Posh No Paula In “Idol” Debut

Comes off cold and wooden: Report

If Paula Abdul's departure from "American Idol" is a just a negotiating ploy, she got a big boost from potential replacement Victoria Beckham, who reportedly bombed in her stint as guest judge.

"It didn't go well," a source close to the production told RadarOnline.com. "She tried hard to be 'nice,' but came off as icy and wooden."

The auditions were in Denver on Friday. Beckham, better known as Posh Spice, has been tabbed as a guest host for the show, but there has been speculation that a strong performance could position her to replace Abdul.

Abdul has been a judge on the top-rated show since its inception in 2002. Known for her weepy supportiveness of even the most hapless performers, she serves as a counterweight to the abrasive star of the judging panel, Simon Cowell. She reportedly earned as much as $5 million last year, but wants an enormous raise more in line with the salaries of Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest.

Sources told Radar that several contestants who auditioned said they missed Abdul.

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