Breaking News: Ellen DeGeneres Replaces Paula Abdul on Idol!
Ellen DeGeneres arrives at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 25, 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com
Ellen DeGeneres is replacing Paula Abdul as the fourth judge on American Idol, Fox announced Wednesday night in a statement.
"I'm thrilled to be the new judge on American Idol," DeGeneres says. "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."
DeGeneres -- who guest-judged on So You Think You Can Dance this summer -- will continue to host her daily talk show.
"I'm going to have a day job and a night job," she says. "The times we're living in ... we're all doing that."
The show's creator and executive producer Simon Fuller says: "I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the American Idol family. Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can't wait for this next season to begin."
In August, Abdul announced she would not be returning to the show on her Twitter page.
"With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return" to Fox's singing contest, Abdul wrote. "I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon."
DeGeneres will join the judges' panel after the auditions, which will feature appearances by guest judges Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain. The show's ninth season kicks off January 2010.
Tell Us What You Think
133I have watched American Idol since the beginning, and will no longer watch this show. It is a huge travesty that they are putting an utterly unqualified judge on the show. Fifteen year olds have a love of music, does that mean they're qualified to judge, Mr. Fuller? Obviously not. And neither is Ellen Degeneres. I would've been happier keeping it at three judges than adding a useless forth judge who will have nothing intelligent to say.
omg! r u kidding me. does the judge not have to have knowledge of music. Ellen is great, but aside from tiresome dancing every day on her show, why would she qualify as a judge to replace Paula. I will not be watching yhis season. It is just getting unprofessional. And another thing, does Ellen not make enough money already??????Give another less profiting celebrity a chance.............p...l.....s......e.........Zack
I GUESS IT'S ONLY FAIR TO HAVE A GAY JUDGE, SINCE HALF THE CONTESTANTS ARE GAY, GO ELLEN.
I GUESS IT'S ONLY FAIR TO HAVE A GAY JUDGE, SINCE HALF THE CONTESTANTS ARE GAY, GO ELLEN.
Gets worst every year. First Kara and then Ellen. Dont get me wrong. I am an Ellen fan from days of yore but for a music talent show - NO NO NO. After one season they should have seen the error of their ways and even dropped Kara. The 3 judges had chemistry and that is how AI should have stayed. They screwed up something so good. I think every night Simon Fuller went to bed thinking how can I ever screw up something so good ... bring stupid Kara and then fire Paula. Oh you are so screwed Simon Fuller
no one wants paula go ellen go ellen ellen ellen ellen ellen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think they shoul keep paula because everyone loves her and it is like tearing a family apart i know that simon and randy have been and are very close to paula and hardly even know who ellen is let alone realy want to have her on the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should have stuck with a good thing- PAULA, Simon and Randy. The show was bad after unmemorable Kara, or whatever her name is, joined and isn't worth watching w/o Paula. The talent changes- the judges shouldn't. Paula said it wasn't about $ and I belive her for her part of it, but for Idol it was. Look at the millions they are paying Ryan Secreast- that guy is sooooo dull, boring and bland I have no idea how he has ANY job. I can't stand to watch him. That unattractive blond that is on E with him that now supposedly has her own show is just as bad. I can't stand to watch or hear either of them talk. How on earth did they get public jobs???
Worst move ever, the beginning of the end of the show. Thank god.
Tragic! How awful! Ellen is NOT a warm person specifically to beautiful, happily involved women - she shoots darts at them with her eyes even on her own show! (did anyone see how weird she was to Jennifer Garner when she was a pregnant guest on the Ellen show?! WHAT was that??!!) I think people will be shocked to see how overbearing Ellen is, and even more interesting should be how the diva will work (or NOT) with Simon - I'm sure he'll rue the day he brought Ellen to the show....
What negative comments about such Ellen.. Now who really thinks Paula was a judge..what did she ever really judge..nothing..she talked about what people were wearing when they had not talent cause she did't have the guts to tell the truth....someone said Ellena stutters..well what do you call what Paula was doing all drugged up..I can hardly understand her words..she may have worked in the music industry..when was her last hit? Ellen will be fantastic at this and will be great to watch her with Simon...
It's just stunning how stupid some people are; literal and seriously uninformed. Or maybe just uneducated. Ellen's an award winning entertainer and performer, which happens to be the creative goal of every single AI contestant. Stand-up is all about (comic) timing and rhythm, the same qualities that singers must possess. Ellen clearly knows and follows popular music and can judge appropriate song choices. The dolts on this site who yammer on about how "she's not a singer" haven't a clue as to what qualifies DeGeneres as an AI judge. Stop embarrassing yourselves with your obvious lack of understand of performance arts.
Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this one. I absolutely loveee Ellen, but what is her musical background to be judging contestants? However, I do think she might take Simon's spotlight for the fact that she's so entertaining and hilarious. I think I'll watch. :)
I don't even watch the show, and this making me mad.
I love Ellen. I think she is funny and very giving. But choosing her to be the new judge is interesting. I thought that maybe they would choose someone who has had some musical back round Someone who does sing or has some producing experience. But either way, I think the show will be more entertaining. Even though I only watch the the auditions anyways...lol
Everyone seems to forget that AMERICA ends up choosing the winner anyway so, in the end, what difference does it make WHO the judges are?? So many of the winners should NOT have won (2 words - Taylor Hicks). If the judges chose the winner on talent alone, then their backgrounds would matter...but they don't!
Is Ellen there to tell jokes? or talk about lesbians? She's got no professional background in music. Who is she to judge singers. There is no value add with that creepo. Gross!Fire that creepo now
i love ellen, i think she'll be a wonderful addition to the show. she's funny and energetic, and i know she'll be up there shakin it! lol. i can actually respect this decision, ellen won't be trying to "replace" paula, she'll bring something entirely new to the table. i'm shocked at this news, because i don't think they could have picked a better person, i didn't expect it at all, and i can't wait!!!
My wife and I have watched the show from its beginning; given the addition of DeGeneres we will NOT EVER watch it again. We saw her on So You Think You Can Dance and it is obvious she has no talent or ability to judge talent in music or dance. If I were an advertising sponsor I'd pull my campaign and support ASAP. What a shame!
Interestingly most of the comments here are negative. While over on People.com, 71% of poll respondents think Ellen is a good choice. I guess maybe it's a reflection of which viewers frequent which sites. Apparently all the whiney babies who are resistent to change come here...lol. Oh and before you say it, well obviously I read both! AI jumped the shark after last season anyway. A talent of Adam Lambert's caliber comes along once in a generation if we're lucky. This show will never produce the likes of him again, so really.....what's the point in watching? I decided that I was done with Idol after being lucky enough to watch Adam's rise on the music scene. Can't wait for the single "Time for Miracles", theme from the movie 2012, and can't wait for his CD to drop Nov. 24th!!!