There's not just one elephant in the room as we meet this morning with Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori -- there's an entire herd.

So far, Liguori's holding off a stampede, apologetically declining, for instance, to answer questions about the canceled O.J. Simpson special: What was he thinking? The lawyers won't let him talk about it because of pending and potential litigation.

Some people complaning that "American Idol" isn't just bigger, but meaner, than ever?

"I think it's part of what makes 'American Idol' 'American Idol," said Liguori, who thinks "this season is just a continuation of what's been a very successful formula."

Paula Abdul, appearing loopier than ever during televised promotional interviews for "American Idol"?

Liguori wasn't there, but he's been told "she'd just finished something like 30 affiliates" interviews and there were technical difficulties that had her answering questions from one while ostensibly talking to another.

So is Fox working her too hard?

"One thing about Paula -- she does a great job of managing her schedule," said Liguori, who we hope won't have to swallow those words later in the day, Abdul being on the schedule for a panel on "AI." The last time she was supposed to meet with critics here, she was a last-minute no-show.

Will she make it this time?

Stay tuned.