Paula Abdul, the pleasant but weird counterweight to Simon Cowell on "American Idol" is on the short list to be a judge on the snarky Brit's new show, "The X Factor."
Cowell told Access Hollywood.com that he is seriously considering Abdul, George Michael, Mariah Carey and Nicole Scherzinger, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls.
Abdul most recently was a judge on the CBS talent competition "Live to Dance." From 2002 to 2009, she was a judge on "American Idol" with Cowell and Randy Jackson.
The famously blunt Cowell also said that Katy Perry and Elton John are not on his list.
Cowell said that Elton John is "so grumpy nowadays, I mean, it would be like, he’d just be moaning the whole time."
"The X Factor" is Cowell's newest talent competition. Unlike "American Idol," the Fox program is open to groups as well as individuals.
"We want groups to audition, but any type of group — choirs," Cowell told Access Hollywood.com. "NSYNC, the next Spice Girls, the next Jackson 5."
"X Factor's" winner receives $5 million. The show premiers this fall on Fox.
