Oh wait. Paula Abdul isn’t there anymore.  That’s what is missing.  I’ve been a fan of the show for several years, and Paula made the show more interesting.

I’ve enjoyed watching Paula get into heated arguments with Simon Cowell.

I got used to seeing Paula  on the judge’s panel appearing to be high on prescription medication.

Seriously, there were days when Paula appeared so high on the show that she made Courtney Love look like a sober woman.  That’s no easy feat.

Also, we all remember that scandal that occurred when season two contestant Corey Clark accused Paula of having a sexual relationship with him while he was competing on the show.  (Paula denied all accusations, of course).

Those factors contributed to the show’s success, in my opinion.

Now that Paula resigned from “American Idol,” talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been named as a replacement.

Ellen will begin appearing on the show sometime next month.  She is a funny comedian. But unless Ellen brings her hot wife Portia de Rossi on the show too, I have no interest in watching her.

Maybe the changes in the judge’s panel will grow on me as the season progresses, and I’m sure the ratings won’t suffer in Paula’s absence.  But I just wish Paula was still there.

During her opening segment, Abdul dressed up as her American Idol replacement Ellen DeGeneres and began to parody the talk show host and her dance moves.

The video clip is posted below.

The show featured appearances by Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Melissa Etheridge, Jordin Sparks, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Adele, India Arie, Kathy Griffin Liza Mineli, and Stevie Wonder. (Stevie was the only male. He was the honorary diva).

Video clips of some of the performances are posted below.

Jennifer Hudson

Kelly Clarkson

Martina McBride and Jordin Sparks

Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson

Melissa Etheridge and Kelly Clarkson

Paula Abdul and Kathy Griffin

Paula Abdul and Liza Mineli

Daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is replacing Paula Abdul on the upcoming season of “American Idol.”

Fox television made the announcement Wednesday (Sept. 9). Although I was hoping Paula would eventually return to the show, I am willing to give Ellen a chance for now. 

The full Associated Press story is posted below.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ellen DeGeneres is dancing her way into the fourth judge’s seat on “American Idol.”

Fox announced Wednesday the talk show host and comedian, who admittedly has no formal music experience, just a passion for tunes, will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the ninth season. The announcement all but seals the departure of Paula Abdul, the original third judge who announced she was quitting amid a contract dispute in July.

Wednesday’s announcement came as a shock to many of the singing competition’s fans, who did not expect the Emmy-winning talk show host to fill Abdul’s spot. DeGeneres told her talk show audience in an episode scheduled to air Thursday that she had been “dying to tell everyone” and would not abandon her chatfest. Instead, she will have “a day job and a night job.”

“The times we’re living in,” she quipped, “we’re all doing that.”

Abdul had been replaced by a succession of guest judges across the country as “Idol” started next season’s auditions, which will air in January. Among them: Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry and Shania Twain — but not the 51-year-old DeGeneres, who will join the ninth season following the show’s tryout rounds.

“Hopefully, I’m the people’s point of view because I’m just like you,” DeGeneres said on her talk show. “I sit at home and I watch it, and I don’t have that technical … 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.”

It won’t be DeGeneres’ first time in a reality TV judge’s seat — or on “Idol.” She served as a guest judge earlier this summer on “So You Think You Can Dance,” critiquing the dancing competition’s top eight finalists. In 2007, she was the co-host of “Idol Gives Back,” the singing contest’s charity event. She returned the next year in a pre-taped segment.

DeGeneres’ has enjoyed a successful reign as the host of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for the past six years, although her four-year streak as the talk show host Daytime Emmy winner ended this year when Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters from ABC’s “The View” were awarded the prize for the first time.

“Beyond her incredible sense of humor and love of music, she brings with her an immense warmth and compassion that is almost palpable,” said “Idol” executive producer and FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz in a statement. “She is one of America’s foremost entertainers, and we cannot wait to have her join our team.”

