By Ryan Parsons | Image property of respective holders, Variety
Ellen DeGeneres
Now this is awesome. Just when I've run out of reasons why I'd even consider watching American Idol next year -- my new opinion is that reality shows are the bane of television -- Fox has announced that Ellen DeGeneres will be stepping in to replace Paula Abdul as an Idol Judge.
Ellen DeGeneres Judging Idol
DeGeneres will join fellow judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi come January. It turns out that Fox has been courting DeGeneres for some time and, thanks to tight lips, the news came as a surprise to most.
"I've been dealing with this for the last couple of weeks, and I've been dying to tell everyone," she said on her show. "It's been so hard to keep it a secret."
Though Idol is sure to take up some time, DeGeneres told her audience that she will also continue with her daytime talkshow, sealing a deal with Warner Bros. to extend The Ellen DeGeneres Show to 2014.
"I'm going to have a day job and a night job -- that's the times we're living in. We're all doing that," she quipped.
While DeGeneres continues the gig to be a "dream come true," Fox has to also be happy. She'll likely bring over some more viewers, and she is witty as hell; just what the panel needs at the moment.
Add to Heffee!
