Abdul Cancels Appearances
Singer-turned-"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul called off all her interviews Friday after clips of an earlier TV appearance appeared to show her drunk.

The video - in which Abdul slurs and bizarrely gesticulates - emerged on YouTube on Thursday, prompting speculation alcohol or medication were to blame.

She subsequently abandoned media engagements scheduled for Friday.

However, Abdul's spokesman Jeff Ballard insists tiredness and a minor throat infection, not inebriation, were the causes of the cancellations and earlier odd behavior.

He says, "She was exhausted. This was at the end of three days of press (interviews and appearances), and she has had cameras following her around for a reality TV show too.

"She was sitting in a room with just a camera and a mic on, and the controllers dropped the sound twice, which is why she rolled her eyes.

"She never drinks. I have known Paula Abdul since she was 13, and I have never seen her drink ever in my life. And no, she is not on any kind of medication. She was a little tired."

In 2005 Abdul revealed she suffers from a neurological disorder that causes chronic pain and requires a weekly injection of an anti-inflammatory drug.

4. Can the "apology tour" and rehab be far behind? Or is her explanation that she wasn't really drunk going to fly, when it didn't for others, like Rep. Patrick Kennedy? Stay tuned.

The lesson
What can be learned from this? For the last time, getting "any publicity" isn't good publicity. Careers can be lost or severely damaged instantly with bad bahavior or bizarre statements - Sen. George Allen ("makaka"), Mel Gibson (THAT word), Michael Richards (the same word), even Howard Dean ("Yeeeehah!")

If you've said something stupid. Call me. Or better yet - call BEFORE you say something stupid.