Before the Emmy Awards, before the hit records and certainly before Simon Cowell became a household name, Paula Abdul donned a red-and-white striped leotard and blue leg warmers and tried out to be a Laker Girl. Not only was she hired, but also within a short amount of time she became the group’s choreographer, and with that the image of NBA cheerleaders changed from pom-pom wavers to world-renowned dancers performing intricate routines. Now, after more than two decades in the entertainment industry, the “nice judge” on the worldwide smash American Idol proudly flaunts her roots. “Everyone wants to take credit for my career,” says Abdul, 45, “and I say [Lakers owner] Dr. Jerry Buss gets the credit.”

You started that dance infusion into cheerleader choreography. Were the traditional pom-pom wavers annoyed with you, when they suddenly had to dance?
It was a matter of being very patient and starting all over and having a delicate balance where we still did some yells and cheers. That first year, we still had some pom-pom routines, and by the second year the pom-poms were all from the sidelines. All the timeouts were dance routines.

What do you recall about the reaction spectators had when the Laker Girls started doing something so different?
The best way to describe it is as Arsenio Hall said in an E! True Hollywood Story or A&E Biography, he said concession stands lost money during halftime because no one would dare leave until they saw the halftime routine that Paula put together.

Did you like watching basketball before you became a Laker Girl or was it just a good exposure gig for your dance career?
I was a basketball fan because my dad was a basketball fan. I knew my dad would be thrilled to death to be able to come to the games. It was a win-win situation.

When you go to game now, can you sit back and enjoy the cheerleaders or do you analyze what they’re doing?
I don’t even get a chance to, because honestly people are coming up to me and asking, “Can you go out there and fix that?” or “Can you go out there and work with the girls?” When I come to watch them, I just give them support. What’s truly amazing is my biggest fans are the ones who go to Laker games because they have a fond memory. They feel they took part in the building of my career. Coming back to perform at the Forum as a pop singer was the biggest success in my life, because everyone was there. I used to go in the back way, through the tunnels. I knew every peanut and popcorn vendor and everyone who worked in the sales office. On one of my sold out nights Magic Johnson, Arsenio Hall and Jerry Buss retired my Lakers Girl uniform and put it in plexiglass next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s.

Your first recognition in the entertainment industry came as a choreographer. Do you ever think about doing that kind of work again?
Absolutely. I’m in the process of creating some TV content that will bring me right back to my roots doing choreography. I’m also going to be doing some work with cheerleading.

You’re gearing up for another season of American Idol. Why do you think America is so captivated by this show?
I’ve been really blessed to be part of pop culture. This show, if nurtured properly, could probably go on forever. We’re out there looking for talent and discovering it when there’s never a shortage of raw, untapped talent. It is the one show that is appointment television bringing the family together and everyone can watch it. Demographically it’s for 4-year-olds to 94-year-olds. Everyone wants to see young talent and the payoff is so huge.

If a guy gets courtside seats to the Lakers for a date with you—do you love it or wish he’d gotten theater tickets instead?
I love the Lakers. Going to games is a highlight of my life.

From the Jan/Feb 2008 issue