Ellen DeGeneres phoned in to Ryan Seacrest’s morning show on KIIS FM in Los Angeles after announcing she’d be the judge filling the spot of departed judge Paula Abdul on ‘American Idol’. The talk show host said she hopes Paula is “OK” with her signing on the hit FOX show. “I don’t want anyone to think I took her job away from her,” Ellen told Ryan.
As for those questioning her qualifications as a judge, Ellen pointed out that the winner is determined by regular folks watching at home, not industry experts, so she’ll be their voice. “People are the ones who choose the American Idol,” she explained. “Ultimately, it doesn’t come down to some expert in the music industry. It comes down to everybody at home who says, ‘That’s the person I relate to.’ I hope to be that voice.”
The interview audio at kiisfm.com has since been removed.