We all know that Ellen DeGeneres will join American Idol as the fourth judge when TV’s No. 1 show returns for season 9, but how did the talk show host and funny woman land the gig? “We went through a lot of names in our heads, but Ellen had done So You Think You Can Dance for us, she’s been on Idol Gives Back, and she’s an enormous fan of Idol,” Fox president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell tells EW.com. “And it just occurred to us: I wonder if she’d be interested. We made a call, and she was incredibly enthusiastic about the idea. And it came together in a couple of weeks. It was amazing!” Idol exec producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz also marvels at the ease with which they pulled off Operation Ellen. “You talk about potential people, and everybody’s got their opinion, and there are the pros and cons and you debate it — and with Ellen, actually it was like, ‘Wow, that’d be great,’” she tells EW.com. “There was no question and no debate that it would be really a great thing for the show.” Neither Darnell nor Frot-Coutaz seem concerned about DeGeneres’ lack of music industry experience. “She’s a huge music fan,” says Frot-Coutaz. “She understands music. But ultimately she’s a fantastic entertainer and she understands what it takes to be on a stage and to have to connect with an audience….She also brings the perspective of the fan and the viewer. And that’s a perspective we’ve never had on the panel.” Adds Darnell: “This is what you want: a big name people adore. And she’s funny, she’s entertaining, and she’s in love with the show. It wasn’t like we had to make a fit. She fits right in.”
Photo Credit: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos
At least we have two names: Darnell and Frot-Coutaz to blame for this.
I wish every article had the name Frot-Coutaz in it.
Fox execs and NBC execs (the people who came up with the Jay Leno show) could get together and make a network that could do worse than CW. People may still watch and fastforward over Ellen. But, I think this might move it away from the #1 spot. Do you think NCIS could pass it?
I like Elen so no matter who they have as a judge I will first watch NCIS and then NCIS LA. I was an Idol fan but NCIS comes first.
I have been an enthusiastic American Idol fan! I will no longer be watching American Idol because of Ellen. NCIS or something else will be my show. Very sad to lose my favorite show
People keep saying “she has no business being on AI, what does she know about the music industry” but remember that the people who vote for the winner (america) are not music producers or musicians, just fans – so then she is representing us from a consummer point of view
Wrong. Simon Cowell represents “us” by being the only judge to say when someone stinks. How many times have we all cringed at someone’s horrible performance and Paula tried to give constructive criticism when the contestant was beyond that and Simon said what we were all thinking — you suck, go away?
I keep seeing this comment everywhere. I would like to know just how she is going to represent us? You know she isn’t going to slam contestants that may be future guest on her talk show. Her only choice will be to act like Paula and say positive things after Simon slams them. I like Ellen as a comedian, but not as an Idol judge.
exactly. i’m a huge ellen fan, but i feel like she is going to be a distraction, just going in for the laugh and trying not to step on anyone’s toes. this show has become about the judges and their out-of-control egos (ex. their need to have a “grand entrance” last season, overly long comments, need to talk over eachother) with the contestants/music put on the back burner. each judge should be given a specific amount of time to comment, and then their mic should go off and the camera should move on. then maybe the contestants could actually sing a full song as the season goes on. (revolutionary thought, right?)
I agree. How is she going to represent ‘us’? It’s insulting to think this huge, diverse country can be represented by a rich comedian living in LA, no matter how nice she is and how much she likes music. What if she loves disco and country? That’s not representative of me, but my father will think she’s great. She was hired to be the funny cheerleader.
You know, I’m already sick of AI and the new season won’t start for months.
This “Ellen is the voice of america” meme is taking over the internet and it is so bogus. She is not the voice of america. She will not be the voice of america. She will be an extremely well-paid comedienne using a singing competition as her stage. She is being hired to replace a commentator known for being the “nice” one. She will be hosting these people on her emmy-award winning talk show that is known for being “nice.” She is just going to fill airtime with neurotic comic banter and will add nothing of real worth to AI. And she will not be the voice of America.
honestly, the fact that “america” votes on AI (and any other show) is what I like least about it. I went through high school already. I don’t need to constantly redo the whole popularity contest thing. (oh he/she is the cutest so i’ll vote for him! he/she is the least threatening to my family’s moral values, i’ll vote for him!)
Or maybe, just maybe, the people who bother to vote every week are invested in getting the best singer. Because the other people tune out. They get caught up in values and politics, and leave until a winner is called in the end.
The real fans aren’t voting for cute/popular, we’re voting for the best voice–who we’ll pay to download once the craziness is over.
Kris won last year, not because he’s dreamy, but because more people imagined his CD in their car than imagined Adam’s. It wasn’t about nail polish or family values.
