Be kind: Paula Abdul has said that sitting on America's most popular TV show and listening to amateurs sing for several hours a week is hard, very hard work. And sometimes she just mixes up her notes.

But now, it seems, the cat's out of the bag. The wobbly American Idol judge slipped up yesterday and suggested rehearsals help her form an opinion, which gives the lie to the ostensible spontaneity of the show:

You can read our own critic Tom Jicha's take on the controversy, and last night's show here. And check out MTVs "Top Five Times Paula Abdul Has Stretched the Limits of Logic."

Finally, just to explain to younger readers why this woman is a judge in the first place, here's a homage to Paula in her glory days:

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