Hollywood CA-Has anyone seen Paula Abdul hanging around the American Idol sound stage? If so, please ask her to come in. No questions asked, accept our apologies, and get back on the panel.

As of now, American Idol’s 9th season is uncomfortable. On Wednesday night, February 24, it was like watching the boss deliver a tasteless joke at an uptight corporate party. The silence in the studio was deafening as the new panel of four dished out opinions on the Idol performances. Not even Hollywood editing could help this one.

Who would have guessed removing the friendly, sometimes scattered, Paula would make such a difference. It did. In the past, when performances were poor, Paula was the buffer.

Most of Wednesday night’s performances were poor and there was no “Positive Paula” offering hope. Instead, it was one reality check after another from the judges, compounding the “uncomfort” level. In fact, Simon Cowell looked like the compassionate one in this new group.

Idol’s magic formula may be in trouble; time will tell. Good thing for the show’s producers that the Olympics distracted millions of viewers from 2010’s first week with the A.I. finalists, providing Idol some time to adjust the comfort level before millions of viewers return.

M. Brace Coines-RLTV.com Columinst