Is Paula Abdul fourth 'X Factor' judge?

Taping for the new Fox singing contest "X Factor" is scheduled to start Sunday. But only three of the expected four judges have been announced.

While the clock is ticking, the identity of the show's fourth judge, though widely expected to be Paula Abdul, remains unconfirmed.

Previously announced judges include pop superstar Cheryl Cole and Grammy-winning producer Antonio "L.A." Reid, as well as Abdul's former "American Idol" mate, Simon Cowell.

"The X Factor," based on Cowell's hit British show, will debut this fall on Fox. The likely choice of Abdul to be included is an open secret, fueled in part by Cowell's recent remarks that he would like to work with her again.

On Friday, negotiations with Abdul were continuing, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Fox and the show's producers had not authorized public comment.

Abdul is a dancer, choreographer and recording artist who reigned on "Idol" as the nice, if sometimes dizzy-seeming, judge who often clashed with Cowell, who played the role of bullyboy.

There was no immediate comment from Fox or from Abdul's agent or publicist.

In January, she debuted on CBS with her own talent competition, "Live to Dance," which was a flop.

"The X Factor" is open to solo singers and vocal groups age 12 and up. The winner gets a $5 million record contract.

Charlie Sheen Celebrates 'Two and a Half Men' Firing: 'Free at Last'

The actor climbs to the top of an office building wielding a machete and drinking out of a bottle Monday afternoon.The actor climbed to the top of the Live Nation office building in Beverly Hills first wielding a machete and then drinking out of a bottle, as captured by a TMZ camera crew.

Asked what he was planning to do next, Sheen shouted down to reporters below: "I ain't gonna go to f---ing Disneyland, I'll tell you that much."Once on ground again, Sheen was asked if he was "excited" about being released from his Men contract.

"Let me just say, free at last, free at last," Sheen replied.

On Monday, Sheen's lawyer Marty Singer told The Hollywood Reporter that they are planning to sue Warner Bros. over Sheen's termination.

"We will sue," Singer said. "It’s a matter of when. It could be this week, it could be in a little while. We’re in no rush. But we will sue."

Friday Box Office: Matt Damon Improves Film-to-Flim, ‘Rango’ Leads Night

The all-star cast of Rango, lead by Johnny Depp, easily topped the Friday box office yesterday with the animated series raking in nearly $10 million. The movie played in 3,917 locations and on 5,200 screens. Matt Damon’s Adjustment Bureau brought in $6.7 million at the 2,840 locations at played in, doing better than the first night of Damon’s last movie, Hereafter, which only was good for $4.1 million on its first night.

The Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens led Beastly brought in $3.5 million for CBS Films, surpassing Warner Brothers’ Hall Pass, which was good for fourth place with $2.72 million. All in all, Hall Pass has brought in $20.7 million in the week it has been theaters. The movie had a budget of $36 million.

Just Go With It was fifth with $1.93 million, adding it to the total movie gross thus far of $83.63 million. Unknown now has a total gross of $48.37 million overall. The movie brought in $1.87 million on Friday night, doing better than The King’s Speech (1.64 million, total gross of $118.96 million).

I Am Number Four ($1.61 million, total gross of $42.34 million), Gnomeo and Juliet ($1.51 million, total gross of $78.29 million) and the debut of Take Me Home Tonight ($1.25 million) rounded out the top ten.