Ellen DeGeneres has quit American Idol, after just one season.
In a news release, DeGeneres said, “A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” she said. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next.
“I also realised this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings,” she added.
“We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of Idol,” said Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment, FOX Networks Group. “We were fortunate to receive the humour, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”
Only Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi remain as judges but there has been speculation the show could refresh the entire team (with Jackson considered the safest of the two).
Simon Cowell’s replacement has seen rumours of names with everyone from Elton John to Jessica Simpson.
It was reported earlier this week that one of the original producers, Nigel Lythgoe, is in talks to return to the show.
Viewership slipped this year, falling to an average 24.1 million viewers overall, from a high of 30.8 million in 2006.
Update: Jennifer Lopez is reportedly her replacement. Deadline Hollywood says management for Jennifer Lopez orchestrated a meeting with the American Idol producers a month ago, and negotiations had been ongoing ever since before being resolved this week. DeGeneres is said to have complained that Idol producers “couldn’t control Cowell.”
Hhmm, 4 becomes 1 – perhaps its time has passed. No Simon, no likeable or credible judge, just nonsense spewing Randy ‘Yo’ Jackson. J’lo holds no cache for me, she might for millions of yanks, but seems like a reincarnation of Paula.
Steve Tyler is the other name out there. Yikes, how will it all end?????
As Kara has been fired, I wonder if Ellen was about to be fired too. Her stepping down may have been an effort to save face. Love ya Ellen looking forward to seeing you do what u do best.
Jessica Simpson is an idiot!! Why would you want her on the show, when we need some intelligent comments?!!
@Peter: I’m a slow typer.
Ellen was God-awful. Did they even ask her how she would approach the role before she took it? If you don’t have knowledge or backbone you at least need entertainment value (Paula) and she didn’t have any of that.
@Tony: Or rather, you heard it elsewhere first! Lopez was reported as the replacement by Deadline Hollywood hours ago.
Jennifer Lopez is her replacement. You heard it here first.
Helll No!!!! She was great on the show. It was allways so serious all the time and she brought so much humor and laughs to the show. I at least wanted to see her do the Auditions.. that would have been gold. I will never watch Idol again… x(
A sinking ship, good move Ellen…
Errr…isn’t Jessica Simpson known for being sort of the archetypal dumb blonde? Expect some great comments from her…
I’m in two minds about it, She was always an odd fit – great personality and funny, but as Francis has said, no musical cred. Replacing the Cowell judge is imho more critical than Ellen. Without Simon or an alpha creature, there is no tension, no push and pull with other judges and Seacrest. They could leave Ellen’s seat open to a guest judge/mentor each week – allowing Madonna, Elton, Aretha., Gaga, Justin, Amy….hundreds of options.
To be honest as much as I love Ellen, she was not a good choice for a judge. She does not have a musical background and sometimes tended to reiterate other judges comments.
I am sure AI can find a suitable replacement. The show needs a bit of a revamp anyway. It will be back and will be better for the changes
Please! Ellen never deserved to be on that show in the first place.
What music credibility does she have??
At least Randy, Simon and Kara worked in the music industry. Ellen is just a comedian who is so popular they thought her popularity would give the show big raitings
Put Jessica Simpson in. She is a singer and they need someone like that who understands the pressures of singing live
The ratings slip is a bit of an over-reaction isn’t it? Yes it has slipped since 2006 but it also slipped from the 2006 average in 2007,2008,2009 and in 2010
A fair comparison would be comparing it to Season 8 where final performances averaged 23.82 where the current season average 20.07.
With the age of the show its still doing brilliantly and this year it was up against the winter olympics for 2 weeks which bought down its average.
simon cowel is american idol, now he is gone it will nearly fall of the plannet. i wonder why they even put ellen on the show last year
Well it’s time for Oprah then to be in the judging panel and she might then give away a Ford car for free to each of the studio audience, that will surely lift the ratings up…
Oh no! I really loved Ellen on the show, and I’m starting to get a bit nervous about where American Idol goes from here. To lose half the judging panel in one season can never be good, can it?