Ellen Degeneres Bows Out of American Idol!

WOW. Just. Wow.

She really did seem uncomfortable judging the singers, so I guess this really shouldn’t be a surprise. But it still is!

she was not a good fit. She added nothing to the show really. Can we get rid of all the judges and start over please?

Now if they would just get rid of Kara. More importantly, I thnk the format worked better with THREE judges not four.

Exciting! I thought she had a multi-year deal/contract though?
It’s good that she at least recognized that she wasn’t great at being an Idol judge.
Starting clean with the judges panel is looking more and more viable. Whatever happens will be interesting, no doubt about that, now that there are TWO judges seats to fill.

My only (well…I shouldn’t say only, more like main) fear is that if they get multiple celebrities to be the judges that the show will become all about THEM and their egos. But I guess we’ll have to see.

OMGosh, well does that mean they can go back to 3 judges, and bowing out, is she getting her 5 years pay or is she just stepping aside to a settlement. (rubbing hand together) this is gonna be quite a weekend. Cant wait to hear the rest of the news!!!!!!1

I imagine she got a huge confidential settlement out of the deal. Now where is Kara’s announcement?

Good. Ellen needed to go anyway. She can be funny at times, but had no place on the panel to begin with. Now the other two need to resign (or be fired), and the panel should be all new judges.

I feel like she was asked to leave, as the producers realized they had to take the bull by the horns and get the show back on track. CALL BEN FOLDS!!

Not a big surprise — she just never fit as an Idol judge.

Hopefully they will go back to 3 judges for the upcoming and any future) seasons

Kara was actually a better judge this season, she should stick around and fire Randy.

She is certainly not dumb and she is getting off the Titanic right now. When Kara All-about-Eve’d Paula, the show was doomed. They cut out its heart. The brain went with Simon. Ellen was always an awkward fit.

Harry Connick Jr. FTW!

Holy shite. After this, whatever they announce on Monday will be less of a bombshell to me.

As annoying as Kara is, I vote to keep her. She does know her stuff, and women in her position/with her track record are still a bit rarer than they should be. She just needs a personality transplant.

What are the chances they’ll go back to three judges?

HOLY CRAP! Between this and the announcement coming on Monday I’m kinda spazzing!

I hope they stick with a three judge panel and just replace Simon. Ellen was not a good fit and she realized that. I am sure she heard it behind closed doors, too.

Glad she bowed out as she didn’t really work out anyway. However it all went down, I’m glad this is the story they’re presenting to the public (i.e., no drama).

I do hope they go back to a 3 judge panel anyway. Four was too much time spent on judges and Ken Warwick obviously couldn’t handle it.

Still, even with three judges, Kara takes too damn long with her critiques. Despite her obvious ability to give actual musical criticism (versus, yo dawg, pitchy, work it out type BS), it wastes a lot of time. And of course, she often comes off really condescending and unduly mean (but not in an entertaining funny way). Maybe they should start doing the Oscar thing where the band starts playing to drown her out when she goes on for too long. That wouldn’t help with her annoyance factor, but it would be hilarious as well as useful.

One thing can be said about Ellen, she was dead on when commenting on Crystal Bowersox
Raw natural talent, effortless, unique, league of her own, no other artist like her , beautiful clear voice that pulls you in, I´ll buy your music, I´ll see your concerts….

Rat Ship

I heard that she had a clause that allowed her to quit if Simon left the show. Regardless, I think it’s for the best. She was even uncomfortable with the contestants afterwards on her own show. Ellen is much better as a cheerleader on the sidelines.

They really need to keep Randy and Kara, however. With a whole new panel, people will stop watching because it won’t “feel” like American Idol anymore. It’s bad enough that Simon is gone, but all of them? I think it’s too big a gamble.

Since Paula won’t be back, I hope they reduce the panel to three again with someone who really knows the industry and isn’t still living in the ’80s.

Nothing against Ellen, but seems like a good move to me. Didn’t really seem to be a good fit for her background and personality. She’s not that boring a person but she was boring to me as a judge.

Why don’t they just give up on the show? It’s not like it was amazing this past season.

I missed something, what announcement on Monday? Thanks!

I’m glad she realized it and the show realized it as well. It was never a good idea. I said she was making a mistake a year ago and I’m glad that experiment is over.

I’d like to drop Randy but they might keep him as the token “original” (and useless) judge to give people something familiar to relate to that isn’t the irritating Ryan Seacrest. Even now, with two seasons in, Kara doesn’t “feel” like part of Idol.

