booted

Ellen DeGeneres Out At American Idol: 1 Year Is Enough For Fox

Despite having four more years left on her contract, the lackluster performance of Ellen DeGeneres, and producers’ clear intent to reinvent the judging panel, means the talk show host is a goner.

Ellen joins Simon Cowell at the exit door, and could very well be joined by Kara DioGuardi as exec producer Nigel Lythgoe re-joins the 19 Entertainment behemoth. (Ellen says leaving the show was her idea, and new reports that producers booked Jennifer Lopez to replace her appear to confirm her account.)

Many expect Fox to announce to new panel of judges at Monday’s Television Critics Association presentation, where we may learn Jessica Simpson (Update: Or J. Lo!) and Chris Issak are taking over, with Randy Jackson remaining. Which means no Elton John or Justin Timberlake, as the entertainment press hopedspeculated.

Remember when Ellen, before she appeared on the show, said she knew what it takes by being “in the business long enough”? Looks like she’ll have to make do with Grayson Chance.

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