Raise your hand if you saw this coming: The person replacing Paula Abdul on the American Idol judges’ panel will be none other than talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who according to Hollywood sleuth Nikki Finke has signed a five-year deal with the show that kicks in once the live episodes start next winter. Not a current pop star like the Katy Perrys and Joe Jonases who have been filling in for the preliminary rounds, not a behind-the-scenes type like Kara DioGuardi. Huh!
Once you get past the stage of grief that reminds you that yes, Paula is gone now, the move actually makes perfect sense. DeGeneres will bring back the “niceness” that so many contestants cited was her greatest strength in their post-Abdul-departure reactions; the synergistic opportunities are off the charts (she was already bringing every eliminated contestant onto her show, and I’m going to guess that this ritual will not only continue, it’ll be blown out even bigger); and, unlike at least 33% of the panel, she actually is aware of and seems to appreciate current music of the non-belting-diva variety. But will she be any good? The American Idol expert known as MJ is skeptical, thanks to DeGeneres’ appearance on the Fox sibling show So You Think You Can Dance earlier this summer (which was apparently a tryout?):
I mean, really? Ellen DeGeneres? She guest judged So You Think You Can Dance last Season, and her critiques were comic relief.
So, is she going to be a real judge or some kind of joke? She’s a comedian, not a singer or a musician. I’m kinda flummoxed here. …
By the way, I thought she was terrible as guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance. Her shtick wasn’t even funny.
Here’s Ellen making the announcement in front of her live studio audience:
See? Synergy already!
Ellen DeGeneres To Be 4th ‘American Idol’ Judge in 5-Year Deal [Deadline Hollywood]
American Idol: Ellen DeGeneres will Replace Paula Abdul as the New 4th Judge [MJ]
Ellen & Fall Out Boy - “Womanizer” [YouTube]
[Photo: Getty]
When she speaks of her POV as a music consumer, it totally makes sense.
Not a current pop star like the Katy Perrys and Joe Jonases who have been filling in for the preliminary rounds…
she actually is aware of and seems to appreciate current music of the non-belting-diva variety…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oewjmQVbgUw
@RobMurphy: I’m not saying she doesn’t appreciate Perry or divas! Just that her musical tastes actually skew wider, which, come on, is not something you can say about the judges who were SHOCKED by cover versions of current rock artists’ remakes. (Recall the shock that greeted David Cook’s Cornell-tastic “Billie Jean” cover!)
I guess it’s been longer than I thought since I watched Ellen. When did Tony come back?
I prefer my Idol judge-derived humor to be unintentional.
And seriously, if this results in more pre-scripted comedy bits, I’m out.
Idol’s jump the shark moment for me and I’m sure many others. As much as I like Ellen this is a woeful choice.
She better not get weepy about dog adoption sitting next to Cowell.
(I wonder if he’ll give her as much shit/teasing as he did Paula?)
All kidding aside, this at least gives the show a frisson of excitement. Also, I suspect she’ll be more coherent than her erstwhile seat-warmer…
I’m 99% behind this, btw. I get exactly why she was chosen, and I expect her to offer most of the actually usable advice for the contestants as opposed to Randy’s “for me, for you, dawg” and Kara’s “package artist” garbage every round. The only reason I’m not coming in at 100% is because she’s not Sheila E.
i’m actually pretty glad that this announcement is allowing me to continue to not give a shit about AI. if it weren’t for this blog, i doubt i would have a single clue about the show’s goings-on for the past 3 years (since i left the record store job).