Ellen didn't "go wrong" or "fail". You talk about being an American Idol judge as if it carries the gravity of the American Presidency or the Pope. You've laid out the job description of an American Idol job as if there is one. I guess I feel this type of news is beneath me, and I wonder why anyone cares. (I admit it. Why do I read? I am interested in what other people consider newsworthy.) Then again, you're a TODAY contributor. There hasn't been any serious news on the TODAY show since 9/11, and even then, it took an hour and fifty minutes.

I thought Ellen was very good and funny. My husband and I loved her and Simon and it will be very hard to replace Simon. Not sure if we will watch next year. Sounds like you wont have judges worth watching. Not a Diddy fan and will not watch Howard Stern. Hope I wont be disappointed.

American Idol draws more viewers than President Obama does...so yeah, a lot of those viewers are very demanding in their expectations of an Idol judge. Ellen didn't fit, she knew it, and she left!

I would have predicted this show would be long dead by now, but obviously I was wrong.  I'm constantly amazed at what people watch these days.  Personally think the show is BORING and not at all based on talent.  Just who is "pretty".  The best never seems to win.  Time for everyone to move on to the next brainless form of entertainment. 

I actually thought Ellen was perfect fit. I'm not a follower of Ellen's daytime show, so I didn't really know much about her. I found her honest and frank with people when they had done poorly. She didn't go out of her way to be mean, but I think she was plenty straight forward and honest with contenstants.

In any event, I thought she did great, but I'm sure whoever they get to replace her and to replace Simon will bring their own flavour to the show.

Ellen never fit in. I went to a couple of tapings and noticed that the judges leave the studio during every commercial break. Portia DeRossi was always there and got up from her seat in the audience & left with Ellen each & every time. So Ellen couldn't just "hang" with her fellow judges alone for even 2 minutes! I didn't see Simon's fiancee or the spouses of Randy & Kara doing that.

As usual, Berman seems to have not watched the the same show. The rest of the judges pretty much ignored Ellen. Simon wasn't "there" enough this year with his sarcasm for anyone to work off of, Kara swooned toward Simon after each of her own comments, and as usual Randy had very little to say in any musical terms anyone could understand. Oh, and there was so little talent among the contestants.

Ellen did not "fail"; the show she signed on to did not materialize.

Okay, where do I start, lets start with her looks! Ever see a deer caught in a headlight? That's how she looked. Uncomortable at the least. She looked like an understudy while every body is having fun, she was worrying about her next line. Gosh, you were hired as a judge, show some authority on what you were going to say. Stop thinking about your punch line and maybe wear some darkglasses to hide those bright blue eyes. She was so busy to be funny she forgot that she was supposed to be herself or to be the voice of the people - which she lamely said that she was going to represent when she was hired. It was all about me, me, me from the start of the contract talk to her resignation this time. That's not a class act.

I second the deer in the headlights look, plus the fact that her wardrobe, personality and unforgiving camerawork made her look like Keebler elf half the time. My daughter, who's auditioning next week in NJ and is a fan, might miss her, but I won't. She simply wasn't a good judge...as the "everyperson" she wanted to be, she failed miserably.

I was not impressed with Ellen at all. She was very nice but then there was a very practical and realistic Kara right next to her to make Ellen stand out even more. I hope that Kara stays with Idol. She is very realistic and had constructive criticism to offer.

At least Ellen was smart enough to know when it was time to go. Bring on Harry Connick Jr!

I liked Ellen, it's that other chick (Kiara?) that has nothing valuable to offer. Haven't like her from day one. And Randy, love you Randy, but come on say something different every once in a while. The whole show has gone to crap!

I like her talk show but I was shocked when they asked her to be a judge for American Idol. I had seen her as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance and she was the same way. She didn't judge, loved everybody, and made the same dumb jokes over and over. She needs to keep her day job.

Well, everyone has an opinion, and that includes me....I really liked Ellen on the show. I appreciated her input, and her 'light heartedness'. What she often said, was dead on. Not everyone can be heavy handed like Simon, or technical like Randy, or Kara. In any event, not everyone can be a judge. That does not mean that what they say, isn't right on. It seems to me that most people putting forth their comments here, are 'judging' in a most critical way. Or should I say they are being JUDGMENTAL. I'm sure not many of you could hack the music judging process. I think that Ellen was wise to bow out gracefully.

whats wrong I love Ellen, she shouldnt have caved in after 1 year, I think she was probably fired, Kara has no personality, she should have gone instead.

