardi replied.
