The choice of Ellen Degeneres as the replacement of Paula Abdul on Fox's wildly successful "American Idol" is such a stupid one it suggests sabotage.
Without one ounce of shame I admit to having become a very enthusiastic fan of American Idol. I not only watched the last season from the very start of auditions, I VOTED, yes, voted, for my favorites as the show progressed. One night I even voted -- yes, I admit it -- fifteen times. And while Lil Rounds, who I spotted in her first audition, was my favorite (and I believe she was ridiculously mistreated by the judges), I grew to like several other contestants (and, without a doubt, I saw immediately that Adam Lambert is like a human fireworks display -- a non-stop grand finale). Yes, I admit it. I am an American Idol geek.
But the appeal of Idol was largely due to the fact that, prior to their appearances on Idol, the judges were hardly well-known, at least to most Americans. Paula Abdul had seemingly disappeared from the American pop-scene before finding the spotlight in Idol; Randy Jackson was what, a one-time bass player for Journey, and Simon Cowell was hardly a household name. It was their smallness, their sort of "from the margins" characteristics, that made them so appealing. And the newest judge -- what's her name and where's she from? -- was effective precisely because she was hardly known.
Of course, Paula Adbul, often ditzy, seemingly drugged, and somewhat incoherent, at least in prior seasons, actually became a far better judge with Kara DioGuardi at her side: this past season, Paula was really rather good. And let fans not forget her chemistry with Simon Cowell: they made the panel rather fun. Paula's rambling, non-sequitur driven kindness was offset by Simon's terse frankness, and that made for good TV.
OK. Enough waxing nostalgic for a show that's hardly that old. But Ellen Degeneres' presence as a judge is so utterly incomprehensible, I can't imagine this is not some effort to bring the show to an end. Ms. Degeneres is really rather dopey. Sorry, but she is. Yes, she is funny -- at times -- but she is no performer; she has no experience in shaping the pop-music world (excepting, of course, the fact that she has live acts on her talk show every day, or nearly so). But what does she bring other than her obvious narcissism (yes, she is a narcissist)? Isn't everything really all about her (isn't her comedy built on her self-image)? What choreography talent, or musical talent, or production talent does she actually bring?
I wish I could explore this more. In haste I can only say that American Idol has lost this fan.
But perhaps it lost me earlier. I had read rumors that the show is not as honest and pure as we are led to believe; that much is scripted, that outcomes are fudged, that the votes are not honest. Insiders have tried to blow a whistle. But perhaps such rumors are born of those resentful losers who fell short and now lash out. Perhaps. My own suspicions, I admit, were raised several times this year when contestants who were clearly WILDLY talented were dismissed by judges and voted off summarily. And when Lil Rounds was asked by Simon Cowell -- AFTER he had met her and heard her many times -- what "sort of name is 'Lil' ... is it short for 'little'"? I felt the deck was stacked.
Regardless, the Ellen Degeneres choice is absurd on its face.
Thus ends a good show.
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