When last season of American Idol added fourth judge Kara DioGuardi, many speculated that Kara’s addition was a potential test to see if she could replace Paula Abdul in case Paula decided to leave the show (because a woman can only replace another woman, obviously). Now, Paula’s embroiled in difficult contract negotiations that leave her status on the show uncertain. Her manager has complained to the press that Paula is being lowballed - she makes far less than fellow judge Simon Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest, and she’s holding out for more money.
As an avid Idol fan, I could go two ways with this. One is that Ryan and Simon both provide more value to the show than she does - Simon’s also a producer and helped create the show, and while it seems like hosting a reality show is easy, compare Ryan with a lesser TV host and you’ll see how talented he is at moving the show along and smoothing transitions. Ryan’s the only host, but Paula is one of three - or four - judges. Besides, her commentary is often rambling or irrelevant - do we really care that you like someone’s personality or outfit when they can’t freaking sing? Part of me thinks she should be grateful to Idol for resurrecting her career and making her a pop culture icon. After all, would she have had her reality show, jewelry line, endorsement deals, or other side gigs if she hadn’t made her Idol-fueled comeback? I doubt it.
On the other hand, there’s the Randy Jackson factor.
Continue reading ‘paula abdul and workplace inequality’
How do you tell when a celebrity has really hit the big time? Is it when they’re on the cover of People magazine? Maybe the first time they’re invited to Diddy’s White Party?
I’d venture a guess that a celebrity is really famous when he or she gets a personal assistant. So in that case, let’s now welcome Susan Boyle to the big-star table. The Scottish woman who turned into a YouTube sensation when she sang “I Dreamed A Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent has been coping with the effects of fame. She’s going on tour, has had to learn how to use a cell phone for the first time in her life, is purchasing the house she’s been renting for years, and has a brand-new PA named Julia. With help from Julia and her mentor Simon Cowell, Susan is also recording her first album.
As long as you’re nice to your assistant, Susan, I won’t have to say anything mean about you on this blog. But you’ve been warned.
The new American Idol judge might be sympathetic to some of the would-be stars who are currently working admin or other assistant-type jobs while they try to make it in the music industry. Why? Because she spent five years as the assistant to the editor in chief of Billboard magazine, which was her start toward getting the connections and contacts that led her to a songwriting/singing/producing career. Is she going to pay it back by mentoring some of the up-and-coming singers on American Idol? It’s too soon to tell so far if Kara is going to be more of a Simon or a Paula. She was kind of a bitch to Bikini Girl, but I will totally pass on that one because the girl was annoying and an even more low-rent version of Megan from Rock of Love.
British singer Leona Lewis, who entered the scene after winning UK talent show X Factor, has a hit single called “Bleeding Love” that I couldn’t go anywhere this summer without hearing. She has great hair, a good voice, a successful record, the adoration of X Factor head judge Simon Cowell–and no personal assistant. That puts her in the ranks of actress Ellen Page, designer Anya Hindmarch, and American treasure Tim Gunn as celebrities who don’t have assistants (or didn’t, the last time I checked). Here’s what Leona has to say about how normal she is:
While Mariah uses a private jet to fly her Jack Russell terrier between her homes in New York and Los Angeles, Whitney demands pulp-free orange juice and peanut butter and jam sandwiches backstage at concerts.
Lewis, who earlier this month was named Best Pop Female and Best New Act at the World Music Awards, says she does not even have a personal assistant or any security guards travelling with her.
She tends to shun glitzy events and previously said: ‘I just like to stay at home and chill out with my friends, maybe go for a nice meal.
‘I like to relax and take it easy - I’m a low-key kind of girl.’
And rather than splashing out a small fortune on a 10-bedroom mansion, she is instead buying a flat in Hackney, close to where she grew up.
‘When you’re settled it’s hard to move,’ she said.
‘I love the flat – it’s really private and the neighbours are cool - and it’s very close to my mum and dad.’
Earlier this week, various news outlets reported that head American Idol judge Simon Cowell earns $45 million a year. Fellow judge Paula Abdul, however, makes somewhere in the $5-8 million range. They basically have the same job, and wouldn’t you be pissed if you found out your coworker made nine times as much as you? I’m of two minds on this.
First Mind: Of course Simon makes more. He helped create the show, so he’s probably getting a producer credit in addition to his judging fee. Frankly, Paula should be grateful she still has a job, considering how rambly and incoherent she is. And even if she’s making on the low end of that spectrum, five million bucks a year is nothing to sneeze at. Also, Simon’s a better negotiator–why should he be punished for that? Former Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said, “Why is he getting more than the other two judges? Because it is believed that he brings more to the table. Also, he has actually handled his negotiations quite brilliantly.”
Continue reading ’simon cowell syndrome: when one coworker outearns the rest’