Everyone said that “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul was committing career suicide by walking away from the show after tense contract re-negotiations, but after witnessing the show’s painful decline in quality this season, you have to wonder if Paula is less crazy and more crazy like a fox. The 80’s pop star turned TV personality is in high demand and sources say she is close to making a deal with former cast mate Simon Cowell to work together again on his new show, “The X Factor.” And get this – she was advised to take the deal and turn down ABC’s offer to host “Star Search” by her ex, Arsenio Hall.

Paula Abdul turned down big bucks to host a new ABC version of “Star Search” – and she did it on the advice of her old beau Arsenio Hall, sources say.

Now the former “American Idol” judge is continuing talks with music producer mogul Simon Cowell to be a key player on his show “X Factor” next season.

“Paula was very tempted to do ‘Star Search’ and negotiations went right down to the wire,” an insider told The Enquirer. “But at the last minute Arsenio persuaded her not to do the show because it has already been done – by him!”

Arsenio, 55, hosted the revival of “Star Search” on CBS in 2003, but that reboot of the old Ed McMahon-hosted show failed to catch on with viewers.

“Arsenio told Paula that she should stake out new ground for herself and not rehash something that has been done several times,” said the insider. “He encouraged her to look to the future, and he believes for Paula, the future is ‘X Factor.'”

Paula, 47, and Arsenio dated 20 years ago. As the Enquirer reported, she rekindled her romance with the former late-night talk show host/comedian last fall, but they have since decided to be just friends.

And when ABC approached Paula to host a revamped “Star Search” Arsenio convinced her that the program- with its vintage variety show-style format – was too dated for young viewers.

“He felt it would compare unfavorably with the fresher ‘Idol’ and ‘X Factor’ formats,” explained the insider. “Paula was won over by Arsenio’s argument, even though the deal offered to her by ABC was one of the highest the network has ever made to a female star. Arsenio knows that Paula is very close to signing on to do ‘X Factor’ with Simon Cowell, and he feels that’s the best move for her.”

[From The National Enquirer Print Version, April 5, 2010]

Arsenio might be right about X Facto vs. Star Search – but really, aren’t they both rehashed at this point? “X Factor” is basically Simon ripping off his own UK show and “Idol.” It’s not all that orginial. As for Arsenio, should he really be giving anyone career advise? His career was no great shakes before he signed on to host “Star Search,” but after the show tanked, he kind of disappeared. I did see him in a small cameo role in the hilarious blaxploitation parody “Black Dynamite” recently, and he was really funny. I always thought Arsenio was a talented guy who had a hard time living in Eddie Murphy’s shadow. Anyway, back to Paula. We all know she is really in love with Simon, so stop beating around the bush and just sign the contract already!