So what’s the deal with Paula Abul and American Idol? The fans’ favorite train-wreck judge of American Idol may now have to considering other career options. Is it time for Paula to brush up her resume and look for other employment?

Here’s the bottom line – the only truth out there is that Paula hasn’t received a proposal for her new contract. David Sonenberg, Paula’s manager, is reported to have said “Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on ‘Idol’.Word is that she asked for $20 million dollars, and Simon has put in a good word for her to stay on the show. That’s it, folks. That’s all we know.

While it is certainly true that the judges of American Idol do play a big role in the success of the somewhat controversial and somewhat over-rated reality talent show, the longevity of troubled and often-confused Paula has been questionable for the last few seasons. Incoherent ramblings and wide-eyed, toothy, spaced-out grins are Paula’s trademark. If the judges were reduced to the eye-rolling sarcastic Simon, the colorful “dawg” Randy Jackson and the ethereal yet fairly boring Kara DioGuardi, who would watch? Paula Abul appeals to the trapped-in-the-80’s women who watch the show and the I-want-to-be-a-cool-old-lady-too young girls of today who are glued to their sets every week. Is anyone actually going to let this kind of market power leave their show?

Paula told people on Twitter that “I’m actually moved 2 tears upon reading the enormous amount of tweets showing me your kindness, love, & undying support. God bless all of you!” Fans have taken to the Fox message boards, Twitter, Facebook and anywhere else they can to demand that Paula be brought back for another season. The fact is she has over 700,000 followers on Twitter. The “Keep Paula” movement is actually Number 2 on Twitter’s trending topics list.

What will Paula do if she leaves American Idol? Can Paula focus enough to take an online course to become a paralegal? Is Paula too trendy to become a cosmetician? Would a self-study course in forensics uncover a hidden desire to solve crimes while wearing designer cargo pants and bedazzled lab coats? Can she brush up her resume and enter “$20,000,000.00” in the “Expected salary range” field on her application for work at The Gap?

The fans are speaking out. Paula belongs behind her judging table, clapping and hiccuping like the pro she is. She’ll always be forever our girl.