BWAHAHAHA!!! Now, Kara gets the axe next. I know this sounds insane, but I’d actually rather see Randy survive over Kara, for nostalgia’s sake and his priceless visceral reactions. I have changed my opinion a few times about who should be on the panel, but now I think that, if she was paired with Gene Simmons, Jessica Simpson would be a decent judge. She’s definitely no stranger to judgement, or the industry. Gene Simmons is the only person I could imagine who could be blunt enough and cunning enough to separate the wheat from the chafe. Plus, there would probably be some bizarre sexual tension between he and Jessica. JMO.

Well that didn’t quite work out so well did it? It’s just so strange that a person as well liked as Ellen (the studio audience cheers were always pretty loud for her…more than Kara..lol) just couldn’t cut it as a judge. If only she would have given relevant, smart, and music-based critiques of the contestants, she would have been fine.
Unless she’s really telling the truth and she’s way too busy for this.
I think they should replace the panel, but they will probably leave Randy and perhaps Kara in there.

I really love Ellen and we could all notice that she really wasn’t that comfortable judging the contestants. and i actually think it was really classy of her to admit it and decide to leave instead of stick around and add a couple more million dollars to her account.

now my guess would be Simon calls randy to judge x factor with him and we have three new judges on Idol. Maybe Kara can stay, but i think it’s almost impossible. she doesn’t have a contract and a lot of people still hate her. i actually liked her better this season but I’m pretty sure the majority goes against me.

Wow. WOW. I love Ellen, but I did not love her on American Idol. I do think she was right that it was an odd fit for her, it was, and it felt that way sometimes. Her lack of musical knowledge was apparent and with Ellen sometimes it felt more “fake” than it did with some of the other judges, meaning you could really tell that Ellen was fishing for something positive to say.

As stated I love Ellen but I sure won’t miss her off American Idol. Also, this makes me even more curious as to who they might get next. It’s going to be an odd season this next year, I almost wish this year had been the last. With Simon gone, for me, it ends the show. I’m going to have a really hard time watching without him.

Awesome news! This gives me hope that they may actually try to save Idol after all.

Ellen looked painfully uncomfortable as a judge. Thought she was going to bring some fun and wit to the show, but it didn’t work out — at all. She can now focus on what she does best on her own much-beloved show.

What other positive changes are in store? Going back to 3 judges would be great. Is Harry C., Jr. still possible? Keeping fingers crossed for a bright Season 10!

As always, Ellen’s a class act. She’s a fan not a judge. I don’t think she enjoyed having to say bad things to the performers. Anyway, I agree that it wasn’t a good fit and I’m sure it wasn’t lost on her that some of her hard-earned goodwill tarnished by less than stellar reviews of her judging.

As annoying as Kara is, I vote to keep her. She does know her stuff, and women in her position/with her track record are still a bit rarer than they should be. She just needs a personality transplant.

Randy knows his stuff too. It doesn’t make a lick of difference. Kara seems to be a narcissist who can’t help but try to make it all about herself and Randy has been phoning it in for years. They could both be replaced as far as I’m concerned. Unless they both have personality transplants between now and when they start judging the auditions, I don’t see them changing much.

I vote for starting fresh with the whole judging panel, but if Kara and Randy do stay, I can hope that with Simon gone there will be a more professional attitude on the part of the judges and more focus on the performers.

They really need to keep Randy and Kara, however. With a whole new panel, people will stop watching because it won’t “feel” like American Idol anymore. It’s bad enough that Simon is gone, but all of them? I think it’s too big a gamble.

Maybe, if some fans watch the show for the judges. I don’t. I want the judges to judge and stop phoning it in (Randy) or trying to make it about themselves (Kara). I want it to be about the performers.

I guess we’ll know on Monday whether Idol has jumped a hurdle or the shark!

I am not surprised. Ellen didn’t own a recording company when she signed her Idol contract. She has a busy life with many demands. This is absolutely best for the show. Previously, she was involved in Idol Gives Back. I assume she will do that again if they have it for Season 10.

She did say she would leave Idol when Simon did. Three judges are the best. As far as Kara goes – she needs to improve her people skills. She must not get “confused” when a teenager doesn’t know who they are. In her interview this year, Kara admitted she didn’t know who SHE was.

I do have hope for Season 10. Too soon to give up.

if this is really coming from her, i give her props to resign!! let admit that she was incompetent at the task!

