Ellen DeGeneres Replacing Paula Abdul On American Idol!!!!!!
This is not a joke!
Ellen announced on her talk show that she is replacing Paula on Idol.
Holy shit!!!!!!!
Check it out (above).
Whosever idea this was deserves a HUGE pay raise! Inspired choice.
Paula Abdul must be shitting herself and popping some pills while downing a bottle of booze!
CLICK HERE to check out the full press release that Fox and Idol sent out about the big announcement (including statements from Ellen, the show's producer and the network).
Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has joined AMERICAN IDOL as a fourth judge. DeGeneres will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition.
The ninth season of AMERICAN IDOL premieres January 2010 on FOX. DeGeneres will join the judges’ panel after the auditions, which will feature appearances by guest judges Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.
“I’m thrilled to be the new judge on AMERICAN IDOL,” said DeGeneres. ”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.”
“We’re all delighted to have Ellen join our ninth season of AMERICAN IDOL,” said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. “Beyond her incredible sense of humor and love of music, she brings with her an immense warmth and compassion that is almost palpable. She is one of America’s foremost entertainers, and we cannot wait to have her join our team.”
Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment for FOX added, “We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres join the AMERICAN IDOL judges’ table this season. She is truly one of America’s funniest people and a fantastic performer who understands what it’s like to stand up in front of audiences and entertain them every day. We feel that her vast entertainment experience – combined with her quick wit and passion for music – will add a fresh new energy to the show.”
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.
DeGeneres was recently included in Forbes’ Top 5 “Most Influential Women in Media” and was voted “Best Daytime Talk-Show Host” by Parade.com readers. In addition, DeGeneres has been voted “Favorite TV Personality” by The Harris Poll’s annual favorite television star list beating out Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. DeGeneres was included in MSNBC’s “Power players who shape your TV habits.” DeGeneres also was honored with Television Week’s Syndication Personality of the Year and voted No. 1 in Oxygen’s “50 Funniest Women Alive” special in the company of such comedic legends as Carol Burnett and Lily Tomlin and has been included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
DeGeneres had the honor of hosting the highly rated 79th Annual Academy Awards and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety or Music Program. This follows her 2005 stint hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards, which marked her third time hosting the show. Her performance hosting the 2001 award show garnered her rave reviews for providing a perfect balance of wit with heartfelt emotion to the post-September 11 telecast audience. DeGeneres won an American Comedy Award for her inaugural effort hosting the show in 1994. Additionally, DeGeneres co-hosted AMERICAN IDOL’s very successful IDOL GIVES BACK special that raised money for children in extreme poverty in America and Africa.
In 2008, DeGeneres became the newest face for CoverGirl. The national print and commercial campaign for Simply Ageless Foundation premiered in December and the product quickly became No. 1 in the marketplace, outperforming expectations. DeGeneres partnered up with American Express in 2005 where she appeared in their ad campaign “My Life, My Card,” including a national commercial and a print campaign. DeGeneres later appeared in the national commercial “My Life Goal: to work with animals” which won a Primetime Emmy Award.
Prior to the launch of her talk show, DeGeneres scored simultaneous achievements on stage, film and in the literary world. She enjoyed unprecedented popular and critical response to her character, Dory, the fish with extreme short term memory, in the blockbuster animated feature film, “Finding Nemo.” At the same time, DeGeneres crossed the country on a 35-city stand-up comedy tour, entitled the “Here and Now” tour. Her stop at the famed Beacon Theater in New York was turned into an HBO special and was subsequently nominated for two Emmys. Finally, in October, Simon & Schuster published DeGeneres’ second book, “The Funny Thing Is….,” comprised of the author’s comedic short stories and essays. The book hit the New York Times’ Bestseller list upon its release. In 2005, DeGeneres was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for the audio version of the book. Her first book, “My Point…And I Do Have One,” published in 1995, debuted at No. 1 on the The New York Times bestseller list.
