CBS responds to criticism over blurring of Adam Lambert's kiss on 'The Early Show'

Does Adam Lambert have it right?

This morning, during his appearance on "The Early Show," Lambert said he believed the furor over his sexually charged American Music Awards performance on Sunday was due to the fact that he's a gay male. He pointed out that Janet Jackson, for example, who opened the telecast, grabbed the crotch of a male dancer and no one had even mentioned that.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton expressed his disgust over the "double standard" in a post this morning and asked why CBS' "The Early Show" blurred the image of Lambert kissing one of his band members but showed Madonna's famous 2007 kiss with Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards.

We thought it was a valid question, and we took it to CBS.

A CBS representative responded: "We gave this some real thought.  The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times, including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated and, for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences."

What do you think?

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: Adam Lambert's AMA kiss. Credit: Dick Clark Productions

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Adam Lambert answers his critics

Adam Lambert asks and answers 'Whataya Want From Me' on 'The Early Show'

Adam Lambert didn't think he needed to redeem himself today on CBS' "The Early Show." But he may have done just that and a little bit more.

At the same time he was reminding his "American Idol" fans what they loved about him in the first place, Lambert probably managed to instill some regret over at ABC headquarters over Tuesday's decision to disinvite him to perform on "Good Morning America" after his controversial, highly sexual appearance at the American Music Awards on Sunday night.

This morning, Lambert was relaxed and articulate as he answered questions about his decisions on Sunday night to improvise kissing a man on stage and simulating oral sex with another. Later, he took questions from fans who attended his live performance and capped the morning with two strong vocal performances of his new songs, "Whataya Want From Me" and "Music Again."

In his interview, Lambert admitted that performing in front of many of his favorite pop artists "got the best of me" and that the controversial parts of his Sunday night performance were not rehearsed. Having a background in theater, he said, doesn't automatically make him think of the audience at home when he is on stage, he said.

"Honestly, it didn't even cross my mind — children," he said. "It was almost 11 o'clock. I was there in the audience full of mostly adults. Sometimes I forget, oh, there's a camera on. I come from the theater and I'm programmed to look at who's in the live audience, and that's kind of where I come from, and so I was looking out into the crowd and saw some of my favorite pop stars and thought I want to let loose. It just kind of got the best of me. I had a really great time. Unfortunately, there are people that are really upset, but there are also people that enjoyed it. So, like "Idol," I guess I have a tendency to divide people. Apples and oranges. You either like it or you don't."

Later he added: "It got the best of me. I'm obviously learning. This is my first performance post-"Idol" on television. The song lyrically is sexual, and I was just performing the lyrics of my song. I think in the future I will probably make a little bit more of an effort to stay consistent with what I do during rehearsal to what I do during the show. That's something I'm learning now, and that way if anyone has a problem with what I'm doing, it can be explored during rehearsal."

Fox announces its midseason lineup

Fox announced its midseason lineup today and it contains a couple of surprises. Dr. House and Jack Bauer will team up on Monday nights, "Fringe" will remain in its challenging Thursday night time slot, and "Glee" will be off the air until April 13, when it returns on a new night following "American Idol" but up against the last episodes of ABC's "Lost."

"American Idol" returns on Jan. 12 and will help launch "Our Little Genius," a new game show by Mark Burnett ("Survivor" and "The Apprentice") the following night. "Our Little Genius" then will shift to Tuesdays paired with "Idol" until April 13, when "Glee" returns for its remaining nine episodes at 9 p.m.

The new drama "Human Target," starring Mark Valley, premieres on Jan. 20 after "Idol."

As previously announced, "24" returns with a two-night premiere on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 and then settles into its regular Monday 9 p.m. slot after "House" on Jan. 25.

"Fringe," which has taken a ratings hit on its new night, will remain on Thursdays but will take a break beginning Feb. 11, when Fox launches the new drama "Past Life."  "Fringe" returns to the schedule on April 1.

As previously announced, "Dollhouse" will end on Jan. 22. "Kitchen Nightmares" will take over its Friday time slot the following week.

