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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

Still, she’s probably my least favorite judge.

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

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 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.