JUST IN TIME

Paula Abdul Seals X Factor Deal

Will be judge on show's debut episode.

Her reps must have been up all night so that Simon Cowell could get his way: Paula Abdul has been released from her contract with CBS' Live to Dance and will join Cowell on the X Factor judges bench for Sunday's taping of its premiere episode. Other previously announced judges Cheryl Cole and Antonio "L.A." Reid will appear alongside Cowell and Abdul on the buzzed-about singing competition, which will debut on Fox in September. Deadline Hollywood reported yesterday evening that the details of Abdul's contracts were still being ironed out, but that Cowell expected her to show up "whether her deal is done or not," a source said. Fox has declined to comment about the scramble to sign Abdul for the show.