Paula Abdul a no-show for 'American Idol' pre-debut news conference

A no-show pulled by "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul incurred the wrath of hundreds of journalists assembled for a news conference in Pasadena, Calif.

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Fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest attended the Winter TV Press Tour conference prior to the talent competition's Tuesday night debut on Fox, The Washington Post reported.

The assembled critics hissed when a Fox spokesman announced Abdul was on her way to a doctor for treatment of an eye infection. The Post noted Abdul "looked fine" during televised interviews with Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres.

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Cowell and Jackson poked fun at their missing colleague during the question-and-answer session, the Post said.

"I'm concerned about Paula. Did something happen to her eye last night after she left 'The Tonight Show'?" one critic asked.

"It fell out?" Cowell replied.

"She had to put it back in," Jackson added.

"We don't want to spread any rumors here," Cowell concluded.