Paula Abdul's replacement is.... Ellen DeGeneres (mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com).
Maybe this was an obvious choice simply because the only two people MORE annoying than Kara DioGuardi (Steve Phillips and Rosie O'Donnell) were unavailable. Not that I knew what Kara brought to the table as a judge for a "big-stage" type musical competition, I admit to having no idea on how they came up with Ellen DeGeneres as a judge to replace Paula.
Completely lost on this choice also.....totally out of left field.
Only thing I could think of is that the producers thought it would be really cute and funny having a woman on the panel that could actually defend herself by launching funny and witty comebacks at Simon.
The best part of waking up is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Chuck Norris didn't kill you in your sleep.
Only thing I could think of is that the producers thought it would be really cute and funny having a woman on the panel that could actually defend herself by launching funny and witty comebacks at Simon.
Don't kid yourself. To borrow a phrase, they're not in the wrasslin' business, they're in the entertainment business.
The way these shows are built, one of the judges has to be a cheerleader. May as well be one who's trying to be funny, rather than whatever it was Paula was doing. The assessment of talent will not be compromised by swapping out Paula for Ellen.
Since Paula was the positive and encouraging counterpoint to Simon, Ellen might be a good fit, but perhaps even worse in some regards. When she judged So You Think You Can Dance over the summer, she pretty much just said "You're all awesome" and criticized not one whit. Of course, she also admitted to knowing nothing about dance. Does she know any more about music? Probably not.
Of course, I don't know anything about music either and I feel perfectly free to judge at home. I just hope she's not just going to be a cheerleader and will actually have an opinion.
"Never piss off a hawk with a blowgun" - Conan O'Brien
Only thing I could think of is that the producers thought it would be really cute and funny having a woman on the panel that could actually defend herself by launching funny and witty comebacks at Simon.
I guess I'm in the minority here (again!) because I like the choice. Sure, Ellen is no expert on singing or pop music, but either was that crackhead Paula "Your aura was glowing bright tonight, showing the world that your spirit is in a wonderful place" Abdul!
Originally posted by JustinShapiroWhat about Phillip Garrido.
This is a brilliant choice. People really, really like Ellen DeGeneres & if she's got any say in booking the musical guests on her show, she's got a pretty good ear for such things. A *lot* of the poppier acts I've enjoyed in the last two years, I heard as guests on her show for the first time*. (Duffy, Raphael Saadiq, Lily Allen, Adele, etc.)
*: Yes, I watch Ellen DeGeneres's talk show. Because I am, I guess, a middle-aged woman.
1) Genius. Ellen is a winning personality. As Idol is half game show, half judge showcase, she can work alongside Randy and Simon with gentle goofiness and wit. She changes the dynamic in a new way, a way that piques my curiosity.
2) Cue the conspiracy theories that she'll only support the gay contestants to compete against the conservative demographic that voted against Adam Lambert.
And then the tertiary notion:
a) Keep her off the stage. Don't let her boogie and sing. Don't let her find a spotlight for her performance shtick. She'll overdo it. Keep her behind that table and sipping Cokes with the other judges.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by OlFuzzyBastardThis is a brilliant choice. People really, really like Ellen DeGeneres & if she's got any say in booking the musical guests on her show, she's got a pretty good ear for such things. A *lot* of the poppier acts I've enjoyed in the last two years, I heard as guests on her show for the first time*. (Duffy, Raphael Saadiq, Lily Allen, Adele, etc.)
*: Yes, I watch Ellen DeGeneres's talk show. Because I am, I guess, a middle-aged woman.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I really can't stand her. Probably the only time I ever found her remotely tolerable or even entertaining was her voice work on FINDING NEMO.
"I have a feeling that waiting isn't as pointless as it seems. If someone is waiting, that place becomes a place to return to."
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