Wowza! Time to scrap the whole panel and start over. Now I’m excited for Monday’s announcement.

wow! awesome news =] I wish Randy would leave too..

I want a whole new panel. I think it would be best.

Great news! Back to three judges please. I hope they don’t make any stupid choices…

How cool that Ellen realized she was not a good fit for the show months ago! Now if Randy and Kara would just realize the same thing.

Good for her for choosing the right thing. And this is good for the show, because she sucked mightly as a judge. So totally worthless that she even managed to make Randy looked well spoken and relevant.

I actually believe the story. You could almost see her disconnect from the show about 2/3rds of the way through.

I don’t care who stays, I just want 3 judges. One of whom is a straight shooter with knowledge of the music biz and another a relevant music artist with some chops (meaning No to JS).

And please don’t bring Paula back. I didn’t miss her for a minute.

I love Ellen, but I am not sorry to see her go. I in fact said a few days ago that they should buy her out and keep moving.

They really need to keep Randy and Kara, however. With a whole new panel, people will stop watching because it won’t “feel” like American Idol anymore. It’s bad enough that Simon is gone, but all of them? I think it’s too big a gamble.

Even though we might not watch for the judges, a bad panel can doom a show. Kara is not my cuppa, but I am not use to her. I don’t have any gripe with Randy because although he may be a blowhard, he’s my blowhard and I am familiar with him. This show still needs to feel like American Idol and not some other interchangeable show. Simon and Paula are gone, I think Randy must stay. This show has never been about putting some hip, cool judges on. Has it? It’s been about the talent, yes, but also the chemistry of the panel. That is why Ellen didn’t work, and Kara took a while to find her bearings, but she and Randy do work together, now to find that third, but not a fourth judge. Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to work they go.

I’m surprised but think it’s the best thing. I think she’ll be much happier in her old role having the idols on the show and being about to cheer them on. I hope they stick with 3 judges but wish Kara wouldn’t be one of them. I know Randy’s useless at times but wonder if he’ll blossom without Simon. Now that the comedian is gone, hope they pick HCJ or Chris Isaak who have the music cred but a sense of humor.

Not surprised by this. She looked uncomfortable, like she really didn’t want to be there. Bad fit. At least she knew it wasn’t for her, instead of trying to stick it out and be miserable.

I love Ellen. I loved Ellen on AI. Sorry to see her go.

Wow. Wise move, Ellen.

…but now I think that, if she was paired with Gene Simmons, Jessica Simpson would be a decent judge

For realz??? Gene Simmons is the one who trash-talked Adam Lambert for “coming out”. If Gene Simmons ends up being the chosen one, I’ll be very disappointed. Curious, but disappointed.

Good to know–goodbye, Ellen-as-judge. Having the castoffs on her show the day after always seemed like a conflict of interest, to say the least. She was an uncomfortable judge. Love her as a talk show host; really hated her as a judge. Glad she was able to bow out gracefully.

HOLY SHIT-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

thank god. she did us and herself a huge favor. she was awkward to watch and brought nothing to the show.

now, lets go back to a three judge panel, and replaced Simon with ….TBD. getting rid of Kara and Randy can be risky. people love comfort, and there is something comforting about these judges we already love to hate. the chemistry is already there between those two, no sense in taking that away.

I love Ellen, but this pleases me greatly.

She wasn’t a good judge. I’d also love to see Kara replaced. Randy really is the best of them at actual judging even if he does have a limited vocabulary. At least he doesn’t go on and on and make it about himself like Kara does.

I’d like them to replace all the judges (but DON’T bring Paula back) and make it a 3 judge panel. Four judges was way too much. They need to find people that can be musically relevant and give honest critiques while having fun instead of hamming it up for the camera or angsting over whether or not they are hurting the contestant’s feelings. I think one of the keys to being a judge is to enjoy it. If they’re having fun, then we have fun watching them.

Ellen is a smart cookie…she’s jumping from the sinking ship. I think season 10 just might be the last.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the judges panel for season 10 is made up of Kara, Randy, and Nigel.

