'Hurt, Angry' Abdul Likely to Quit Idol: Manager

Paula Abdul is unhappy with her American Idol deal, and her manager wants the world to know it. The famously tongue-tied and tearful judge "is not a happy camper" in contract negotiations, manager David Sonenberg tells the Los Angeles Times. "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back." Ryan Seacrest recently reached a $45 million deal with the show, which reportedy offered Cowell a jaw-dropping $144 million.

Sonenberg's complaints likely signal a new, intensifying stage of negotiations between Abdul and Idol—but she may lack leverage since producers hired a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi. "I think at this point we're going to be considering everything," says Sonenberg, "including some kind of a competition show. She has tremendous ideas for a whole variety of shows."