The people who vote are invested in selecting the best singer? I’ve got two words for you: Taylor Hicks. The American public are morons who wouldn’t know a good singer if he/she was wearing a shirt that said “I’m A Good Singer.”
I do not believe the people’s votes count. The show puts in who they want. Our votes do not count. Ruben, taylor hick and more who won can not sing. Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson were really the only two who made it big and can really sing. Now Adam Lambert will make it he can sing and sing anything.
All the judges (including Simon) are worthless. At least she’ll add some humor.
Thanks Paul. I’m so tired of people kissing Simon’s a** he’s just as useless as the rest. And his mean shctick got old five years ago.
Add Simon Fuller to the list of Darnell and this other idiot who made this stupoid decision for this show…Kara and Ellen? Yeah, that’s what this show needsas it has now jumped the shark and this could be the last season for Idol, which I hope it will. What a horrible summer they have had with these stupid decisions being made. You sure they didn’t get prepped by NBC’s brass about this?! Unbelievable!
this kind of show can’t “jump the shark”. do you even know what the phrase means? the judges should never be the driving force of a talent competition. if that’s why you watch in the first place, to watch random people critique others, you’d be better served elsewhere.
I think that’s right – she’s a performer who knows what it takes to have to stand alone on a stage and entertain thousands, to know how to connect with a crowd and win them over. That’s HUGE experience the show needs – Randy was always on stage with a band, Kara only wrote, didn’t perform, and Simon is strictly a producer and manager, he’s the money. Ellen is the missing wheel.
All we need is someone acting stupid, this isn’t a comedy show, boy did they miss the mark on this one
Maybe this is what went on in FOX execs’ heads: Oh, look, a shark! Let’s jump it and see what happens!
seriously people. i dont see how a competition show can jump the shark. it can suck. it can pick bad judges and/or mix up the formula of the show in a bad way. but i think the term jump the shark (which is overused at this point and i’d be in favor of retiring) should be reserved for scripted tv. what’s next? Those Duggars.. they got knocked up again? they call their show 19 and counting? they soooo jumped the shark!
JT, NCIS better pass Idol. It’ll be just criminal if it doesn’t!
Now let’s watch NCIS instead and let TPTB know that we do have a vote on the Idol show’s format.
I’m in favour of anything which pushes NCIS to the top. If adding Ellen spells the doom of Idol then hoo-rah! Now, what the heck IS going on with Ziva, anyway?
Ellen will breath new life into the show. I can make a guess that some of the people who have already posted a comment have never watched Ellen’s show. She’s a remarkable woman. I’d rather watch the show with Ellen than a loopy Paula ANY DAY! Way to go FOX!
It’s not that we don’t like Ellen. It’s not like we adore Paula. It’s just that she’s not a good fit as a judge for a singing show.
I’m not sure why “the masses” need to be represented on the panel. The whole point of having judges is that they know more than the average viewer does.
Sad to see a growing list of bad decisions made by American Idol Executives. 1.) Adding a Fourth Judge (Kara) who proved to be only so-so; makes for too much time lost in chit-chat for no gain. 2.) Letting Paula go; She may have been unpredictable, but she was sweet and very music industry knowledgeable. 3.) Adding Ellen may gain laughs, but AI has been all about the music; Ellen does not fit. 4.) Power text & telephone voting may make millions of dollars for the AI sponsor, AT&T, but it makes the voting efforts of the average AI voter a joke. If one motivated or paid person can send in over 10,000 text votes in two hours, the American Idol winner may now get the most votes, but not the support of the most voters. American Idol Winners will not be credible until FOX reduces the votes allowed per person as EVERY other such show does.
God I love Ellen…She will make this show…I only watched AI once in a while…but you can bet I will never miss it with Ellen…Congrats Ellen…Your the one…
I will not be surprised if American Idol actually gains viewers because of the addition of Ellen. Curiosity is going to bring the viewers in.
Maybe for the first couple of weeks, but then I think the show will lose viewers.
That’s it, I’m done! Ellen does not belong on American Idol. I will not tune in this season. This is as bad as Dennis Miller hosting Monday Night football. When will these execs learn???!!!
Ok…we won’t miss u and I am sure Ellen could care less if you don;t watch…Just wait she will prove herself
Then you are one fo those teeny bobbers who know nothing about music and votes for the contestants cause there cute. But i will assure you this . AI will fail because of this. Ellen is not a good choice and Make my word, this is a singing competiation not who popular. But again it that was that Case the ADAM would have won. Ellen Is good for TV but not AI. I will not watch. It was good with Randy, Paula and Simon. Sadly the producers Made a mistake. I wouldn’t be suprise if Simon walks away now.
nope don’t think anything was as bad as pairing dennis miller with football… like him enough and wouldn’t mind watching a game with him. just didn’t fit .
Ellen may not have any qualifications to judge a singing contest, but then neither did Paula.