Posted on 09/10/2009 6:58:58 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres has been named as the fourth "American Idol" judge.
FOX announced this evening that Ellen will be joining Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson on the "American Idol" judging panel in the wake of Paula Abdul's departure. She will join the panel after the initial auditions, so I'm hoping that means she is there for Hollywood Week.
DeGeneres had this to say: "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."
"I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the "American Idol" family," said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. "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."
From the FOX press release: "A beloved television icon and entertainment pioneer, DeGeneres' distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film and in the literary world. DeGeneres has made a home for herself in the daytime arena with her hit syndicated talk show, 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show.' The show, now entering its seventh season, won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host four years in a row and has earned a total of 29 Daytime Emmy Awards."
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.zap2it.com ...
Were actual fans angry at the loss of Paula? Or was it haters upset at the loss of her oddball drug and alcohol influenced comments? I’m thinking the later, in the early days Paula sometimes had something useful to say, but she’s gotten weirder every season and by the mid-point of last season she had become pretty much a full time embarrassment.
For the record, if Elton John was named the replacement judge, even though I oppose homosexual behavior, I wouldn’t have a problem with it because he is qualified to be a judge.
Are you kidding, people love Paula. She is dopey, but she is a sweetheart. Besides, it gives Simon someone to poke fun of. Paula has a lot of fans who liked the show’s chemistry. Besides, this a a popular show with mainstream America. The elites in the big cities look down on Idol. And I really don’t think Ellen is popular with the more rural conservative crowd. I think there will be a large backlash and Idol will not be the rating juggarnaut it has been for 8 years.
People loveD Paula, but she became a bad joke. She didn’t supply chemistry anymore, she just threw in periodic comments that didn’t make any sense and barely tied to what was going on. In the early days everything you say was true, but by this past season she was a sitting anti-drug public service announcement.
And how quickly will Fox get the message that this was a bad idea?
But really...after the auditions..it's pretty much up to the general public to vote on who wins. All the judges do is critique. I'll miss Paula, but she hardly EVER hurt anyone's feelings no matter how horrible they were. So choosing Ellen to take her place is understandable.
Like I said, I don't really care about the inner sanctums of Idol except for entertainment value.
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I love Ellen! I’m glad to see crazy Paula out of the picture (pun intended).
This is great news. She is so funny and will add humor. A win for American Idol and the fans.
The entire viewing audience, who get to vote for their favorite contestants, are just as unqualified as Ellen... So what’s the problem? Frankly, I think it makes sense to have a judge who isn’t from the music industry, but who likes music and likes the show as much as the voting audience does.
If that is true, then would having Paula on the show promote Divorce since her stupid a$$ is a divorcee? I am 100 percent against divorce and feel that divorced people are very weak people, but did I not watch the show? No. I did. I understand what you are saying but you should keep it in perspective.
I find the mainstreaming and normalization of homosexuality(and other immorality)totally repugnant and dangerous. Never thought of Paula as being divorced but now that you mention it. The big difference is that Paula is no pioneer of or poster child for divorce. And no, I do not expect people to be perfect. Yes, I hate divorce.
Guess I should not have been wasting my time on this nonsense anyway. So some good came from Ellen’s judgeship. Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Now, like "Project Runway" only the perverse, the effeminate, and the homosexual contestants will win, talent is not necessary... only a bent toward the abnormal. The FIX is in; Straight, normal, heterosexual people need not apply to American Idolatry.
Yes but she is a lesbian pervert and that makes ALL the difference. That is why she has been chosen. Now she can continue to push and nudge her homosexual agenda to a nation wide audience of dupes. No thanks, not interested in homosexual propaganda being forced down my families throats.
The audience are the customers who will buy the albums so, obviously, their opinion on the potential product matters. The judges are supposed to be there to help the contestants improve and guide the audience in picking the the best contestant.
The show loses massive credibility when a judge has no expertise in evaluating the talent.
As Ellen so appropriately puts it: “Hopefully, I’m the people’s point of view, because I’m just like you. I sit at home and I watch it and I don’t have that technical [eye]. … I’m not looking at it in a critical way from the producer’s mind. I’m looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person. So I’m hopefully going to be that voice of what we’re all doing at home.”
Please join us in welcoming Ellen to the American Idol family this January 2010 for the show's 9th Season!
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