Ellen DeGeneres tells Ryan Seacrest she'll be viewers' voice as 'Idol' judge

In her first interview since news broke Wednesday night that she was joining the judges panel on "American Idol," Ellen DeGeneres said she hopes to bring the viewer perspective to the foursome.

"I'm just a fan like everyone else," she told Ryan Seacrest this morning. "The people choose. Ultimately, it comes down to them, not some executive in the music industry. I hope to be that voice."

DeGeneres said she was shocked and saddened to hear about Paula Abdul's departure from the show last month, and that she'll try to bring the former judge's positive spirit to the panel. "I'm really honest, but I think you can be honest in a kind way. That's one thing Paula did bring to the show, that empathy and compassion, so I hope to do that," she said.

Asked how she'll contend with Simon Cowell and his acerbic remarks, DeGeneres said she's not afraid to call him out. "I'll tell him the same thing I'll tell him when he's on my show, that he's mean," she said.

DeGeneres was not expecting to take over for Abdul until recently, and said she was "surprised" when she was approached about the job. "I didn't think for a second that it could be me," she said. "I had no idea this was even a possibility. When they came to me, I was like, 'I love that show! I would give anything to do it.'

"I love music, period. Always have. And I'm a huge fan of the show. I haven't missed an episode since Season 1," she said.

DeGeneres doesn't foresee a problem juggling both "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Idol" duties. "We have to adjust the schedule a bit. On those days, we'll shoot earlier then I'm going to jump in my car and go and be entertained by these kids singing for us. What you do is a lot harder than what I have to do, Ryan."

And there are benefits for her talk show, too, she added. "I'll get to go and talk about it on the talk show the next day and tape these pieces for it," she said. "I think it will add a whole lot of content to my show."

In the meantime, she's all about the prep. "What's changed now is we have Dave Matthews on the show next week and I'm going to have to tell him what I really think of his performance," DeGeneres joked. 

-- Denise Martin

Photo by TBS

Comments

[Steven B]

What a relief to has someone who is honest and entertaining! It doesn't take a professional to have an opinion. I enjoy good food and I know what I like and don't like but I'm not a chef.
She is approaching it as a viewer's voice, I'm a viewer so, yes, I'm glad you're there.
Rock on Ellen....

[lee]

DeGenerous did NOT impress me as a guest judge on SYTYCD. Outside a number of weak jokes, she contributed noting special to the show.

[PaHa]

With all due respect to Ellen as a comedian and a talk show host (she is very good at that), she does NOT have the right background to be an AI judge. AI is primarily a singing talent competition and she does not appear to have any skills in that area to make any judgements and provide constructive feedback to contestants.
In my humble opinion, this is a misfit and will not work; not a wise decision, unless they want to turn AI into a comedy show.

[Dr. Peter Evans]

Dear Ellen:
You (and your incredible mother Betty, and your lovely lady) just keep going for all of us, your Gay brother's and sister's. We LOVE you, Ellen for everything you have done, and continue to do as the voice and face of our vast community.
Respectfully

[Lynn]

The difference between SYTYCD and Idol is that on SYTYCD the contestants ARE the show. They have true talent and the judges don't have to distract the audience from the overly-made-up-wanna-be-a-rock-star performances of the pretend talent on Idol. Yes, once in a while a decent performer does come out of the Idol series, but mostly the only thing that makes them succeed is the fact that they were on the show. Without the show, they'd never make it. The judges on Idol need to entertain the audience just to keep them tuning in. Ellen is an entertainer and a performer with many successful years in the entertainment/television industry. She'll bring more viewers to the show than Paula did, for sure.

[Joe]

The show should be renamed the "NO LATINOS ALLOWED SHOW". We're only allowed on the set to clean the toilets and mop the floors. Racism is alive and well in Hollywood!!!

[Sunny]

Ellen DeGeneres!!! Of all the hundreds of people the producer could have selected.
Well, I won't be watching American Idol this coming season. Used to like and enjoy the show.

[Tom]

Putting this no talent person on the show has cost them one fan - ME I've been a fan of Idol from the very frist show But as long as Ellen D is on the show I will never watch it again or allow it in my home.
She is a no talent big mouth that got some were in Hollywood by coming out of the closet and never should have been given a place in the lime light for her sexual preferences The right to fame should come from talent of which shee has NONE

[Jay]

Well Since They the Gay Community All FEEL they Really got DISSED Last Year with Their HEro Adam Losing "WahWah" Now Their Going to Shove Another Gay Person As In Ellen Down Our Throats "No Play on Words" Well I Say Let's BOYcott the Show & Send this Network a Message that We the Real People Won't be watching AI this Year. Who's With ME??