3 Panel Judge’s not 4. Nigel Lythgoe has made it clear that he wants it to go back to 3 judges. Hmm Randy has something to add and I think he should stay. Kara can be good, and has decent chemistry with Randy, however her comments are not so helpful. If they bring on someone like Nigel Lythgoe( I know, he said he was just coming back to produce the show, but you never know. He is snarky) that would work. Especially since they may want to add the ability for contestants to dance and sing..ala, “Bieber” style. Think about it, that would be a perfect panel. He is snarky for sure. Then add a Jessica Simpson, to get the younger crowd, and that might work. I love Chris Issak, (I love True Blood and the song he sings for the opening),and he has produced, but how well known is he to the audience? Although that may not matter. If they stay with 4 judges ( as MUCH as I think Nigel should replace Simon) I think it will probably be Jessica, Randy, Kara, and Chris. 3 judges then I think it will be Kara, Randy and Jessica. If Kara resigns, then who the heck knows, that announcement could come on Monday. Or they could surprise us and do a complete change and have Guest Judges every week!! We will see on Monday. But if Nigel is on the panel, watch out AI.:)

I think that the show will be better off with Ellen leaving. I didn’t think that her becoming a judge was a good idea in the first place. IMO, she didn’t really fit in on the panel and wasn’t very good as an Idol judge.

I would be fine with the show going back to a 3 judge panel, but four judges could be interesting depending on what two judges they might get.

I would be fine with Kara leaving as well. I don’t care for her as an Idol judge. I would like for Randy to stick around.

If Nigel came on board then I think they should keep randy and just add a female. That formula seemed to work and really Nigel is the closest thing to Simon. Not just because he’s English. He has the presence and the experience to give mindful critiques that make sense and hold weight. I think someone contemporary like Jessica Simpson would be good. I wish it were someone cool like Pink but since she’s got a legit career and all…J. Simpson might be the best we can get! If they got Harry Connick to replace Randy and then added Nigel and J. Simpson…I think it would be a lot of fun.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the judges panel for season 10 is made up of Kara, Randy, and Nigel.

Ditto!

I love Chris Issak, (I love True Blood and the song he sings for the opening),and he has produced, but how well known is he to the audience?

That’s not Chris Isaak on True Blood…it’s Jace Everett. Sounds like him but it’s not.

Good. Now get rid of Kara. Maybe Shania as a replacement.

I still think moving Ryan to 3rd judge and Cat Deeley as host would be a winner.

Ellen’s seat should NOT be filled. Only if Kara and/or Randy (hopefully both) go should additional judges be added.

Good. Now get rid of Kara and add two new judges and I’ll be happy.

Honestly, I am not sorry to see her go. I like her as a personality and as a comedienne. But she was just a fish out of water on AI who didn’t add any value to the show. They really do need to have judges with a musical background.

Why don’t they just give up on the show? It’s not like it was amazing this past season.

Yep, give up on one of the top rated shows on television. Just like Willie Sutton leaving the money in the bank.

Yep, give up on one of the top rated shows on television. Just like Willie Sutton leaving the money in the bank.

LOL!! Exactly. It cracked me up when the media would gleefully trumpet, “Idol Ratings Down!!!” Yeah. Down to 20 million plus viewers per show.

I really do like Ellen, and I don’t fault her for the dreariness of Season 9. But, I’m glad she realized that the show just isn’t the right fit for her. I wish Kara would come to that realization as well. I have no doubt Kara knows more about the business than either Simon or Randy, but she doesn’t make for good TV. And Idol needs to be good TV.

Even with all its problems this past season, including lower ratings, American Idol STILL came in as the #1 most watched show in all of television. Unless it totally tanks next season, and I mean totally, AI is not going anywhere anytime soon.

So they might as well try to make it better, right?

I expressed my resounding no on Ellen before the show even started; and she didn’t change my mind during it. Straw that broke the camel’s back was her lame joke during Casey/Mike’s duet; with no comment whatsoever on their great result.

Get rid of Kara and bring back Paula, IMO.

I wish it were someone cool like Pink but since she’s got a legit career and all”

She would be awesome but agree it would never happen. Two other people I think would be great judges would be Diddy and Faith Hill. I used to watch Making the Band on MTV and Diddy would have no problem being honest and critical and he makes for good TV. Plus he knows what he is talking about and maybe he could help find some more current R&B artists for the show. I think Faith is really likeable and could be a source of positive encouragement for the contestants while still being very knowledgeable and helpful.

Yes, I agree get rid of Kara and bring back Paula. Keep it at 3 judges, don’t need 4 judges!

THANK YOU ELLEN! Now to hope they stick to only 3 judges.

I am not surprised. Ellen was a penance deal to settle her infringement case with Sony. Now that Sony is out, no need for her to stay. The question is when will it be announced that Fremantle is out as well?

