‘I know I’m going to be a great judge — because I’ve spent my whole life being judged’

SOUNDBITES — “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 … I’ll tell you right now, how I know I’m going to be a great judge — because I’ve spent my whole life being judged. So, I know what it’s like. So, I will be kind. I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful. I will be an honest judge without being mean. … I’m very excited to be on the show. I will tell you that right now. I just continue to be excited every single day. I knew people would have opinions, and I did not want to know what they were because why should I take that stuff in? I try not to watch anything that I think is going to be talking about me.” —Ellen DeGeneres on her new career path, effectively saying, “It takes one to know one”