Why is Paula Abdul an American Idol judge?

I think she had a great voice back in the day. Who knows what she sings like now. She's also done a lot of choreograph for herself and other singers so she's been around people who could sing so is a good "Judge" of singing ability. And since she *can* sing she knows what's going to go into it in that aspect, where as the guys aren't singers, they just produce (if I'm not mistaken)

a better question is why is Simon a judge. i never heard of him before this show. i think they picked him because he is a jerk.

Personally I like all three of the judges and don't want any of them to go. I don't think it would be the same without, Paula, Randy or Simon.

i think she's there for stage performance, of course she knows something about singing since she did do it, but really think she's there for more of the look. i don't mind her being the judge, and also, they judges they have on So You THink You Can Dance are very qualified to judge them.

She isnt a good singer but she won a grammy back then.I think her comments are too safe and it irritates me coz it gives false hope to the contestant.She's the nice one among the judges.I think she is a judge to strike a balance between her , simon and randy.Either way i enjoy when Paula and simon fight.

Well, she is not the best female singer of her era but still I think she is good, I liked her songs and her voice too not just the "show". I'm not fan of American Idol and maybe there were bigger names they can use but still Paul is a good singer too in my opinion.

yeah you have a big points in here, i will give you a good point in here because you are very strong to voice out your feeling with regards to this woman, honestly i didnt get the chance to listen when she sing, lol when was that?any way i have when she give here comments to the contestant on the auditions, sometimes they have potentials but didnt win but others are just beautiful, hmmm,, no comments anymore.

Well, I guess we could say that about any of the 3 judges, really. Simon and Randy both have had success in the music industry, but they weren't household names before Idol. On the other hand, at least most people had heard of Paula. It really doesn't matter what the judges say on AI, though, since the public gets to decide who wins.

i think they needed a nice judge, a female judge, and someone who is well known. even though i don't think she's particularly talented, she fits the bill and probably has a lot of time on her hands...

If you ask me, most 80's pop singers couldn't really sing at all! :p

All I can remember of her was her "Hush" video with Keannu. That's it. =/