Enlarge imagePASADENA, California (Reuters) - Paula Abdul may be out of a job on "American Idol" but she could soon be dancing with the stars on rival TV network ABC.
ABC's entertainment president Steve McPherson told reporters on Saturday he would love to see the former "Idol" judge on "Dancing with the Stars" and had already called her about a possible role with his network.
"I would love to (have her). I was a little stunned by the ("Idol") decision. We would love to have her on 'Dancing' either as a participant or a contestant," McPherson said.
"I definitely have reached out to her. I gave her a call first and foremost to say I was sorry about the situation and to say we'd love to see her on ABC," said McPherson, adding that he was a personal friend of Abdul.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Abdul announced earlier this week she was ending her seven-year stint as a judge on "American Idol" after failing to get as large a pay rise as she hoped for in her contract negotiations.
Former pop singer Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham filled in for Abdul on Friday as auditions started for the ninth season of the top-rated TV singing competition.
Fox, which will air the new show in January, said singer Katy Perry was among a number of other female artists it was recruiting for guest judge spots while it searched for a permanent replacement for Abdul.
Abdul, a former dancer and singer, is not short of offers from friends in the TV industry.
Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of "So You Think You Can Dance", said earlier this week he would love to have her on his show and was meeting her this weekend to talk about opportunities.
"I don't know anyone who has had her experience as a performer, a dancer, a choreographer and a judge. I've been trying to get her since season one!," Lythgoe told reporters on Thursday.