I love Ellen, but I don’t think she added much to this particular show. She’s right, it just wasn’t a good fit. Her comments show again why I think she’s a fabulous person. Ellen always keeps it classy.

I know it’s a minority opinion, but I actually like having Kara as a judge. She’s the only one that comments on the actual performance. I think Randy just lives on a planet other than mine.

For realz??? Gene Simmons is the one who trash-talked Adam Lambert for “coming out”. If Gene Simmons ends up being the chosen one, I’ll be very disappointed. Curious, but disappointed.

Sorry, I wasn’t aware of that. I’m not up on all the Adam news, much less the olds.

I think there’s a difference between judging a singer within the confines of Idol, which would be the job at hand, and voicing personal opinions about an artist outside of that arena. Whatever Gene Simmons’ feelings towards Adam Lambert, I don’t really care about. As long as he doesn’t voice those opinions about actual contestants while he’s judging them on the show, he’d be good for the job. Just my opinion.

I don’t think it makes sense to get rid of Kara now that she has found her sea legs. She was better this season than last, and after seeing her in interviews she is growing on me. She knows a lot about the biz.

Still, she’s probably my least favorite judge.

They’ll need 4 judges to fill the void left by Simon.

Well, Jennifer Lopez is replacing Ellen. Jennifer has a similar feel for me to Paula Abdul – so I think she’ll do a good job. I’d like to see Kara moved from judge role to mentor – and have her work seriously with the idols each week in the studio on recording their songs. That’s her strength – and I think she could teach them a lot.

Then, to replace Simon …. if not Elton John (who would be so incredibly super), then a great seasoned producer would be good. You need to find someone who’s going to be HONEST and not pull punches.

Whatever Gene Simmons’ feelings towards Adam Lambert, I don’t really care about. As long as he doesn’t voice those opinions about actual contestants while he’s judging them on the show, he’d be good for the job. Just my opinion.

I don’t really give a crap what Gene Simmons did or did not say about Adam, so that’s not an issue for me. I do however think he’s a self-aggrandizing blowhard who’d never be able to see past his own ego long enough to even pay attention to the contestants.

OvenMitt: …but now I think that, if she was paired with Gene Simmons, Jessica Simpson would be a decent judge

TexasWannaHoldEm: For realz??? Gene Simmons is the one who trash-talked Adam Lambert for “coming out”. If Gene Simmons ends up being the chosen one, I’ll be very disappointed. Curious, but disappointed.

And Jessica Simpson trash talked about Carrie Underwood to country radio while trying to make it in country music (how’d that work out for ya Jess?). That and her string of failed albums, movies, and reality TV show didn’t stop the AI suits from meeting with her. *shrugs* I think she’d be a terrible judge because somebody who’s spent her whole career copying other people and never figuring out how to sing properly has no business being a judge on AI. I don’t think Gene Simmons would make a good judge either because I think he’d make the show about himself.

I wish Ellen the best. She seemed to lose her appetite for being a judge as the season wore on. What the panel loses with her is the person who’d actually be willing to listen to music outside the mainstream box. I hope they can find a judge who has that mentality.

Randy is useless as a judge but I think he’ll stay for some continuity. Kara’s value as a judge is as a songwriter but more so as somebody who’s a label exec which replaces a part of Simon’s role. No to Paula and anyway I think she’s tied up with her CBS contract. If Kara and Randy stay then you need a judge who is a performer. My vote would be for Harry Connick Jr or Shania if she’s up for it. If you can move Kara to a weekly mentoring role instead of her being a judge then a panel of Randy/Shania/Steve Lillywhite or Randy/Shania/Harry Connick Jr. would be very good IMO.

Edit: Jennifer Lopez as the performer/judge is actually not a bad idea either IMO. She’d make very good TV and I think she’d make a good, articulate judge too.

I was excited for Ellen to come on the show, but she clearly was never comfortable critiquing. The last couple of shows she seemed to have already checked out. No surprise, this announcement. The rumors of Simon’s replacement have me amazed, tho. None of them seem to make sense.

I’m not joining in on the whole yay Ellen’s gone tribute. I liked Ellen a lot on the panel and thought her personality was just fine and also thought she could have been even better this yr. I do wonder if she didn’t like the manipulations of the critiques however and this is why it became less fun for her.

I do admit that I believe Jennifer Lopez is a good fit, so I hope this news is true because it will help me feel better about the show.

