Ellen DeGeneres Leaving 'American Idol'
LOS ANGELES — Walking away from a five-year contract worth tens of millions of dollars, Ellen DeGeneres said Thursday evening that she was leaving "American Idol" on Fox after just one season because it was not a "right fit" for her. In bowing out, she joins the infamous judge Simon Cowell, who departed in May.
Ellen DeGeneres arrived for the season finale of "American Idol" in May.
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The departures of two of the show's four judges denotes that a wholesale makeover is under way as "Idol," the nation's most popular entertainment show, heads into its 10th season this winter. Singer auditions are already under way.
The Web site Deadline.com said Thursday night that the singer Jennifer Lopez secretly reached a deal earlier this week to replace Ms. DeGeneres. Fox declined to comment but a person familiar with the deal confirmed the report.
More details about the changes to "Idol" could come on Monday, when Fox executives are scheduled to answer questions at a conference for TV critics here.
Hardly a day goes by without a new name being floated for one of the seats on the judges' panel, one of the most enviable jobs in television and music. Trade publications and entertainment Web sites have said recently that the musicians Harry Connick Jr., Chris Isaak, Elton John, Jessica Simpson and Justin Timberlake have all been considered.
Separately, people familiar with the show's production said this week that one of the original executive producers of "Idol," Nigel Lythgoe, is in negotiations to return in the same position. He would supplement, not replace, the other executive producers.
Mr. Lythgoe, who now produces and judges another Fox reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance," said earlier this year that if he were back in charge, he would replace every judge on "Idol."
Despite slowly sagging ratings, "Idol" continues to generate huge profits for Fox and the show's producers, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia. Each year it mints new pop stars and generates at least $800 million in advertising revenue.
The two judges who remain are Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi.
Because Ms. DeGeneres had a longer-term contract than they do, she remarked in a CNN interview in May, "I'm going to be the last one in there."
But in that same interview, she also said that she had a hard time hurting the feelings of the young contestants who try out for "Idol" but get voted off each week during the live telecasts. On Thursday, she cited that as one of several reasons why she was leaving.
Ms. DeGeneres said in a statement that she informed Fox "a couple months ago" that the show "didn't feel like the right fit for me."
"I told them I wouldn't leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next," she said.
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