Degeneres quits Idol

[Don]

Good riddence.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wir ... d=11283713

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres unexpectedly quit the top-rated television singing show on Thursday after just a year in the job, saying it was not the right fit for her.

The popular U.S. talk show host and comedian, whose addition to the panel had largely disappointed viewers, said the workload was more than she expected and she found it hard to hurt the feelings of contestants.

"A couple months ago, I let (TV network) Fox and the 'American Idol' producers know that this didn't feel like the right fit for me," DeGeneres said in a statement.

"It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized 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.

DeGeneres, who signed a five year contract with "Idol" in 2009, is the second judge to quit the show this year. Abrasive British judge Simon Cowell left in May to launch his own talent show in late 2011.

Cowell's replacement has not yet been announced and rumors have flown around the Internet this week that a wholesale revamp of the show and the judges may be underway for the 10th season starting in January.

"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 humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show."

DeGeneres was hired last summer to replace the volatile but popular Paula Abdul, who quit in a contract renewal dispute. DeGeneres was expected to bring humor and new viewers to the show, but the choice was widely criticized because she lacked music industry credentials. TV critics and many fans also felt she lacked chemistry.

Viewership for "American Idol" also continued to slip this year, falling to an average 24.1 million viewers overall, from a high of 30.8 million in 2006.

The surprise departure of DeGeneres leaves producers with just two judges -- Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi -- one month before auditions in front of the panel begin in September for the 10th season.

Singers ranging from Jessica Simpson and Justin Timberlake to Chris Isaak and Sir Elton John have been rumored to be contenders for a judging spot.

[slucero]

Maybe the possible addition of Jessica Simpson had something to do with it...

[Don]

I think she realized how much she sucked at being a judge. With one month to go before the start of auditions, she had to go now or be stuck for another year doing something she shouldn't have been selected for in the first place.

[Don]

Supposedly J-Lo is already signed up to replace her.

[Don]

If X-Factor USA can get find a killer talent like X-Factor UK did with Leona Lewis, American Idol is toast.

[Everett]

I bet $10 bucks this is the last season any takers?

[Babyblue]

If X-Factor USA can get find a killer talent like X-Factor UK did with Leona Lewis, American Idol is toast.

I agree with you.

[Ehwmatt]

Wonder if they'll can this show before the season starts. It's run its course

[Arianddu]

I bet $10 bucks this is the last season any takers?

El Beako better hurry up and sing on the show if he's planning to use it to launch The Great Fabled Next Album (Which Will Of Course Be Amazing!)

[bluejeangirl76]

I bet $10 bucks this is the last season any takers?

I can't even believe it's gone on this long.

[brywool]

Ellen's funny, but as a judge on Idol, pretty lame. For that matter, so are all of them without Simon.
Without Simon, I can't believe the show will be any good. They're already talking to people like P. Diddy and stuff. I see enough of that guy. Don't make it a celebrity board of judges. Make it record industry people and then you might have something.

[Pelata]

I hate everything about this show.

[bluejeangirl76]

They're already talking to people like P. Diddy and stuff.

P. Shitty needs to get the hell away from anything music-related altogether. Enough of that guy.
He found his calling in "Get Him to the Greek". If we must put up with that dude, I'd rather see him in movies.
He was hilarious in that flick.

[AlteredDNA]

And the winner is......

J-LO

http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/breakin ... t-of-idol/

We've just learned the backstory of how Ellen DeGeneres bowed out of American Idol and who will be the new judge taking her place. It's Jennifer Lopez, whose singing and acting career has been on the skids after her recent movie failed at the box office in the spring and she was dropped by her record company Sony Music Epic Records this past winter. We hear her manager Benny Medina (whom she once fired) orchestrated the meeting with the American Idol producers a month ago, and negotiations have been ongoing ever since. We've learned a deal was closed earlier this week under the utmost secrecy. Today's news came shortly after Nigel Lythgoe returned to Idol as an executive producer. He has vowed to shake up the show's team of judges in the wake of the departure of Simon Cowell, publicly stating that he always thought a panel of three and not 4 made the most sense.

Still to be decided is who will replace Simon Cowell. Everyone associated with the show wants Elton John, but we hear he's asking for too much money and has too many touring commitments he can't get out of. (Denials That Justin Or Elton Judging 'Idol') 2ND UPDATE: Tonight, unconfirmed reports say Idol has offered Cowell's judge seat to Steven Tyler. 3RD UPDATE: And another unconfirmed report claimed judge Kara DioGuardi has been fired to bring the panel count down to just 3, not 4.

