Ellen DeGeneres may not have years of experience in the music industry, but who cares? Her ability to sit still, be quiet, and (oh. em. gee.) actually pay attention to what’s happening on the stage in front of her could set an exciting new precedent for American Idol’s generally frustrating judges’ panel: Yes indeed, the show is actually about discovering the next generation of music superstars, not watching four nimrods at a table drawing mustaches on each other, misstating pertinent facts about music history, and finding new and annoying ways to make the phrase “you gave it 100 percent” their own.
So yes, despite my early fears that Ellen would be too focused on punch lines to give legitimate critiques, I’m exiting her first hour of Idol feeling relieved, hopeful, and maybe just a little psyched. Not only did the comedian/talk-show host treat the Paula Abdul Memorial Chair with a level of dignity and purpose that it had never before experienced, but she wasn’t afraid to dole out tough criticism when necessary. Tonight, with just a few minutes of screen time, we heard Ellen telling Idol wannabes (Read full post)












