Fox announced tonight that Ellen DeGeneres will take Paula Abdul's seat on American Idol next winter. The Emmy-winning daytime talk show host will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi as the sympathic panelist. While she won't have any anecdotes about working with various musical acts of the 1980's, as least Ellen will understand that the current decade is not the 1980's.
DeGeneres shared her secret at today's taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she assured the audience that she won't leave her post at the talk show. She also alluded to several weeks of Idol negotiations: "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."
Claiming to have never missed an episode, DeGeneres also said that she would like to assume the audience's viewpoint:
"Hopefully I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you. I sit at home and I watch it. ... 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."
In an official announcement, Paula's replacement joked about the new gig: "Think of all the money I'll save from not having to text in my vote." DeGeneres will assume her Coca-Cola sponsored-cup when American Idol's ninth season begins in January.
Video of the announcement below.
ยท Ellen DeGeneres to Become Fourth 'American Idol' Judge [New York Times]