DeGeneres’ career began as an emcee at a local comedy club in her hometown of New Orleans, which led to national recognition in 1982 when her videotaped club performances won Showtime’s “Funniest Person In America” honor. When DeGeneres moved to Los Angeles she filmed her first HBO Special, “Young Comedians Reunion,” then in 1986 “Women of the Night.” That same year, DeGeneres scored a first by becoming the first female comedian to be summoned by Johnny Carson to sit down with him after her performance. In 1989, DeGeneres received a Cable Ace nomination for her “Command Performance: One Night Stand” special. She was also named “Best Female Stand-Up” at the 1991 American Comedy Awards.
DeGeneres began her acting career in television on the FOX sitcom “Open House.” She moved on to ABC’s “Laurie Hill,” prior to being offered a part on “These Friends of Mine” by ABC. After the first season, the show was renamed “Ellen.” Running from 1994 to 1998, the show garnered record ratings, with DeGeneres receiving Emmy nominations each season in the Best Actress category. In 1997, DeGeneres was the recipient of the coveted Peabody Award as well as earning an Emmy for writing the critically acclaimed “Puppy Episode” when her character came out as a gay woman to a record 46 million viewers.
Both on and off screen, DeGeneres’ humanitarian efforts take center stage. DeGeneres is passionate about bringing awareness to the people of New Orleans, her hometown, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and her efforts have resulted in “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” raising over $10 million to improve the lives of New Orleans residents. Overall, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has raised over $50 million and brought attention to various causes, including global warming and animals. Additionally, DeGeneres continues to raise awareness about breast cancer, and served as spokesperson for General Mills’ breast cancer awareness initiative, Pink for the Cure, and hosted special episodes of her show to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Since she was first nationally recognized in 1982 as a comedian in New Orleans, Ellen’s many contributions to the entertainment industry have earned her numerous accolades including a Golden Apple Award as Female Discovery of the Year from the Hollywood Women’s Press Club; a Lucy Award honoring women in Television and Film, as well as an Amnesty International Award.
AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
Visit americanidol.com for exclusive videos, interviews and photos of the finalists, as well as special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.
Adulturous Eddie and LeAnn Moving In Together!
Paula really screwed herself this time. There's no way she will EVER get back on the show as a regular judge. Sooooo, let's do the math instead of the 6 or 7 MILLION dollars she was making for a few weeks of work listening to people sing, she's making Zip. Guess she has good managers. It will not be long before she ends up like McHammer and we hear she's broke or she'll end up forcing six babies out of her womb and try to pimp her kids like the evil whore pig Kate Gosslin.
OH MY GOD, Ellen will be just perfect!! She will lighten the mood up for sure! Hey, for any lesbians or bisexuals out there looking to fight for equal rights, come on shedate.com and share y our coming out story with hundreds of others! Let's make a bold statement! Love you ELLEN!
does she sing? does she dance? NO
I love Ellen but come on…The last time I looked this was a SINGING talent show…what does Ellen know about that?????…Total BS.
she´s going to be dancing the whole time, and everybody its going to be wonderful…she´s to smart to create enemies. NEXT!!!
hers is such a bizarre career arc; when I think of where she was, down and out and dumped by Heche, her sitcom cancelled….and now she is host of a very popular daily talk show, she has a COSMETICS CONTRACT (!), happy marriage, voiceover huge huge bucks for animation films (NEMO!), and now this spot on a hugely popular (shit) show. it boggles the mind, she's 51 years old. makes one aware that almost anything can happen.
I saw her decades ago when she was doing standup. she was such a very very very funny person. I don't like her any more but clearly lots of people do.
seems a shame for her to take a job someone else could really use. Wayne Brady, who knows so much about singing and dancing (oh my) would have been cool but…maybe they didn't want another brotha. why not pick someone who SINGS WELL???????? I don't get it.
