From NY Daily News
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Ellen DeGeneres knows what it's like to be judged. And she figures that will make her a pretty good judge on "American Idol."
The openly gay talk show host, 51, defended her qualifications on a taping of her show to air Tuesday, according to Usmagazine.com.
"Apparently, there's a lot of debate going on right now whether I'm qualified or not to be the new judge on American Idol," she told her audience, according to Us. "I'll tell you right now, how I know I'm going to be a great judge . . . I've spent my whole life being judged. So I know what it's like."
And given that, don't expect snark or snide comments from Ellen.
"I will be kind. I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful," she told the crowd. "I will be an honest judge without being mean."
But she will, of course, be hilarious.
"I thought America had moved past this," Ellen said of people questioning her judging abilities.
"First, we have the first African-American President. We've sworn in our first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. I think 'American Idol' is ready for their first blonde judge . . . I do."
Ellen can take a joke, too.
After Paula Abdul mocked her replacement during VH1's Divas Live, Ellen responded, "I have nothing but love for you, too, Paula, but I want my wig back. I really do. Give it back."
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According to Hollywood gossip expert Janet Charlton, the real incentive to lure Ellen Degeneres to American Idol was a lucrative offer for her own late night talk show on FOX. Although her daytime talk show is popular, her ratings are nothing compared to Oprah. And with the waning interest in Conan's version of The Tonight Show, FOX may be finally have a viable chance for a piece of the late night blab fest market, something they have never been able to accomplish.
For this we lost our dear, departed, Paula?
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