US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres is to become the fourth judge on American Idol, taking over the spot recently vacated by singer Paula Abdul.

 

The 51-year-old will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi next year for the show's ninth season.

 

DeGeneres - who will not be giving up her chat show - said that she had been "dying to tell everyone" the news.

 

"Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you," she said, as she filmed her show this week.

 

"I'm not looking at it in a critical way, from the producer's mind," she continued.

 

"I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person."

 

'Dream come true'

 

Filming of the new season's American Idol auditions have seen Abdul replaced by a number of guest judges, among them Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.

 

Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell

Abdul (centre) had been on the Idol panel from the show's beginning

 

DeGeneres - who said the job was "a dream come true" - will join the show following the preliminary auditions.

 

The comedienne, best known for her sitcom Ellen, has previously guest judged on So You Think You Can Dance, another US talent show.

 

American Idol's executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz described the one-time Academy Awards hostess as "one of America's foremost entertainers".

 

"Beyond her incredible sense of humour and love of music, she brings with her an immense warmth and compassion that is almost palpable."

 

American Idol has been a launch-pad for several singing stars, notably Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood and the show's first winner Kelly Clarkson.

 

Abdul, who had been with the show since its inception in 2002, announced she was leaving the programme in August.

 

Amazing choice :heart:

So she is going to be the permenant judge? because hasn't Victoria Beckham and a few others did random shows?

 

anyways great choice I was watching her chat show last night she is really funny and lovely

Utterly bewildered by this :mellow:

 

The wonderful thing about AI was always that the judges were spot on the money and their opinions were vaild - the appointment of someone who, although they're a big music fan, isn't actually any influence or industry expert sort of defeats the point? Much as I love Ellen, won't she just make jokes all the time, and not be any real point of authority? I get that she's supposed to be 'the voice of the people' - but don't the people have their own voice through the (free) votes?

Utterly bewildered by this :mellow:

 

The wonderful thing about AI was always that the judges were spot on the money and their opinions were vaild - the appointment of someone who, although they're a big music fan, isn't actually any influence or industry expert sort of defeats the point? Much as I love Ellen, won't she just make jokes all the time, and not be any real point of authority? I get that she's supposed to be 'the voice of the people' - but don't the people have their own voice through the (free) votes?

 

A bizarre appointment IMHO. A bit like having Piers Morgan as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. :lol:

 

But then again since when have shows like X-Factor and American Idol been about finding talent?

 

It's all about entertainment first, great TV second, and if the winner happens to be half decent then that is a bonus.

Random, but I like her :) She probably knows even less about music than Paula Adubl tho :kink:

Random, but I like her :) She probably knows even less about music than Paula Adubl tho :kink:

 

I bet Simon Fuller's original judges choices Nile Rodgers (the Timbaland of the 1980s but with far more personality - he always makes great interviews); and Deborah (formerly Debbie) Gibson (former teen queen of the 1980s who wrote and produced her own records, then went onto musicals, and later set up her own Electric Youth foundation for aspiring young singers/artists whose alummi have included JoJo and Taylor Swift) regret turning down the gig to this day.

Wow :o Did not know that about Nile (genius) Rogers and Debbie Gibson. In the Randy/Paula roles I guess?

Oh. Now this is a bit unexpected and strange. I do love Ellen though, so i guess time will tell if she's any good or not.

I absolutely love Ellen so I'm not too bothered by it. I did think she can't know THAT much about the music industry and may be a bit too nicey nice but then ... wasn't Paula? :heehee: (I loved Paula too though :()

Strange choice but I think it will work. You have Kara with so much experience and relevance but who doesn't make that great TV. Then you have Ellen who really isn't qualified to judge them at all but will be good TV.

we'll see hows the AI goes with her presence there..:)

Ellen is 51? no way!

I think she is going to be so good on this show.. The need someone funny to lighten what Simon says