Simon Cowell Grooming Paula Abdul for U.S. X Factor

Is Simon Cowell grooming Paula Abdul for X-Factor? (AP Images)"]
After (kind of) announcing that he wasn't renewing his contract with American Idol, Simon Cowell is apparently grooming Paula Abdul for his American version of his hit British show, The X Factor. According to reports,  Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of The X Factor to US TV in 2011.

Now  reports are swirling that Paula Abdul has signed a $4.5 million contract to judge the  show. Cpwell allegedly flew Abdul out to the UK to meet the X Factor production team.  

"Simon flew Paula to London and wined and dined her relentlessly over the course of several days, even introducing her to everyone who works on X Factor," a source claimed.

"But what really clinched the deal was Simon’s pledge that she wouldn’t have to deal with all the nonsense and infighting that she hated on Idol."

The X Factor  is slated to  begin taping episodes in Los Angeles in the fall of 2011. The  Bodog Sportsbook has celebrity odds. Need an account? Join Bodog today