Paula Abdul Explains How 'Live to Dance' Is 'Different,' Reveals Surprising Inspiration for Getting Back to TV

By David Chiu Posted Jan 6th 2011 05:45PM

Unless you haven't been keeping track of television this week, you already know that Paula Abdul debuted her brand-new CBS dance competition show, 'Live to Dance,' this past Tuesday. For Abdul, the new show brings her career full circle. Before she became a recording artist and 'American Idol' judge, she was a dancer and choreographer who had worked with such acts as Duran Duran, ZZ Top and Janet Jackson.

More importantly, 'Live to Dance' -- for which Abdul serves as the executive producer -- was an opportunity for her to get back into television production work. She specifically credits director and producer James L. Brooks ('The Simpsons,' 'Terms of Endearment'), who brought her to his then-new TV series, 'The Tracey Ullman Show,' in the late '80s.

Watch PopEater's exclusive interview with Paula after the jump.

"This man's a genius," Abdul tells PopEater. "He was courting me to come on a new show he was creating. I came on as choreographer and I fell in love with TV production. I learned from the best and he was my mentor. Not only did I win my first Emmy there, but Jim inspired me to always come back to maybe perhaps producing.

"So here I am now [with] big blessings, CBS and Reveille -- great producing partners -- who have been really gracious in allowing me to have a vision and execute. This is a different type of show."

On 'Live to Dance,' which will air regularly on Wednesdays at 8PM ET, Abdul is the lead expert and mentor judging the contestants who are competing for a $500,000 prize. Besides Abdul, the other judges on the program are dancer Kimberly Wyatt and choreographer Travis Payne.

"It's about celebration," Abdul says. "It's about no age boundaries. You can be 6 years old. We have a 92-year-old. And all styles of dance -- it can be solo, duo, a group of any size. If you can fit on the stage, you're welcome."

According to USA Today, 'Live to Dance' drew 10.2 million viewers for its premiere. Abdul says that what she hopes people will get from the new show is a better appreciation and understanding of the dancer's spirit and psyche.

"Once a dancer, always a dancer," she says. "If you stop for 30 years, you can always get back on that so-called bicycle and keep going. Dance is just like that. It's an energy shift that really just promotes happiness, inspiration as a kid. I had dance and I thank God for that. It's a medium that transcends any language barrier. It's a visual medium that pierces the heart strings and inspires."

Learn more about Paula's never ending search for talent at PaulaAbdul.com and AuditionBooth.com.

Tags: American Idol, Live to Dance, paula abdul

Comments

(23)

Saturday 08 January

By Sam

Vote down Vote up Report this

I like Paula & believe that this show will be a hit for her.. If all of the rest of you don't want to watch, then that your right.. However don't hate!!! I think it's great to give people of "ALL" ages the right to try out... Keep your head high Paula!!!!

By luigiroma

Paula, Paula, Paula I thought your show would be different. Some of the acts that were put through are a joke. There should of been a age requirement, no one younger than 16. The kids that were picked will keep doing the same routines week after week. I guess dancing and studying dance for years means nothing to this contest, more like a variety show thats why so many less talented dancers were picked.

By Randy Jackson

Yo Dawg - I hate to see you going down in flames, it's painful to watch !!!!!!!

Page 2 of 2