Whatever you'd expect from a Paula Abdul reality show, you weren't expecting this. "Hey Paula," Bravo's new peek at the life of the always-mystifying Miss Abdul, is really just a 30-minute montage of assistant-berating, eye-rolling, dog-corralling and spastic fits of energy.
OK, so maybe it's exactly what you were expecting.
Known for her '80s pop icon status and teary "American Idol" judging, Paula Abdul is often written off as crazy. One viewing of the show—complete with a meltdown over a pair of jeans and more than one direct comment to the camera—proves that she really might be a few cards short of a full deck, but it's completely entertaining. And not very hard to see why.
With a sweet-but-clueless stylist (hired to keep her boss off of "worst dressed" lists), an assistant who looks one hissy fit away from quitting, a hair and make-up man who's, well, a hair and make-up man and four very yippy dogs following her around, there's not a moment of silence at the house that "Straight Up" built. Throw in an event like the Grammy's and total chaos ensues.
In the pilot, Paula and crew prep all day long, race straight from the awards show to catch a red eye flight, spend a few hours plugging a new jewelry line on late-night QVC and then turn around and fly back home. That's what the diva herself refers to as "Paula time": Non-stop, zero sleep and not even a comfy pair of sweats to wear on the plane. (Damn you, fed-up assistant!)
The most bizarre thing of all in this often weird and wacky show? You might just find yourself liking the woman on the other side of the screen. Sure, she's a bit high maintenance. And, yes, you could argue that her inability to grasp the notion of time management is a desperate struggle to seem important. But when she's walking alone (well, besides the camera crew) through the streets of downtown L.A., wearing a Valentino gown, and someone shouts out words of praise from a passing car, it's a reminder of her star power and a truly touching moment.
When she trips after waving and shouting back to that fan? Now, that's when it's hilarious.
"Hey Paula" premieres Thursday, June 28 at 10 p.m./9c on Bravo.
OK, so maybe it's exactly what you were expecting.
Known for her '80s pop icon status and teary "American Idol" judging, Paula Abdul is often written off as crazy. One viewing of the show—complete with a meltdown over a pair of jeans and more than one direct comment to the camera—proves that she really might be a few cards short of a full deck, but it's completely entertaining. And not very hard to see why.
With a sweet-but-clueless stylist (hired to keep her boss off of "worst dressed" lists), an assistant who looks one hissy fit away from quitting, a hair and make-up man who's, well, a hair and make-up man and four very yippy dogs following her around, there's not a moment of silence at the house that "Straight Up" built. Throw in an event like the Grammy's and total chaos ensues.
In the pilot, Paula and crew prep all day long, race straight from the awards show to catch a red eye flight, spend a few hours plugging a new jewelry line on late-night QVC and then turn around and fly back home. That's what the diva herself refers to as "Paula time": Non-stop, zero sleep and not even a comfy pair of sweats to wear on the plane. (Damn you, fed-up assistant!)
The most bizarre thing of all in this often weird and wacky show? You might just find yourself liking the woman on the other side of the screen. Sure, she's a bit high maintenance. And, yes, you could argue that her inability to grasp the notion of time management is a desperate struggle to seem important. But when she's walking alone (well, besides the camera crew) through the streets of downtown L.A., wearing a Valentino gown, and someone shouts out words of praise from a passing car, it's a reminder of her star power and a truly touching moment.
When she trips after waving and shouting back to that fan? Now, that's when it's hilarious.
"Hey Paula" premieres Thursday, June 28 at 10 p.m./9c on Bravo.
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