Who misses Paula?

Three weeks and six shows into the new season of “American Idol” and the ratings are down a barely perceptible 4 percent, according to the most recent numbers.

That’s barely a blink of the eye compared to last season, when predictions of doom and disaster followed the show’s 10 percent ratings decline.

The show was expected to lose some of its volatile chemistry this season when Paula Abdul quit because she could not get a big, new contract.

But the announcement that this was to be Simon Cowell’s final year on “Idol” seems to have perked up interest again in the No. 1 series.

Abdul’s replacement, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, makes her debut on the show next week as the action moves from regional auditions to the beginning of Hollywood week.