As for Ellen Degeneres, we're told she wanted off the show two months ago and complained that Idol producers "couldn’t control Cowell", one insider tells us. Least of all Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of FremantleMedia North America. "Cecile is doing X Factor with Simon, so she's in his back pocket." DeGeneres and her reps went in to to see Fox Broadcasting's Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice and Alternative TV President Mike Darnell and asked to be let out of the year left on her contract. "She's not comfortable. She's not happy. It's not been fun," Fox was told. But Rice and Darnell responded that, with Cowell leaving, "We can't let you out now because it would be bad for our franchise. Give us a chance to figure out who we could get." In the end, all the show's producers -- Fox, Fremantle, and 19 Entertainment -- worked it out. "Peter Rice was awesome," an insider tells us. "Ellen is thrilled and relieved." We've learned that serious conversations took place between Idol and Jessica Simpson to replace Ellen. But once Jennifer Lopez was locked in this week, the DeGeneres announcement went out.

The affable daytime talk show host never seemed comfortable at the Idol judging table and was never quite accepted by the show's fans because of her lack of a music background. As Deadline first reported, her first day taping the judges' Hollywood segment was rocky -- and frankly never really improved. Simon Cowell showed up an hour and a half late for the taping. And Ellen stewed while she waited for him. She had reason: to accommodate both her talk show hosting duties and her American Idol judging duties, she had moved up her schedule so that she shot the talk show earlier in the day and then jumped in the car to go to Idol. She was on time, and Cowell was not. "Here it was the first day of taping of the Hollywood shows, and Ellen was there waiting for Simon to show up. Ellen's new to the gig and she's very organized and she made a commitment to take this on, and now she's asking herself, 'What did I get myself into?' She called Simon Cowell a prima donna. So right from the start, the chemistry isn't great," an insider told Deadline at the time. Ellen after the taping requested that Darnell "hurry up and pick" Simon's successor. Later, she publicly vetoed Howard Stern as Cowell's replacement.

As the season progressed, it wasn't uncommon for the other judges to sneer at or ignore whatever DeGeneres said, or for Ellen to look forlorn and left out. During the first weeks of the show, the former standup comedienne delivered her adulation or criticism of the contestants off the cuff. But as time went on, sources told us she began practicing in advance what she would say in order to make her remarks more funny or more music-oriented. It was in the middle of this past Idol season that chatter first surfaced that DeGeneres would only stay on the show as a judge for one season because she was so unhappy.

Her replacement JLo badly needs this high-profile boost to her flagging career. The actress had many hits with Sony Music Epic Records, so it was a shock within the recording industry when her longtime label dumped her. The contract period had ended, and Lopez had fulfilled it with her last two singles. But in February Sony then cancelled her 7th studio album titled "Love?", which was supposed to come out in April and featured production from Danja, Jim Jonsin, Darkchild, Chris n Teeb from Dropzone, and The Neptunes among others. That never-released album delayed the release of her CBS Film, The Back-Up Plan, which bombed badly at the box office, as did her performance at the American Music Awards. Deadline was told at the time Sony Music execs weren't sure who her audience is anymore. Where once she had little girls, she's been supplanted by Beyonce, Gaga, and Rhianna. There were also reports of fighting going on between Medina (who managed Madonna) and the label.

Current CEO Rob Stringer (younger brother to Sony parent company CEO Howard Stringer) had a meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles with JLo during Grammy week to formalize the separation. Sony may be releasing her "Greatest Hits" album this fall. There've been rumors she's talked with Island Def Jam’s bigwig L.A. Reid to come to his label. But this is a tough time for music artists, especially those like Lopez who were once big in the biz and now are battling not only the changed economics and rampant piracy but also the moving target of today’s music fans.

[mrsromek]

Ellen will stick with her show, which is quite funny at times. You gotta love when a celeb rips on other celebs.

J Lo? Come on. What has she done, other than marry Marc Anthony. Simpson? She doesn't even know the difference between chicken and buffalo meat. And Michaels? Everything would be awesome. Chris Isaak may be their best bet...for the final go-round.

[brywool]

They're already talking to people like P. Diddy and stuff.

P. Shitty needs to get the hell away from anything music-related altogether. Enough of that guy.
He found his calling in "Get Him to the Greek". If we must put up with that dude, I'd rather see him in movies.
He was hilarious in that flick.

I can't STAND him. He was on some show with his band. While the band was playing, some girl was lead singing, she was decent as I remember. All HE did was go "Ya-uh, MMM, Ya-uh". No singing or anything. It was ridiculous.

And I'm sweating my ass off during 4 hour gigs a night while this guy just talks his way into a musical career??? Pdiddy blows.

I know I sound like my parents, but music these days sucks.

[bluejeangirl76]

They're already talking to people like P. Diddy and stuff.

P. Shitty needs to get the hell away from anything music-related altogether. Enough of that guy.
He found his calling in "Get Him to the Greek". If we must put up with that dude, I'd rather see him in movies.
He was hilarious in that flick.

I can't STAND him. He was on some show with his band. While the band was playing, some girl was lead singing, she was decent as I remember. All HE did was go "Ya-uh, MMM, Ya-uh". No singing or anything. It was ridiculous.

