Ellen DeGeneres Taking Paula Abdul's Empty 'Idol' Seat

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 9th 2009 09:33PM

Ellen DeGeneres will replace Paula Abdul as a permanent 'American Idol' judge, Usmagazine.com reports.

"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," DeGeneres says.

But Ellen isn't abandoning her talk show. "I'm going to have a day job and a night job. The times we're living in ... we're all doing that."

Watch Ellen Make Her Big Announcement

'Idol' executive producer Simon Fuller is pleased with the decision to hire DeGeneres.

"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," Fuller says.

Abdul announced in August via Twitter that she would not be returning to her judging role on 'Idol.' Many reports cite a salary dispute as the reason she left the show, with some estimates saying she asked for $10 million per season but did not get an offer that high. She's since been tapped to host VH1's 'Divas' concert on 9/17, and her name has been floated for other reality judging roles.

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http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

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Ellen DeGeneres

FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2009 file photo, Ellen DeGeneres arrives at the Daytime Emmy Awards on in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, ellen degeneres, EllenDegeneres, paula abdul, PaulaAbdul

Comments

(217)

Wednesday 09 September

By jannykmac

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Our family of four's reaction???

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

Thursday 10 September

By FollowDirections

I don't have anything against her, but I do not understand what kind of helpful feedback can Ellen give to amateur singers. Her feedback will not be helpful at all. We saw how Simon would constantly disagree with Paula and she is a pro singer, I cannot imagine how much he will disagree with Ellen..but then again its TV and maybe this is on purpose so there could be more arguing in the judge table.

Somehow this judging table is starting to look like the table from The View. LOL!

Friday 11 September

By DeciduousZeus

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I understand the sentinment; this is very much akin to ABC putting Dennis Miller in the Monday Night Football (MNF) booth. It's true Miller didn't last long on MNF (2 seasons; 2000-2001), but he was somewhat entertaining with his Dennis-Miller-brand™ of humor.

Ellen DeGeneres was a featured guest judge on Season 5 of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTHYCD), which just wrapped-up (Summer 2009). And even though she self-admitted she didn't know squat about dancing, that didn't stop her from being quite entertaining with her comments.

SYTHYCD is another Simon Fuller production (just like American Idol), so the producers obviously didn't have to look under too many rocks to find Paula's replacement in going with Ellen.

By mystanggt500

Is it April Fools Day? or something... This has to be a joke!

By Todd

You are the joke!

By Holly

Hmmm....Interesting choice for a judge. I enjoy Ellen's show immensely, but a permanent judge for AI?? I guess we'll just have to see how it goes...will definitely bring a lighter note to the show, a bit of humor perhaps.

By SmokeF5

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I couldn't agree with you more!

By Jacki Nue

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I agree. She will add some humor but I don't know how she is going to evaluate someone with not having the talent herself. It will be interesting to watch.

By Northlake

If Ellen Degenerate is in I won't be watching Idol!

By Me

Thanks for sharing, we'll miss you :(

Saturday 12 September

By A

Please I am a fan of Ellen but a judge on idol? I think not.... please that is like having Chris Rock as president of the U.S. Now I can see Janet Jackson as a judge , I would watch , but as it stands now American idol is not on my agenda as shows to watch this fall. No Paula ... No Idol

By lisa

Good, don't watch then.
Ellen DEGENERES has been in the entertainment industry for a very long time, so she knows what entertainment is.
America loves her, so AI ratings should start to rise back to ratings of its earlier years.
Simon loves Ellen, so there shouldn't be a lot of annoying arguments.
And lastly, she's been a fan of the show for years, so she knows how it works and will love what she's doing. Isn't that what all of us want from our jobs? To love what we do? Come on.

You probably will watch some porno instead.

By Imofanopinion

UUmm YOU may love her but do not speak up and say all of America loves her. I do not know one soul that watches her show. What a stupid replacement and what will she add in her evaluation of the performers?? I do not think the people who watch AI are looking for comedy. Watch and see that AI's rating don't drop.

By RIC

Get a life.

Sunday 13 September

By suezy

i agree with 100%. i don't think they know what they r doing putting ellen on the AL. i will not b watching unless she goes off the show.

By arkiegirl726

I will never, ever watch this show again...period. I cannot stand that thing. I'm sooooo disgusted.

By dave

Ditto, another homosexual stuck in our faces to try & make everyone believe that ALL of America loves the idea of homosexuality & that everyone just accepts & agrees with it...& God forbid if you don't because you'll be labeled as a Hate monger & you'll be punished because you're politically incorrect... SOOOO very SICK & tired of the fringe FEW trying to buy & force their way via the liberal media into the majority of NORMAL America's faces to sell their lies & disgusting, deviant, immoral & sick lifestyle CHOICE down our throats like we're the ones who are ABNORMAL...HA!

By sel

Am glad someone sees it the way i do too; thnks man!

By LORETTA

*************BOGGOT*************

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