Fox has announced that Ellen DeGeneres will not be returning to American Idol for the coming season.
Recently, there has been non-stop speculation about who will replace Simon Cowell, who left at the end of last season, and after Lee Dewyze’s reign as winner. Rumors have circulated that replacement judges who could stand in as new judges on the panel could include Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Bret Michaels, William Shatner, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak, or Elton John. Sounds like a crazy list to me. I would like to see a legend as one of the new judges, and the only one who comes close on that list is Elton John, and maybe Bret Michaels, who likes to talk about how he feels way too much. I think a new list needs to be created. Here is my quickie version:
Cher, Steven Tyler, Alicia Keys, Tom Petty, Robert Plant, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, would all make great choices for Ellen’s spot. To see why I chose these artists find out why.
For a while there was speculation that Howard Stern would be Cowell’s replacement, but I don’t see it happening. I certainly would stop watching if he did. There is a difference between honesty and cruelty. That makes Simon’s replacement even harder to find.
With both Cowell and DeGeneres leaving the show, this opens up the judge’s panel for some real excitement and potentially judges who know the entertainment business from an inside perspective, or like Simon; from a business level and real experience. It will certainly take someone very qualified to replace Simon Cowell, who was the only judge to actually critique and help contestants take it to the next level. And in a big way. His qualifications would put most of the rumored replacement judges to shame.
Fox, FremantleMedia, and 19 Entertainment are planning to give the show a massive overhaul. One of the things that will change with the new season is Idol’s air time. The show will run for 90 minutes Tuesday nights, and 30 minutes on Wednesdays. Nigel Lythgoe is also in talks with Fox to return along side Simon Fuller, Ken Warwick, and Cecile Frot-Coutaz – as the shows executive producer. More changes are sure to come as they re-tool the show to accommodate new judges. Leaving you to wonder if Kara Kara Dioguardi and Randy Jackson will remain, although neither of their contracts are up yet. And let’s face it, where else does Kara have to go at the present time.
Ellen DeGeneres claims she didn’t feel she was the right fit for the show, and admits that she did not like critiquing the Idol contestants. Not to worry though Ellen fans, she will still have her daytime talk show, and her new music label. Many people also expect her to fill the void that will be left when Oprah Winfrey gives up her talk show. Not to mention DeGeneres still works for Warner Bros., and recently started her own music label. She even signed Greyson Chance, a singer, who she discovered on the internet. The places her career could go are truly endless.
I like Ellen and I think you could tell that she had some trouble with the serious aspect of the show, but she was a good addition. But, it could be better, so I think re-tooling the show is a great idea for American Idol fans. Something new and unexpected is just what the doctor ordered to keep the show from growing predictable.
Article Sources:
“Ellen DeGeneres Leaves ‘American Idol’; Rumors fly About Replacement Judge” :
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/07/30/ST2010073000290.html