Oh hell yes- this is a coup. brilliant casting, I can't wait to see Ellen and Simon Interact. Randy is gonna be shixxsa himself laughing at Ellen. Her casting may- in fact- save Idol. I wonder how much they paid (is Ellen's contract more than Paula wanted?) Amazing. I was a proponent of bringing Paula back, but this is sheer genius. Can't wait to watch this season.
I can see Idol's ratings going up already…
I can't stand that show, but I might actually watch some of it if Ellen's on there. I LOVE HER!!!!
OK, I like Ellen and everything … but seriously? What does Ellen know about singing and the music industry? It was silly enough when she guest hosted So You Think You Can Dance … to be truthful it was sort of awkward. I didn't mind her on one show since it was just for fun … but the reason I like these shows is for their actual advice to people who are trying to start their careers in the industry. She may dance on her show, but that does not make her any sort of expert in dance - and especially not in singing. This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. It makes no sense at all. I'm totally not watching the show this year.
This will be the BEST season of AI now! YAY!!! Ellen will blow that bitch abdrool out of the park since she is sincere, funny, and down to earth. Everything that other bitch was not!! This will be AI's best idea as yet. So excited!!!
WOOO! I love Ellen
Re: foreverP@ula – Then please by all means LEAVE. You can take that drug addicted hot mess with you. Don't let the door hit you on the ass too hard on the way out!
For all of you saying crap about her just because she isn't in the music industry…THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT!!! She is there to represent the "people" that watch it! WE are the ones who vote, WE are the ones to decide who to like. What better way to represent that then someone who IS like one of us? You can always have experts in their field, but this will be more down to earth and more of what a regular person would have to say. Paula was a total disgrace to the show with all of her stupidity and antics. She drew attention BECAUSE she was a mess. Not a great judge either since everything she said was nonsense or she couldn't be real enough to be honest when needed. Ellen will bring a whole new life and energy to the show. And for those who say they won't watch….then don't. I don't think you will have an impact at the end of the day. Paula had her chance and blew it through the roof by being a demanding bitch. Serves her right. Ellen is funny, classy, never condescending and I believe will be compeltely honest about whether or not she likes the contestant. This will be awesome, I have no doubt.
this is def. going to make me tune in every episode!
I LOVE ELLEN!
Holy Dudley Dursley, WOW!!!!!!
i don't give a shit if it was a bengal tiger replacing Paula. Kara still sucks. But i love ellen.
Ugh. I'd rather watch a stoned Paula. I'm so over Ellen. Booooooooring. It will be the Ellen show now…esp. when she dances thru every performance!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm hatin' it. Prefer someone from the music industry.
SMART PRODUCERS!!!!! IDOL WAS DYING OUT NOW ELLEN WILL BRING IT SOME MUCH NEEDED LIFE CONGRATS ELLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell does she know about music??? I'm surprised! Did she audition?
I love ellen. im so happy. i will watch idol this season.
Ok good choice! Now it's about to get interesting.
I love Ellen and i love American Idol but together???
The only thing i like is the fact that Ellen always supports the candidates that i like (Carly Smithson, David Cook, Adam Lambert,etc).
OMG I love Ellen, who doesn't? She's always so happy and inspiring for a lady of her age! And happy! lol, that's awesome. I'm sure those other judges could use the pick me up. But is Cheryl coming over from England too? I heard she was.
yay!! way to go ellen!!!
This is awesome!!! I love Ellen and she is just too funny. The next season of Idol will be a riot just wait and see!!! Worth the watch if u ask me.
can u say up the rates!!! That's what Ellen will do I see em going through the roof!!! Hats off to Idol Simon knows what hes doing to bring in the numbers.
I'm super excited for this! I usually only watch the auditions, but I will definitely be watching this season.
BTW, Ellen looks fab…
i love ellen
ellen is breath of fresh air on AI!! paula was so useless at least ellen can be funny! there's too many reputable people in the music industry already, don't ya think it's enough? I think we need a person who can give us another perspective! and not of the music industry experts! after all, AI is all about entertaining people and selling records to the people!