DeGeneres Named "American Idol" Judge

(AP)  Last updated at 12:07 a.m. Eastern

Ellen DeGeneres is dancing her way into the fourth judge's seat on "American Idol."

Fox announced Wednesday the talk show host and comedian, who admittedly has no formal music experience, just a passion for tunes, will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season. The announcement all but seals the departure of Paula Abdul, the original third judge who announced she was quitting amid a contract dispute in July.

Wednesday's announcement came as a shock to many of the singing competition's fans, who did not expect the Emmy-winning talk show host to fill Abdul's spot. DeGeneres told her talk show audience in an episode scheduled to air Thursday that she had been "dying to tell everyone" and would not abandon her chatfest. Instead, she will have "a day job and a night job."

"The times we're living in," she quipped, "we're all doing that."

(Will Ellen do a good job? You can cast your vote by clicking here.)

Abdul had been replaced by a succession of guest judges across the country as "Idol" started next season's auditions, which will air in January. Among them: Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry and Shania Twain - but not the 51-year-old DeGeneres, who will join the ninth season following the show's tryout rounds.

"Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you," DeGeneres said on her talk show. "I sit at home and I watch it, and I don't have that technical ... I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person."

Photos: "Idol" Season 8 Finale
Photos: "Idol" Season 8 Contestants
Photos: Ellen DeGeneres

It won't be DeGeneres' first time in a reality TV judge's seat - or on "Idol." She served as a guest judge earlier this summer on "So You Think You Can Dance," critiquing the dancing competition's top eight finalists. In 2007, she was the co-host of "Idol Gives Back," the singing contest's charity event. She returned the next year in a pre-taped segment.

DeGeneres' has enjoyed a successful reign as the host of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for the past six years, although her four-year streak as the talk show host Daytime Emmy winner ended this year when Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters from ABC's "The View" were awarded the prize for the first time.

"Beyond her incredible sense of humor and love of music, she brings with her an immense warmth and compassion that is almost palpable," said "Idol" executive producer and FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz in a statement. "She is one of America's foremost entertainers, and we cannot wait to have her join our team."

With the four judges' seats now filled, it's highly unlikely Abdul will return to her post on "Idol." Known for her sugary sweet but often obscure evaluations, Abdul had served as judge alongside Cowell and Jackson since the show's debut in 2002. Producers attempted to shake up the franchise last season by adding songwriter DioGuardi as a fourth judge.

Since departing "Idol," Abdul has gone diva, filming a cameo for Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" as a gavel-banging, glammed-up version of herself and signing on to host the live "VH1 Divas" concert Sept. 17. Abdul has yet to announce a steady job to replace her role on the Fox singing contest, but she told TV Guide last week she'd like to host a talk show.

[jwjwjwjw1]

I'll have a lot more space on my Ti-Vo now that I won't be watching AI

[buggerbuddy]

get rid of the slit licker and get joe brown

[wattEYEno]

I think she will be more coherent than Paula and I think she will razz on SIMON every chance she gets. This may be the one thing that saves the show.
Wait until SIMON makes some sort of Chauvinist Remark and Ellen will be all over his ass.
SIMON better watch out, Ellen's is bigger than his, and the real difference is, she knows how to use hers.

[rmm26a]

And I thought last year's Idol was the gayest yet (Adam Lambert), and now they have Ellen. This year will be unwatchable!!!

[MorganBarber44]

Whats the difference between a horse and a lesbian ??

50 pounds and a flannel shirt.

[pw08-2009]

Now the audience will be continuously exposed to the Gay agenda and gay comments, in a funny quirky way. That way, she reaches a larger audience to cram it down their throat.

[Questionews]

It could be worse!!
Imagine is Rosie O'Donnell had gotten the job??
You'd be saying "Go Ellen, Go Ellen!!"

(Simon would be in jail within a week for bashing Rosie's head in with a tire iron. Although I wouldn't hold that against him)

Besides, I highly doubt Ellen will be trying to hook up with contestants or awarding "gay points" to the performers.

[pw08-2009]

Questionews,

You got me there...Rosie would be much much worse...hahaha

[cvanoff]

Honestly, how much talent does one really need to be a judge? This isn't rocket science, people. Plus remember that the audience has its input as well. Look at Randy. His vocabulary mostly consists of "Yo, dog", and "pitchy", and he's been doing just fine.

[John_Merritt]

Ellen is an absolutely great girl personality wise. She reminds me of a few friends of the past. I like her spunk and if Simon isn't she will dish it back high and hard. Good luck to her and the crew. I hope it all works out for you.

[pw08-2009]

Wow, won't be watching Idol anymore. I'm sure Ellen will plug some gay agenda item in the show somewhere....you watch.

[parisdakar]

How do TV execs make decisions like this and keep their jobs? I'm in he wrong career.