Paula Abdul gets support from fellow "Idol" cohorts Simon Cowell, left, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest as she is honored "Woman of the Year" by the Nevada Ballet Theatre. Photo by Norm Clarke/Review-Journal

Paula Abdul says she's survived "harder than hard times" because she's "a tenacious warrior."

Honored as "Woman of the Year" at the Nevada Ballet Theatre's Black & White gala at the Wynn resort, the "American Idol" judge told a media gathering that the real story behind her recent bizarre TV interviews is "very boring."

She said fatigue from a 3:45 a.m. wakeup call, 30 interviews and technical difficulties gave the wrong impression. Her slurred words and odd behavior raised a lot of eyebrows.

And, she added, "don't ever give a swivel chair to someone very hyper."

Abdul said having "the DNA of a dancer" has helped her make it to the top in the entertainment business and through "harder than hard times."

She added that she's "a tenacious warrior who won't take no for an answer."

Abdul's big night included an announcement that she plans to take a job with the Silverton as an entertainment executive.

Singing sensation Chris Daughtry and several other former "Idol" contestants performed, along with a Los Angeles Lakers dance team and several friends.

Also there to support Abdul were fellow judges Simon Cowell (who wore jeans and one of his signature tight T-shirts to the black-tie event) and Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest.

Silverton President Craig Cavileer and his wife, Charlene, co-chaired the gala.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Miss Iowa Emily Nicholas didn't have to go far to get some Miss America insider advice.

Her sister Carolyn was Iowa's Miss America entry two years ago. The youngest contender in the 2007 field? Miss Maine Karissa Staples turned 19 on Dec. 1. The finals air 8-10 p.m. today on CMT (tape delayed). ...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver, Hilary and Haylie Duff, and John Cusack will be on the red carpet for the Feb. 10 "Keep Memory Alive" fundraiser at the MGM Grand Conference Center. Brad Garrett will emcee the sold-out event, which will feature the food of star chefs Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali and Joel Robuchon.

SIGHTINGS

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and Cowell, shooting footage Sunday at the Mario Andretti racing school at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. ... Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, being welcomed to the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood on Sunday by resort honcho Robert Earl. Spacey is in town to start shooting on "21," a movie based on the MIT students who beat Las Vegas casinos out of millions with a card-counting scheme. ... Cowell, Jackson and Seacrest, dining at SW Steakhouse (Wynn) after the gala, with Cowell's girlfriend, Terri Seymour, who was celebrating her birthday. They later joined Daughtry at Tryst, Wynn's nightclub. Jackson went to the deejay booth and did a birthday shoutout to Seymour. ... Michael Jackson and choreographer Kenny Ortega, dining again at Wing Lei (Wynn) on Saturday. ... Cooper, at the new Dragonfly restaurant Saturday, on Paradise near Flamingo. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Saturday: Mario Lopez, on the VIP stage, chatting with Seth Green and Seth McFarlane (the voice of the "Family Guy"), who were at a nearby table. Scarlett Johansson and Selma Blair arrived about 2 a.m. with a gal pal group after dining at Social House (Treasure Island). ... Green, posing for photos with a bachelorette party at Caramel (Bellagio) after dining at Fix. ... Randy Jackson, shopping for shirts and belts at Neiman Marcus with his wife Saturday. ... MSNBC's Chris Matthews shoots his "Hardball" show from a Fantasy Towers sky villa at the Palms today with owner George Maloof.

THE PUNCH LINE

"They're blaming the losses on the launch of their unpopular economy car, the Ford Federline. I guess there was a problem with them getting a whole bunch of Mini Coopers pregnant." -- Jimmy Kimmel on Ford Motors' $12.7 billion in losses in 2006.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0246 or norm@reviewjournal.com.