Ellen DeGeneres to take Paula Abdul’s seat on American Idol

WASHINGTON - American stand-up comedian and TV host Ellen DeGeneres will be taking Paula Abdul’s place as the fourth judge on American Idol.

People magazine quoted Fox television as stating: “DeGeneres will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and offer her own unique perspective to the contestants throughout the competition.”

DeGeneres appears on the popular talent hunt show after the audition saw a string of celeb guest judges including Shania Twain, Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas and Kristin Chenoweth.

Although the 51-year-old is quite excited about her new job, she promised her fans that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would continue.

She said: “I’m going to have a day job and a night job…this is so exciting for me.”

DeGeneres said the talks with the Idol bosses had been going on for a while.

“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,” she said.

DeGeneres added she would still see the show like an audience member.

She said: “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.”

Speaking on DeGeneres joining the show, Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said: “Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel.” (ANI)