'American Idol': Ellen DeGeneres to replace Paula Abdul as judge [Updated]

The fourth seat has been filled.

Ellen DeGeneres has been named the fourth judge on "American Idol," definitively closing the door on talk that Paula Abdul, who left the show two months ago, will be back.

Fox announced the news Wednesday night. [Updated at 6:53 p.m.: But only after DeGeneres herself used her talk show to break the news to a live audience. A longtime fan of the singing competition, DeGeneres decided to speak to human beings directly as opposed to tweeting about her new gig a la Abdul's resignation. [Updated at 9:50 p.m. She will join the  other judges for the infamously challenging Hollywood rounds.] The ninth season begins airing in January.

[Updated at 7:20 p.m.: DeGeneres signed a five-year deal for "American Idol" and extended her contract to host her talk show through 2014, sources close to the negotiations said.] Her announcement to her audience is part of the episode that airs tomorrow. The following is a transcript of her comments:

I have a big announcement to make. No one knows this. I just finally got the OK ... just moments ago to announce this to you today. ... I am going to be the new judge on 'American Idol.' (crowd applauds)

Thank you so much. I'm not leaving here. Don't worry about that. I'm going to have a day job and a night job. The times we're living ... in, we're all doing that. This is so exciting for me.  We've been dealing with this for the last couple of weeks and I've been dying to tell everyone.  It's just been so hard to keep it a secret and we just finally got the OK and I'm so excited. It is going to be so much fun.

I don't know how it happened myself, but I have not missed one episode of that show. I've watched every single thing. I love everything about it and I love music, as you know. Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view, because I'm just like you. I sit at home and I watch it and I don't have that technical [eye]. ... 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. So I'm hopefully going to be that voice of what we're all doing at home."]

-- Denise Martin and Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Al of OC]

....gee now I can sleep tonight....

[Julia]

Ellen is an inspired choice and will provide a fresh, humorous view. I can't wait to hear her first comments!

[Jim Cuthbertson]

Paula has a nicer rack

[Paul]

Horrible, Horrible, Horrible.

We had a singer dancer performer, a producer and and a musician. Then they add a songwriter. OK all music professionals. NOW a COMIC. I love Ellen's work, but how in any way does she qualify for this job. Is she the public voice? Not. They worked over Paula Abdul and don't think for a moment that Ellen is working for less. This is a crime and they will and have lost viewers and now I won't watch either. Is Rosanne Barr next year after Randy's contract is up. And Jim Carrey after Simon's. Give me a break. This will be the shows downfall starting with bringing in Kara to begin with.

[Ruben Dominguez]

Ellen Degeneres has no musical background to speak of, unlike the other judges on the panel, each of whom have quite a bit of experience in the music field to back them up. Degeneres dancing around on her show and always having been a big fan of American Idol, does not a good judge make!! She's entertaining, funny and disarming but really brings zero credibility as a judge of vocal and musical talent to the show.

[Robert Arvai]

So flyover America was not ready to vote for a homosexual idol that was CLEARLY the most talented contestant, but they will accept an openly homosexual judge? It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Katy]

Ellen will be great. Obviously American Idol chose her with great care after weighing all input. What's puzzling though is why Americans should vote for any contestant now given the iregularities of last year, which AI has apparently, to date anyhow, chosen to sweep under the carpet. But how can they when the voting rate was apparently 380 times greater in Arkansas than all of the rest of the US? Only one out of 20 Americans in all other states voted in the finale, while in Arkansas that rate jumped to 19 votes per resident, including babies and the infirm. Many say both a university and AT&T were heavily involved in voting irregularities. I think AI must fix last year's mess, especially for megastar Adam Lambert, before anyone will be confident that they should vote in future for any contestant.

[Jennifer]

Yeay!! I am SO EXCITED that Ellen will be a host! I was starting to lose interest in the show and was sad to see Paula go, but now I definately look forward to watching it again!

