Ellen DeGeneres is New American Idol Judge!

The wait is over. America can now rest knowing that one of the most talked about decisions this summer has been made. The newest member of the American Idol judging panel has been named, and that name is Ellen DeGeneres. This decision comes after months of speculation and rumors following the departure of long time judge, and fan favorite, Paula Abdul. Abdul's decision to quit as an American Idol judge is due to money, or lack thereof.

But why did American Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller choose comedian Ellen DeGeneres over other, more qualified, choices that were in the running for the coveted fourth judge spot on the hit FOX reality show? Jessica Simpson, Posh Spice, Katy Perry, and Shania Twain make up the short list of some of the possibilities that were brought up. As Simon Fuller explains in an American Idol press release Wednesday evening, "I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the American Idol family. Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can't wait for this next season to begin."

The question is if this 'unique human touch' will replace the actual musical knowledge and experience that Grammy and Emmy Award winning Paula Abdul brought to the singing competition turned pop culture juggernaut that is American Idol? It is true that Ellen DeGeneres has won Emmy Awards and been one of the top daytime talk show hosts for years, not to mention her ground breaking comedy career, but does her likeability and humor make up for the sheer lack of musical experience, especially when compared with the rest of the judges? Randy Jackson is a long-time musician and producer, Kara DioGuardi is a well-known songwriter and producer, and Simon Cowell has been a producer in the music industry for many years.

American Idol was once written off as just another reality competition with no real pull in the music industry, but after the number of successful acts to have come out of the Idol competition, the music industry tends to stand up and take notice. This is why it is important to have relevant judges in front of the American Idol hopefuls, and not just comic relief. During her guest judge spot on So You Think You Can Dance, Ellen DeGeneres basically filled the comic relief spot without adding much substance to the actual judging role. I hope that is not all American Idol producers were looking for in this last minute decision. Only time will tell how well this decision will pan out for the hit show, but one thing is for sure... The formula has taken a big hit this season. The constant playful, and sometimes bordering on hateful, banter between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul has always made for great television, but who will fill those shoes now?