I don’t really give a crap what Gene Simmons did or did not say about Adam, so that’s not an issue for me. I do however think he’s a self-aggrandizing blowhard who’d never be able to see past his own ego long enough to even pay attention to the contestants.

Hmmm, Simon the second? I don’t like the idea of Gene Simons. Too gimicky imo.

My husband and I both like the idea of HCJ. If not for judge, for the band and helping the contestants behind the scenes, and then featuring it from time to time. If they went w/ 3 judges then he could be featured more with the band…

I don’t think she’d do it in a million years, but Linda Perry could fill Simon’s shoes. Says exactly what’s on her mind, and knows music and the industry inside and out.

Has anyone yet mentioned that it’s quite possible Ellen didn’t like how manipulative things were behind the scenes either? At times later in the season (when people have said it seemed she “checked out”) I felt like honestly she just didn’t want to say anything…probably because what she really wanted to say went against the grain of what TPTB wanted. It’s hard for me to both accept that Ellen was in over her head AND that when the judges picked songs for the top 3, she made probably the best, most logical pick for any of them for Crystal (none of them turned out as bad as people thought they might be, but her pick for Crystal was excellent and might have been even better had Crystal flipped the gender…another story though). Her dismissal of Casey and Mike’s duet with her one comment was probably something that was almost totally scriped and planned – they weren’t the 2 that TPTB wanted, and Ellen’s comment helped to marginalize their performance…but I doubt that was all she really had to say or felt about it. She showed earlier in the season that she was far more perceptive than that, even if she wasn’t a music industry pro.

Too many of the names being tossed around for judges are just way too “out there” for me. People say “the show needs to be about the singers, not the judges,” and then people mention the likes of Elton John, Howard Stern, Bret Michaels, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Gene Simmons…seriously people? The original 3 judges (Randy, Paula, and Simon) included only one person that the majority of music fans would have recognized in Paula. If you want the show to be about the contestants and not the judges, this is going in the wrong direction. In other words, say Randy stays, and Kara goes, and they go with a 3 judge panel. Worst case you could have Randy, Elton John, and say Jennifer Lopez. People will be far more interested in what Elton and J-Lo have to say than how the contestants sing. Really what we need are LESS famous, but qualified, judges, otherwise the show will become more about the judging panel than the contestants. Wasn’t that one of the big complaints this season? Imagine even bigger names lined up in front.

HCJ, maybe. If so, keep Randy…and keep Kara too, and have those 3. I think few of the other names floated would keep the focus in the end on the contestants – the attention will just gravitate towards the judges. And more of those awful guest artists like we saw this past season. If they *have* to have 4, Randy, Kara, HCJ…and someone not yet mentioned. Anyone else is too high-profile. I still say Paul Shaffer. He knows music, is blunt, but has a great sense of humor. He could almost replace Simon straight up, IMO.

Sorry – computer playing up- sent my answer to the wrong thread!!

Has anyone yet mentioned that it’s quite possible Ellen didn’t like how manipulative things were behind the scenes either? At times later in the season (when people have said it seemed she “checked out”) I felt like honestly she just didn’t want to say anything…probably because what she really wanted to say went against the grain of what TPTB wanted. It’s hard for me to both accept that Ellen was in over her head AND that when the judges picked songs for the top 3, she made probably the best, most logical pick for any of them for Crystal (none of them turned out as bad as people thought they might be, but her pick for Crystal was excellent and might have been even better had Crystal flipped the gender…another story though). Her dismissal of Casey and Mike’s duet with her one comment was probably something that was almost totally scriped and planned – they weren’t the 2 that TPTB wanted, and Ellen’s comment helped to marginalize their performance…but I doubt that was all she really had to say or felt about it. She showed earlier in the season that she was far more perceptive than that, even if she wasn’t a music industry pro.

I tend to agree. I think that the judge comments are scripted, and that they each have a role to play. For example, Kara was paying Paula at the beginning of season 9, but her role changed as the season progressed and she slowly took over Simon’s industry insider role, and Ellen got Paula’s role.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ellen didn’t like any of this, or the behind the scene contestant manipulations.
They need people who are charismatic, good actors, but don’t have too many principles for the job.

TMZ is reporting that Kara is out.

I have a question, I’m wondering if Ellen’s ElevenEleven created a conflict of interest with her being a judge. she has always had the eliminated idols on her show, But maybe since idol has certain labels and ElevenEleven doesn’t fall under idol, maybe this caused a compication in her contract and her only way out was to resign or be fired. Just curious.