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We love Neil Patrick Harris just as much as the next gal, but we can't help but wonder: Should American Idol leave the judging up to the true recording-industry professionals?

The How I Met Your Mother star is sitting at the judges table today for the Dallas auditions, a Fox rep confirmed to us.

And yes, we know NPH has succeeded on Broadway and has sung a tune or two elsewhere in his entertainment endeavors. But does that make him a great judge for this type of competition? Take our poll below to let us know what you think and then hit the comments with your arguments.

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Get the latest on the American Idol guest judges here

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Michael Becker / Fox

From unplanned lip-syncing to midnight rendezvous, American Idol's Matt Giraud dishes on life on the road, life onstage and what's to come next for the smooth singer.

"I'm finally feeling in the groove of things on the road," Matt tells us. "The performance part took a few to really get my thing going. Now it's more natural. I don't have to think about it, and I can improv a little bit here and there. And I still like my songs, which is good!"

That doesn't mean there haven't been a few bumps in the road...

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When we first caught up with Megan Joy, American Idol's ninth-place finisher, before the summer tour, she warned us that she'd be the "skanky one" on the outing. Before you take that the wrong way (she is a mom, after all!), she was talking about her tour wardrobe—specifically that tight, pink Barbie-esque shiny dress.

We had to ask her: Is that something you would wear offstage? "No, never," she told us this morning. But it's great onstage, right? "Uh, I guess." Oh, you don't like it. "Yeah, no, nope." Well, you can change it can't you? "Nope. But it's all right."

OK, moving on then to more important topics, like what's on her career to-do list, how Adam Lambert's fans might be sending her to the ear doctor soon and answers to some of your questions...

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Patrick T Fallon/ZumaPress.com, ABC/Ron Tom

This week is off to a grim start for Paula Abdul.

The dancing shows don't want her, and now she won't be bringing the pretty to Ugly Betty after all.

Talks between the fallen American Idol queen and ABC have stalled, the network confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.

Abdul was slated to appear on the America Ferrera comedy as a temp at Mode who buddies up with Becki Newton's Amanda. The episode was supposed to begin shooting this week.

Yikes! Could this mean a return-to-Idol announcement may be imminent?

Fingers crossed!

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Keep track of all of Paula's comings and goings right here.

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

R&B superstar Mary J. Blige will be the latest celebrity to sit at the judges table during this summer's auditions for season nine of American Idol.

Ryan Seacrest's radio show producer, NegativeNellie, tweeted the good news today: "Mary J Blige, guest idol judge in atlanta monday! Via @PeopleMag." A rep for American Idol has confirmed the news to us as well.

In case you haven't been keeping up, here's where we're at...

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Patrick T Fallon/ZumaPress.com, ABC/Ron Tom

We kid. It's actually quite the opposite.

On the heels of leaving American Idol and endless speculation as to where she will end up next, E! News has confirmed that Paula Abdul is in talks to guest star on ABC's Ugly Betty.

That's right folks, the little Paula that could continues to rebound after last week's AI debacle. While info about Abdul's potential role on the underdog series is being kept secret, our best frenemy Ausiello reports that she'll play a Mode temp who becomes fast friends with Becki Newton's Amanda.

We can only imagine the misadventures these two will find.

If ABC keeps this up, they may just land Paula for Dancing with the Stars after all. We'll keep you posted...

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Michael Becker/FOX

Now that the reality is sinking in that Paula Abdul might really, really not be sitting pretty at the American Idol judges table next season, we're starting to mourn her loss a bit.

Of course, there are still those who think this is all just a bargaining strategy and that the "nice judge" and the powers that be behind America's biggest competition show will eventually come to an agreement, but for now, it's looking like Idol will be Paula-less.

And that got us thinking: What will we really miss about Paula Abdul? Take our poll below and then hit the comments with your thoughts.

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F Micellotta/Getty Images, Michael Becker/Fox

As the American Idols Live Tour nears its midway point, we are still getting you answers to your burning questions about the top 10.

Today, we bring you runner-up Adam Lambert and fourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta to answer the trivial (What's your shoe size?), the deep (What's your most painful rejection?) and the newsy (What's up with your albums?)

Here we go...

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Michael Becker/FOX

Paula Abdul is gone from Idol, and Fox boss Peter Rice told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour, "We're very sad that she's not coming back." But the show must go on. So what's the plan for Idol season nine? Well, for one thing, the four-judge setup ain't dead yet, and they're bringing in some surprise celebrity guests to fill the gap. Read on to find out who:

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Lifetime

At least Paula Abdul is still someone's idea of a dream judge.

Less than 24 hours after turning the page on her American Idol career, the former Fox star was on her way to Peachtree City, Ga., to finish shooting her upcoming cameo on the Lifetime dramedy Drop Dead Diva.

And going by this still from the Sept. 13 episode, which she filmed earlier this summer, it looks as if Judge Paula Abdul still wields plenty of authority in TV land.

Tomorrow she'll shoot a scene for the Oct. 11 season finale in which Judge Paula will appear in a dream sequence to give Jane (Brooke Elliott) some relationship pointers.

And, presumably, to tell the spiritually transposed model that she looks amazing.

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Fans have taken it up a notch from throwing bras and panties at Adam Lambert during the American Idol summer tour. Now they're tossing up sex toys.

"It's going further, and somebody threw onstage a red-leather tasseled whip," he tells us. "Yeah, and then the next night, I got one that was made out of, like, purple fur. It's getting really S&M."

How's he dealing with the newfound fan freakiness? Fine out...

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Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Sure, they're playing hardball. Why shouldn't they? Paula Abdul is the heart and soul of American Idol, and if she wants to hold out for the most amount of money possible, we say, you go girl!

Host Ryan Seacrest just inked a $45 million deal (for three years). Mr. Nasty Simon Cowell's deal is rumored to be around the $144 million mark. But the one judge who offers up a shoulder to cry on, sweet words of encouragement or who is always there with a fab-u-lous for the contestants is currently only earning between $5 million to $8 million per season.

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