With the four judges’ seats now filled, it’s highly unlikely Abdul will return to her post on “Idol.” Known for her sugary sweet but often obscure evaluations, Abdul had served as judge alongside Cowell and Jackson since the show’s debut in 2002. Producers attempted to shake up the franchise last season by adding songwriter DioGuardi as a fourth judge.

Since departing “Idol,” Abdul has gone diva, filming a cameo for Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” as a gavel-banging, glammed-up version of herself and signing on to host the live “VH1 Divas” concert Sept. 17. Abdul has yet to announce a steady job to replace her role on the Fox singing contest, but she told TV Guide last week she’d like to host a talk show.

In her first job since resigning from “American Idol,” Paula Abdul will host the VH1 Divas special set to air Sept. 17 on VH1.

Abdul made the announcement on her Twitter page.  The televised concert spotlights female musicians, and raises money for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

This year’s performers include Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus, Jordin Sparks and Adele. 

The show will air live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

“American Idol” fans were shocked and disappointed when Paula Abdul announced she was returning to the talent show for its upcoming season. 

However, the original “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson has a different spin on the situation.

Clarkson believes Abdul will return to the show, and she thinks the parties involved are just being dramatic. 

In an interview on Sirius radio, Clarkson said “Are they trying to do that for drama?  I totally think they’re doing that for drama. I know those producers.  They’re doing that for drama. She’s totally probably going to come back.”

Hopefully, her viewpoint is correct.  Hopefully, Paula will be back on the judge’s panel. 

But something tells me it won’t happen.  The network is to busy shelling out salary increase to Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell. 

Tim Henley

Kara DioGuardi appeared on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show to discuss Paula Abdul’s departure from American Idol.

I’ve always speculated that Idol producers brought Kara to the show last year as a fourth judge because they wanted to slowly push Paula out of the door. 

Kara dismisses those rumors and says she wasn’t there to replace Paula.  An excerpt from the interview is posted below.

“The kind of heart she treated the contestants with she treated me with last year.  She was so kind to me and made me feel immediately like part of the panel.”

“I’ve left her a lot of messages. I talked to her last week.  I haven’t spoken to her this week. 

“The way I’m understanding it is that it was her choice to leave.  I never was here to replace her. It would be impossible to replace Paula Abdul. She’s an incredible talent. She is somebody who helped make the show as big as it is. How could you ever replace that?”

“If anything, she was really somebody who helped me because it was awkward at times being the fourth person.”

As you already know, “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul will not return to the show for a ninth season. “American Idol” staff and former contestants react to the shocking news.

“I am shocked and saddened about Paula. Idol and the cast have grown with each other over the last 8 seasons. I can’t imagine the panel without Paula. She’s a star and a great friend.” — American Idol host Ryan Seacrest (Twitter).

“I am shocked.” Paula is a dear friend and will be missed.” — American Idol judge Randy Jackson (US Weekly).

“Not having Paula back for the ninth season of Idol is a huge mistake. Paula, I love you and thank you for making me feel worthy. The show will be nothing without you.” — Season 1 contestant Jim Verraros (Facebook).

“I was shocked. I definitely think the show will be different without Paula.  “The truth is, we don’t spend a lot of time with the judges. However, Paula was the one every elimination show that came backstage to visit with us.  was truly concerned about our well-being. I think because, on that panel of judges, she was the performer, she was the one who experienced what it was like to be on the front lines, she had the empathy for us. She provided a little softness to the table.” — Season 7 contestant Brooke White (MTV News)

“We love you!  Glad I was able to be a part of your last season on the show. You showed us so much love.”  — Season 8 winner Kris Allen (Twitter).

“I’m really sad to see Paula Abdul not coming back to Idol. She was the judge with the biggest heart! She really will be missed.” — Season 8 contestant Danny Gokey (Twitter).

“Paula leaving American Idol is like a honeycomb without the honey.  She brought a sweetness to ‘AI’ that no one can replace. She will be forever our girl.”  – Season 6 contestant Blake Lewis (Entertainment Weekly).