The new comedy "Sons of Tuscon," starring Tyler Labine, will premiere March 14 at 8:30 p.m. when "The Cleveland Show" moves to 9:30 p.m. and "American Dad" is off the schedule.

Fox also ordered a complete second season of "Lie To Me."

--Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on "24" / Credit: Fox

Related:

Fringe looks for an identity in its second season

Mark Valley stars in "Human Target"

24: First Look of new season

Dollhouse is canceled

'American Idol': Is Kara DioGuardi shopping a reality show?

Didn't make the cut on "American Idol"? Perhaps judge Kara DioGuardi can still help.

While "Idol" has seen its share of major label cast-offs -- recent hopefuls Carly Smithson and Michael Johns come to mind -- DioGuardi is offering yet another chance for them to make it big via reality TV.

According to Vulture, she's developing the TV show "Dropped," which will take "the best acts that have been dropped and give them a second chance."

DioGuardi said she's currently shopping the singing competition to networks but didn't offer a ton of specifics about the project itself. She demurred when asked if she was hosting. 

"You look at Katy Perry, the Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga, they all have one thing in common: They've all been dropped from their labels ... I was dropped. Think about how many times in your life you haven't achieved one goal but you've achieved another one."

— Denise Martin

Photo: Associated Press

Critics and celebrities weigh in on new 'Idol' judge Ellen DeGeneres

"American Idol's" newest judge is getting a few critiques of her own.

Over a month after "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul tweeted her exit from "American Idol," Fox ended speculation Wednesday about who would permanently fill Abdul's spot with the announcement of Ellen DeGeneres as the talent competition's newest addition.

"This is so exciting for me," DeGeneres said Wednesday at a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" airing Thursday.

But is everyone excited about DeGeneres? Check out our rundown of initial reactions from Hollywood -- from her fellow judge Randy Jackson to Kelly Ripa -- and tell us your thoughts on "Idol's" new judge by voting in our poll:

Is Ellen a good pick for "Idol"?(opinion)

Reactions after the jump!

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

Ellen DeGeneres on being the new 'American Idol' judge: 'I hope I'm the people's point of view'

The fourth seat has been filled.

A little more than a month after Paula Abdul tendered her high-profile Twitter resignation as a judge on "American Idol," Fox announced Wednesday that she was being replaced by one of the show's biggest fans, comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres.

The network's five-year deal with DeGeneres puts to rest a major challenge facing Fox as the aging singing competition enters its ninth season in January: filling the shoes of the judge considered by many to be the heart of the show.

DeGeneres, who has hosted the Oscars and the Emmys and was recently a guest judge on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," broke the news to her audience during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Wednesday.

"I don't know how it happened myself, but I have not missed one episode of that show," DeGeneres said in the episode of the talk show that airs today. "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 . . . 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."

Continue reading the full story.

Photo credit: TBS

'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

Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry to guest judge Los Angeles callbacks on "American Idol"

Pop singer Avril Lavigne may be the the latest to sign on for a guest judge slot on "American Idol."

Sources close to the show tell EW.com that Lavigne and previously announced Katy Perry will split judging duties when the "Idol" hopefuls hit Los Angeles for the callback rounds.

Other confirmed guest judges filling in for the departed Paula Abdul next season include Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth.

-- Denise Martin

Kristin Chenoweth named as 'Idol's' next guest judge

People magazine reports that Kristin Chenoweth will be the next star to fill the empty seat at the judges' table on "American Idol." The former "Pushing Daises" star and Tony winner will sit in on the Orlando auditions later this week.

Chenoweth follows in a long line of celebrities who have stepped up to fill Paula Abdul's vacated spot, including Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Joe Jonas and, most recently, Neil Patrick Harris.

Singers Katy Perry and "Idol" Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson previously have been reported as guest judges, but neither has been confirmed for specific dates or cities.

For a closer look at "Idol's" guest judges, click here.

-- Kate Stanhope

Photo credit: Stephen Sugerman / Getty Images