She will break the ice with Simon's harsh comments and bring some happiness and smiles to the show! I can't wait!!! Great choice AI!!

[Claudia Silva-Trigo]

I love Ellen!! This is great news...I've never been much of a fan of American Idol, but I'll definitely tune in now!!! I can't think of any reason why people would not like Ellen. She is entertaining and very charismatic. Congratulations Ellen!!! You go girl!!!!!!!!

[LCMc]

I love Ellen but as a judge she sucks. We need someone with more musical background that can really judge not just make jokes. Sorry thumbs down from me.

[Cynthia]

Ellen's music credentials appear stronger than Simon's -- she knows and appreciates a wide range of music, has provided a venue for many musicians to showcase their talents, has deep friendships with musicians of all genres, and she appreciates and celebrates music. Simon's musical range seems surprisingly narrow (couldn't believe, for instance, that he'd never heard "Don't let the sun catch you crying," made famous worldwide by Gerry and the Pacemakers and performed during a British Invasion episode of Idol). And Cara (Kara?) seems up on contemporary music but lost when time and genre shift (plus, she vacillates alarmingly between shrew and Little Mary Sunshine). Ellen's an excellent choice. I'll watch the upcoming season after all.

[Tiggercat]

Count me as a former viewer. Ellen does not represent me or my views. I don't watch her show, and I won't watch Idol. Miss you Paula!

[jim]

Ellen? There was so much talk about Adam, who was the best signer. and all the talk about Clay. Ellen, should take some pride and realize the only reason she is there is becuase of her life style. you are being used. no more american idol for me or my children.

[Jaima]

Guys, let's not forget, ELLEN is going to just be herself. She was not chosen to be the 4th judge because of her technical knowledge. Finally, we the audience sitting at home have someone on the judges panel that can speak for us. We may not have the technical experience either, but we know what we at home like. ELLEN is going to be there to speak for all of us. Rifts and rafts, pitches and potches, do we really care? As long as it sounds good, right???? Ellen will tell em'.

[TT]

So Sad... I don't even like American Idol but I agree with KJ. I don't think she is qualified to judge. Stay with the talk show Ellen!

[Marco]

Ellen may know little about music... but Paula didn't know squat as well. I remember all the controversy regarding her last stumble and people speculating she would gotten the boot. Well, now she really has gotten the boot. And a well deserved boot she got. It goes to show the people you may hire with the money Abdul was demanding.

[G.R.]

I wonder with all the massive millions the show has in viewers, will they notice the few million that decide to quit watching because they've hired this completely talentless revolting slug. The only good thing is she signed a five-year deal but has just a little over three years left anyways.

[della dunbar]

What is the mattern with you people!!!! They just made a joke out of my favorite show. Out of all the people they could have chosen. HER! ELLEN!!! NO! NO! They might as well have canceled the show. Why would they choose someone who is hated as much as she is liked. Where is the logic. They have to know they will lose some of there fan base by doing this. As far as I am concerened American Idol Is no more. I have watched her show. I dont like it. I dont watch it. I wont watch american Idol now.

[#1cooker]

I agree w/ KJ. this is just weird. and i LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVE ellen degeneres and i LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVE PAULA TOO! this is just some kind of a publicity stunt, right? ai has been struggling trying to find someone who fit and made us all giggle & smile and feel all warm and fuzzy like paula abdul. but this is just weird. it seems like a joke or a public april fools day stunt.

[Brendan Baker]

As a mother and a grandparent, I am totally disgusted with this turn of events. EDG has no musical talent or background and the only thing she brings to the judges table is her alternative life style...just the kind of person that 7-22 year-olds need to look up to....RIGHT? NOT! I have a huge family, 40-50 strong all total, and none of us will be watching as long as she's on there and I hope others will boycot as well. Terrible choice, terrible person...may be funny, but I never thought so the couple of time I crossed the chanel she happened to be on.