X-Factor Judges: Paula and Nicole Get Fired!

[Monday] at The X Factor was a bloodbath which just claimed its biggest name. Not only was host Steve Jones let go and judge Nicole Scherzinger exited from the Fox show [Monday], but now a Simon Cowell insider just told me that his longtime friend and American Idol colleague Paula Abdul won’t be returning as an X Factor judge next season. I understand from sources that none of the three left on their own accord and that it was cleaning house day at the so-so rated show. Last April I revealed exclusively that Cowell in addition to himself and ”L.A.” Reid, he had made up his mind to bring back Paula beside him for the show’s premiere season. “I missed her the second she left the show. Always loved working with her even though she can be a pain. I don’t know what it is about her, but I’ve always clicked with her. You just have to get that chemistry, and she’s right. I’ve never found anyone better than her,” Cowell told me at the time. It took several months for her contract to be pinned down, but Abdul was the most famous judge on the show behind only Cowell’s. Meanwhile, Fox confirmed today the departures of both Scherzinger as a judge as well in addition to host Jones. The two, originally paired as co-hosts, had been considered the weakest links and likely casualties going into Season 2. But my news that Abdul is out as well comes as a surprise even though Cowell’s X Factor had a ho-hum first season