Can you just see him on Idol?

"You know, it's all good, you got a good sound, y'ow wha'm sayin'? But you got to work on yo delivery, y'ow wha'm sayin'? You know, uhhhm, it's straight up but, y'ow wha'm sayin'?"

Gah!

[brywool]

They're already talking to people like P. Diddy and stuff.

P. Shitty needs to get the hell away from anything music-related altogether. Enough of that guy.
He found his calling in "Get Him to the Greek". If we must put up with that dude, I'd rather see him in movies.
He was hilarious in that flick.

I can't STAND him. He was on some show with his band. While the band was playing, some girl was lead singing, she was decent as I remember. All HE did was go "Ya-uh, MMM, Ya-uh". No singing or anything. It was ridiculous.

Can you just see him on Idol?

"You know, it's all good, you got a good sound, y'ow wha'm sayin'? But you got to work on yo delivery, y'ow wha'm sayin'? You know, uhhhm, it's straight up but, y'ow wha'm sayin'?"

Gah!

True. Unfortunately, it almost comes off as a racist thing to say, but God, if the stereotype fits...
I just can't stand him. Unfortunately, same with Randy Jackson. Watch his interviews from the Raised on Radio special. He can actually put sentences together. When he's on the Idol bench, he feels the need for all that 'Dawg' crap... phony. Reminds me of Chris Rock in CB4. Great movie about a rap guy that can't make it big until he takes on a way badass image of a guy that spent time in Cell Block 4. He basically makes up this entire thug history and plays the part. Only at that time, does he start to sell records. That's actually the way it seems to go these days. Geez, didn't anybody just grow up on a friggen culdesac in a normal neighborhood?

Or, via rap translator in case the DidMan is readin':

True Dat. Unfo'tunately, it mos' comes off as some racist doodad t'say, but God, if de stereotype fits... I plum can't stand him. WORD! Unfo'tunately, same wid Randy Buckwheatson. 'S coo', bro. Watch his interviews fum de Raised on Transista' special. He kin actually put sentences togeder. Ah be baaad... When he's on de Idol bench, he feels de need fo' all dat 'Dawg' crap. Jes hang loose, brud... phony. Slap mah fro! Reminds me uh Chris Rock in CB4. Great movie about some rap dude dat kin't make it big until he snatch'd on some way baaaadass image uh a dude dat spent time in Cell Block 4. He basically makes down dis entire dug histo'y and plays de part. Man! Only at dat time, duz he start t'sell reco'ds. Dat's actually de way it seems t'go dese days. Geez, dun didn't any fool plum grow down on some friggen culdesac in some no'mal neighbo'hood? OUT!

[bluejeangirl76]

I can't STAND him. He was on some show with his band. While the band was playing, some girl was lead singing, she was decent as I remember. All HE did was go "Ya-uh, MMM, Ya-uh". No singing or anything. It was ridiculous.

Can you just see him on Idol?

"You know, it's all good, you got a good sound, y'ow wha'm sayin'? But you got to work on yo delivery, y'ow wha'm sayin'? You know, uhhhm, it's straight up but, y'ow wha'm sayin'?"

Gah!

True. Unfortunately, it almost comes off as a racist thing to say, but God, if the stereotype fits... I just can't stand him. Unfortunately, same with Randy Jackson. Watch his interviews from the Raised on Radio special. He can actually put sentences together. When he's on the Idol bench, he feels the need for all that 'Dawg' crap... phony.

Yeah. I realize I walked right into the "race" thing, but quite frankly, I don't give a flying frig. To me, it isn't about people of a "certain race" talking like that. It's about people who sound stupid as hell because they either cannot speak properly or DON'T speak properly because they want to be cool or hip or something, regardless of what color, religion or sex they are - the Randy Jackson thing example is a perfect one. Dude is smart, and he can speak properly and intelligently. We know this. WHY he does the shit he does on Idol, I do not understand.

I don't care what race you are, if you speak like you never make it past 2nd grade, you won't be taken seriously. Except maybe by people who act and sound just as dumb as you sound.

[Don]

Randy does what he does because that it was it takes to be relevant with this generation of viewers. People understand that he's educated, unlike some of his previous employers. The guy has gone out there and done a lot of work for other artists and helped sell a lot of records. Jackson even has a Grammy award as a producer. The heads at A.I. aren't paying him to go out there and act like an average white guy, they had that angle already covered with Simon.

[Everett]

They should talk to perry

Or at least have him on as a mentor

[slucero]

They should talk to perry

Or at least have him on as a mentor

Why would Perry, who slaved away in LA recording studios for years, paying his dues... want to work for what is the equivalent of a "McDonalds for the music industry"...


Quite possibly the reason none of these AI "artists" have any staying power is because the perception is that AI contestants pay zero "dues"... and thus have zero credibility as artists...

At some point in time the artistic integrity pendulum is gonna swing back..