Paula Abdul Joins 'America's Got Talent' Finale Magic
Sep 15th, 2016
by Michele Amabile Angermiller, Billboard
Photo by Adam Rose
Paula Abdul on So You Think You Can Dance on Sept. 3, 2014 on FOX.
It was an American Idol reunion when former judge Paula Abdul joined in on the America's Got Talent finale fun Wednesday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The So You Think You Can Dance judge's appearance, assisting The Clairvoyants and Philadelphia Eagles magician Jon Dorenbos, got a big laugh out of her former Idol comrade Simon Cowell.
Abdul magically appeared after Thommy Ten showed judge Heidi Klum flip cards of celebrity pictures, instructing her to "Stop anywhere you like." Klum stopped on Abdul's picture.
"What a coincidence," said Ten, as Abdul walked onstage.
Cowell was visibly shocked, and broke out into a big smile as Abdul assisted Ten and his assistant, Amelie van Tass, in a trick predicting lottery numbers.
Abdul was particularly charming as she squinted to read the numbers on a ticket Ten handed her. "Oh my God, I need eyeglasses," she said.
After successfully matching every number, Abdul was utilized once more for a card trick with Dorenbos, ripping up a card before he finished the instructions. Cowell's reaction -- burying his head in his hands -- was priceless.
Abdul was a good sport, as Dorenbos reattached the card through the miracle of magic.
Dorenbos placed third in the competition, with The Clairvoyants just ahead of him in the runner-up spot. At the end of the two-hour finale, 12-year-old singer/ukulele player Grace VanderWaal was crowned the winner.
Filed under: TV