New American Idol Judge Ellen Degeneres Not Taking Simon Cowell's Departure Personally

Ellen Degeneres, recent winner of the People's Choice Award for Favorite Talk Show Host and new American Idol judge, told Entertainment Weekly just a few days ago that: "If Simon goes, I go!" It was a bit of mocking bravado and appropriated loyalty thrown at Simon Cowell, who was then in negotiations to stay with American Idol for a few more years. But Monday saw Simon Cowell at a press conference announcing that American IdolSeason 9 would be his last and that he would be working to bring his successful British show, The X Factor, to the United States. So where did that leave our intrepid and loyal Ellen Degeneres? She told her audience with grim sadness on Monday's "Ellen Degeneres Show" that she was "trying not to take it personally."

Ellen told her audience -- and the rest of America watching her -- that Simon Cowell had just held a press conference announcing that he was leaving Amercan Idol. "He announced he was leaving on my first day," she said, then quickly added, "I'm trying not to take it personally." Her serious, hang-dog expression soon broke into a wide smile, though. "Seriously," she added, "I am going to be very, very sad to see him go. 'Cause I think he has made the show what it is."

She finished her newsflash by wishing Simon Cowell "all the luck in the world hosting the Tonight Show," referring, of course, to the current talk show wars going on at NBC, where a failing "Tonight Show" and a failing "Jay Leno Show" have NBC programming executives attempting to put Jay Leno back in his old time slot (or at least half of it, as Conan O'Brien's contract gives him the 11:35 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. time slot).

As to her show of loyalty in the Entertainment Weekly interview, of leaving American Idol if Simon left? Simon Cowell, who interviewed with her in a cover piece called "Nice vs. Nasty!" said, "That's quite a tricky situation you've put me into! I think right now we have to concentrate on the next season and just get through that and worry about everything else afterwards."

With the close of negotiations Monday, there was nothing to worry about anymore. Simon Cowell would be leaving American Idol at the end of Season 9.

Ellen Degeneres, however, had signed a five-year deal with American Idol, so...

Regardless, American Idol will not be the same without Simon Cowell, his cutting wit and his brutal honesty. It kept its sameness -- plus one -- during last year's addition of judge Kara DioGuardi. But Paula Abdul left the show during the off-season when producers of the show would not meet her demands for more money. It was announced that she would be replaced with guest judges until Fox announced that Ellen Degeneres would step in and fill the judge's vacant chair.

With all the hype and excitement leading into Tuesday night's Season 9 premiere episode, there is little doubt that American Idol will again finish as television's #1 watched show. But what does Simon Cowell and Paul Abdul's absence mean for American Idol in Season 10? Can Kara DioGuardi, Ellen Degeneres, Randy Jackson (assuming they stay on as judges) and some judge-to-be-named-later carry American Idol successfully through several more seasons?

Still, it's good to know Ellen Degeneres isn't taking Simon Cowell's exit too personally. Imagine the verbal fireworks with Simon's dry, caustic British humor at odds with Ellen's downplayed, insinuating burns.

Actually, that could be quite entertaining...

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It should be noted that Ellen Degeneres will not sit on the American Idol judges panel until the actual live shows begin. Tuesday night's episode, which begins the grueling and wildly entertaining audition rounds of American Idol, will begin a series of episodes with guest judges.

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Sources:

TMZ.com
"The Ellen Degeneres Show," Warner Bros. Television
Entertainment Weekly via TenGossip.com