Fox says DeGeneres is new 'American Idol' judge

AP on Yahoo ^ | 9/9/09 | Lynn Elber - ap

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES – Ellen DeGeneres is dancing her way onto "American Idol," replacing Paula Abdul as the show's fourth judge. In a Wednesday release from Fox and the show's producers, DeGeneres described herself as a longtime fan of the hit singing contest.

Abdul, who announced she was quitting the show amid a contract dispute, had been replaced by a succession of guest judges as "American Idol" started next season's auditions.

DeGeneres, host of a daytime talk show, wasn't among them. She will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season starting in January.

[Miss Didi]

Yes, he was with Mayor Mike. You're good, Jonny...I muted him after he said—she'll be the voice of the people.

[maggief]

Maybe I'll be missing Adam Lambert. : o /

[AnnaZ]

I was already done with the show when they decided to treat Paula so badly. And when they had "Posh" sit in as an auditions judge the deal was firmly sealed.

I like Ellen D... but not enough to watch.

xo, y'all.

[Fawn]

I thought this was a joke when I read it. She has no music ability at all! COurse it will be funny....maybe that is all they wanted...someone funny. I’ll give it a watch....

[Woebama]

I think it’s time to go netactivist and keep pushing a boycott of American Idol for this. It bothered me when Disney lifted Degeneres up in “Finding Nemo” (she was Dora’s voice) and it bothers me that they are putting her on a “family friendly” show now. Time to actually change a minor pattern of behavior folks and let others know to do the same.

I will be happy if this tips American Idol and it loses it’s cache.

[retrokitten]

Randy: (paraphrase) "Ellen's a homegirl. We're both from Louisiana! Louisiana is gonna take over the panel! The South's gonna do it again!"

Okay, what does that even mean?? LMAO

[retrokitten]

I really only watch to participate in the live thread. When they reran the Michael Jackson theme night, I couldn’t believe how bad it was. I kept asking myself, “I actually watch this show?? Twice, sometimes three times, a week???”

[Jrabbit]

This is so confusing.... :(

[Jrabbit]

What?? Ellen is a “homegirl”?

Oh well....we’ll still have fun! Wonder if the homegirl lesbian will flirt with Kara? Or, the cute female contestants? Can’t wait!

[wardaddy]

that won’t happen....have you ever looked at the regular looking women who just lap it up in her audience

just like Oprahbots cut from the same cloth

brainwashed PC addled non thinking women with too much free time and a mean IQ in the 90s maybe

and that silly little dance of her’s

yet another oddball with issues that projects it on the world

like Bro does

[wardaddy]

So I gather that never bothered you before from Cowell and Seacrest? Or do you simply find gay men more to your liking ?

you need to keep up..neither of them are homosexual

[a fool in paradise]

Also Paula Abdul was a singer, Ellen was a comedian, actress, and talk show host. But not a well known singer.

Why not give the gig to Alan Thicke or Arsenio Hall?

[a fool in paradise]

It would make more sense to find someone who has a history in the music industry either as a producer or a singer.

Unfortunately Phil Spector is now in prison.

[marron]

Also Paula Abdul was a singer, Ellen was a comedian, actress, and talk show host.

Some of the criticism on the show is needlessly cutting and cruel; she tended to empathise with the performers and her comments usually took the sting out of the harsher or more inane criticism. I think she added more to the show than she was given credit for, mainly for humanizing it.

[ken5050]

Obviously, many “Lebanese” will now watch AI

[Babwa]

Having Ellen DeGeneres as a judge is a very bad joke! She was terrible on So You Think You Can Dance. In addition, having her on a family show with such a large youth audience is an affront to every parent trying to raise their children with the traditional Judeo-Christian values that made this country so great.

Why does Idol need to promote a person who wants to change the morality of this country against the wishes of the majority? She is free to practice her sexual preferences in private, but we don’t really care to hear about it or her opinions about it. Even if she refrains from speaking explicitly about sexual preferences on the show, she has explicitly made herself a spokesman for those forces trying to undermine the traditional values most Americans still believe in.

Shame on American Idol! We will not be watching it this year in our home.

[SaintDismas]

I have a feeling it’s payback for who America voted for in the last Idol. They don’t want us as part of their viewing public folks, even if it costs them ratings. Somebody’s really pissed thinking poor Adam lost cuz he’s a gay boy. So sad. Don’t think I’ll be watching anymore. Really sad, I enjoyed that show, and enjoyed ya’ll even though I’m just a lurker on this thread. Been nice hangin with you guys.

[Pajamajan]

"What does Ellen know about music?"

Good question. They might as well have hired the "Sham Wow" guy as a judge.

Paula will be missed.

[Mark was here]

The Adam pictures were bad enough, but this is crossing the line. ;)

[devane617]

AI, you had a good run, but it is over.