There is big news in the world of television tonight. Multiple Emmy winner and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has joined American Idol as a judge. She will essentially be the permanent replacement for Paula Abdul, so if any of you were holding out hope that Paula was standing by to resume her post, forget about it. The bigger story here is that a star of Ellen's stature, someone who has high visibility and is beloved by the public, has decided to become a member of America's number one rated prime time show.
Ellen DeGeneres on American Idol as a guest star would be a rating boost, so it's safe to say that her weekly presence will ensure that Idol's numbers will continue to be top of the chart.
In the press release announcing her addition to the show, Ellen said, "I'm thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol. I've watched since the beginning, and I've always been a huge fan. So getting this job is a dream come true, and think of all the money I'll save from not having to text in my vote."
That last line made me laugh -- you, too, I bet. And see, that's a new wrinkle that Ellen will be uniquely suited to bring to Idol. She's funny. She's quick-witted. There won't be much she'll see on Idol that she won't be turn around into a gag. That's going to make the program better. Now it won't be just Simon with the pithy remarks!
American Idol returns to Fox in January 2010. Ellen will begin her judging duties after the auditions. The audition will feature the following guest judges: Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.
Alan Sepinwall at NJ.com has confirmed that Ellen is not leaving her talk show. At a taping for tomorrow's episode of her syndicated show, DeGeneres told the studio audience, "I'm not leaving here. Don't worry about that. I'm going to have a day job and a night job. The times we're living... in we're all doing that."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-09-2009 @ 10:02PM
Harold Love said...
One of the stupidest things I've heard today.
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9-09-2009 @ 10:19PM
Jimmy said...
I like it! She's more coherent than Paula; she's ballsy enough to call out Randy and Kara when they say dumb stuff; and I think she'll be a good foil for Simon.
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9-09-2009 @ 10:30PM
Ralph said...
Shark. Jump.
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9-09-2009 @ 10:38PM
Liz G said...
To tell the truth, I was positive I was gonna be Rick-rolled when I clicked on the story link. This is bizarre....
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9-09-2009 @ 10:47PM
Kris said...
I saw the clip from Ellen's show where she made the announcement. She admits that she is no music producer, but instead can be the "voice of America." As a fan of the show, she can offer up comments that people in their living room might make (and work in some humor as well). I think she'll do a fantastic job.
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9-09-2009 @ 10:50PM
wulfn1 said...
and if you close your eyes and listen... you can hear Dory from NEMO telling the contestants why they need to go home.
it might actually make it worth watching (listening to?)
just to see her responses.
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9-09-2009 @ 10:56PM
James said...
Hurray!!! The beginning of the end of Idol.
About time!!!
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9-11-2009 @ 3:18PM
Tip Hahn said...
Idol is one of my favorite shows but I will never watch it again as long as Ellen Degeneres is on it.
9-09-2009 @ 11:16PM
RTMS said...
If Simon is as half as mean to her as he was to Paula, I think Ellen is going to crack, and fail fast. She's too emotional and can't take criticism well and the snide remarks from the fellow judges will cut her down quickly. As for the saving money part, it's a swipe at Paula and the money issues, basically saying Ellen makes her own money we don't have to pay her as much.
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9-09-2009 @ 11:27PM
unc69dmo said...
This is getting like Monday night football...where they replace 1 stiff with another one ....even worse...
At least Paula was a drugged out zombie...this chick makes 2 annoying chix on one panel...
...Permanent MUTE for those 2 chicks !!!!!!!!
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9-09-2009 @ 11:54PM
zippy_zip74467 said...
I have not liked Ellen since she ruined her comdy series by becoming not funny.
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9-10-2009 @ 12:37AM
Brad Hill said...
Wait a minute ... [checking calendar] ... it's not April 1. Yet I cannot believe my blog-reading eyes. Awaiting the punch line....
Seriously, say what you will about Paula's incoherence and Randy's glib patter, the show never lost its credibility as being judged by people *in the music industry*. Until now.
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9-10-2009 @ 1:49AM
Owloo said...
....... Just dumb.
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9-11-2009 @ 6:09PM
C McCool said...
Ellen Degenerate now, Pediophiles later?
Good Grief gimmie a break!
9-10-2009 @ 2:02AM
RobynM said...
I like Ellen, but based on her guest judging on SYTYCD, I'm not sure this is a particularly good idea.
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9-10-2009 @ 2:39AM
Jojee said...
tRaIn WrEcK! - that was an accident but then I decided to go with it.
Anyway this is the worst idea possible. The critiques ran too long last year so 3 judges is more than enough. Why people think that Ellen fits the biggest viewing demographic of this show is just strange. Yeah...my 16 year old was just saying how much she can't wait to see Kate Beckinsale on the next Ellen.
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9-10-2009 @ 4:14AM
Alex said...
I can't believe people aren't happy with this change.
First of all, thank all that's good and holy that Paula Abdul isn't coming back. The show was becoming barely watchable because of her rambling incoherent inconsistent 'criticism'. I see people saying that Ellen's bad because she's 'not in the music industry'. She may not be, but you know what she is? She's sane, coherent and sober, which is a lot more than I can say for Paula.
Someone said that the other judges will 'cut her down' and that she's going to 'crack'. Do you not know who Ellen is? Have you not seen her stand up? Something tells me she'll be able to handle the 'quick wit' (ha) of Randy and Kara just fine, and will be an entertaining foil to Simon, instead of a drug addled one.
This is a fantastic change for the show.
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9-10-2009 @ 4:23AM
bruce said...
And she has what musical talent/knowledge/experience?
Then again, that's never been what American Idol is about. It's about voting for the most attractive singer because it gives you a slight bit of hope that you'll get to have sex with her or him as thanks, it's about voting against the black guy if you're a racist (or against whomever you're racist against), it's about watching Simon be a jackass to people, and it's about watching talentless people make fools out of themselves while you munch on Cheetos and allow what few brain cells you have left to wither away and die. So yeah there's no reason why any of the judges need to know absolutely anything about music.
Except... Ellen is a homosexual, so now all the southern jesus-lucking Bible thumpers will boycott American Idol and not allow their kids to watch it, lest they catch the gayness from Ellen. This might turn out to be one of those rare but wonderful Fox Network TV versus Fox News Channel brawls. Been a long time since we've seen one of those (Simpsons making fun of FNC a few years ago is the last time I remember).
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9-10-2009 @ 4:47AM
Andrew said...
I about punched my father in the face when he told me he was boycotting this season because they "hired some lez".
9-10-2009 @ 5:03AM
Ashley Boyd said...
Actually didn't some religious leader of some sort blame Katrina on Ellen hosting the Emmys or Oscars (whichever it was) that year? Wonder what tragedy she'll cause now being on American Idol...