Ellen on American Idol!

For those who have not heard, Ellen DeGeneres is the new judge on the Fox hit series American Idol. This news has been met with a mixed reaction as fans of American Idol are divided on the decision to bring Ellen into the fold to replace Paula Abdul.

Paula Abdul announced her intentions to quit American Idol in July, amid a contract dispute. She wanted considerably more money than the producers were willing to pay for her services. The show had a revolving door of guest judges in Paula Abdul's absence, but decided to bring Ellen DeGeneres on board for the upcoming season.

Fans have been divided in their opinions as to whether Ellen DeGeneres will be good for American Idol or not. Those who question the decision feel as though bringing her onto the panel is a joke. Some even feel as though this decision is merely a cheap ploy, a gimmick to draw in new viewers, and not as much about Ellen's actually judging abilities than it is to capture a greater audience share.

Those in the pro-Ellen camp, however, feel as though DeGeneres will add a touch of the "everywoman" to the show. Ellen is a world class comedienne and award-winning talk show host, but has no formal music experience, unlike Simon Cowell or Randy Jackson. Ellen even admitted as much on her Emmy award-winning talk show, saying that she won't be looking at it from a producer's point of view, but rather from the perspective of a music fan who would actually be purchasing the music.

One advantage American Idol might gain by bringing in Ellen DeGeneres is the ability to reach out to a new audience. Fans of Ellen who are not already watching American Idol may find themselves tuning in to check out their favorite comedienne and see what she has to offer.

Additionally, new viewers, including non-Ellen fans, might now find themselves drawn in to American Idol out of sheer curiosity. Having heard the news, many people are wondering how she will fare besides Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Furthermore, no one really knows what kind of comments and critiques she will offer the show's contestants.

Paula Abdul was the one judge who almost always encouraged the American Idol contestants and provided an upbeat vibe to counteract the hypercritical Simon Cowell. Idol fans will have to see if Ellen DeGeneres is going to fill the same role.

Ellen DeGeneres is a funny, talented woman and here's hoping her run on American Idol adds some much-needed humor and witty insight into the show. If anyone has a lot to add to the show, it is definitely Ellen.