Gee . . . I saw THAT coming down the road and hailing a cab. Too bad the producers didn't.

RIP "AI". It was DOA when Ellen got signed.

Not enough fire can raise this Phoenix.

I like Ellen and think that her noncritical nature is actually a nice change in today society. I do believe though that viewers sometime like the critical nature of the show...I would definitely have a problem being critical of somebody I like too. Good try Ellen...stick with your fantastic talk show where you can be just who you are!

I never in my life have seen someone that sucked so much at something.....Ellen is discusting looking and she was horrible, and that is an understatement!!!

Ellen was the closest representation to the show's 'annointed' real judges, "America." She was more qualified to judge than any of the others because she was a fan who listens to and buys the music, rather than a technical mouthpiece. Either you have all expert judges and allow them to have some control in who stays and who goes (like So You Think You Can Dance , the BEST and most authentic talent show on the air IMO), or you have judges who just give opinions about the talent from different viewpoints, both lay and expert, while you still allow the country to put through their favorites (which are usually voted more on popularity due to looks and charm, rather than real talent IMO anyway).

Now I read that Idol is looking for 'younger' viewers. This is EXACTLY what they DON'T need to do. The integrity of the show is damaged enough already, this will just make it worse. If you're targeting the major market, the 18-49 year olds, you are going to lose a greater share of this demographic, as I believe you have already, because most of this group wants to see real talent win, not the singer with the greatest hair or schoolboy looks. And the last five years, by 4-1, it's been a male that's won, and it hasn't been the best performer either. Look at your most successful recording artists from your show since it began, other than Carrie and Kelly, they aren't from the winning alumni, and I further predict that Crystal will outsell Lee and become more popular as well. It's becoming a joke.

C'mon Idol producers, doesn't this tell you something? The only ones willing to sit at their phones and text and call for hours and hours are the female tweenies (below 18). The older viewing audience of your demographic will 'maybe' donate about 15 minutes to voting. This simply is not fair--to all the voters, the contestants, nor for the integrity of the show. If anything, you need to raise the age to 18 (not lower it to 15), and you need to change the voting system. It's nice to announce how many millions of people voted, but in truth, it's a very misleading # and you know it! What ever happened to quality over quantity?

I personally have watched since Season 1, and have taken part in the voting, but I can see now that this has become a children's show and you are more about looking for ratings than trying to find a true talent worthy of the show's title. Did you ever think that your ratings took a hit because you're losing the older audience? Go back to what brung you to the top. Appeal to your entire demographic, not just the first couple of years of it, and in most cases even younger. Or better yet, create a spin off or something, perhaps "America's Teen Idol" and knock yourselves out with that one, but give us who are part of your lion's share of the demographic back it's "American Idol." And as for the judges, this show isn't suppose to be about them; you were one of the first reality shows--get back to that, reality that is!!!

It is interesting to me the double standard we have for men and women. Women "fail". Men "always succeed. Just decide for themselves what's best." "Leave men alone. Give them a second chance. Someone else made them (usually a woman) do it".
On and on. Come on now folks.
Ellen is a hugh star and success. She doesn't need "Idol". She decided it wasn't what she wanted to do. She moved on.
Can we deal with it?

she didn't fail. the show is failing, it's lost what it once had. I personally was over the show several years ago but did tune in this year because I am an Ellen fan. She's better than this show and am glad she isn't going there anymore. Maybe now the show can RIP.

Ellen or no Ellen that show needs to go...dumbness show ever. sad that people get all worked up over a mindless tv "play it again sam".

I luv Ellen , her dancing her humor & her judging . I do not care for Kara , She is SO dramatic & Sappy .I turn the volumr down so I can't hear her. Well So Be it .As A huge AI fan from he beginning I Think this show is over & out . I don't know if I will watch it this season. Yall better bring it or Bye BYE !!!!!!!!!

"(Forget Paige all ready?"

Really?  "all ready"?  Whose you're editor????

Did no one see the huge survey that AI put out after the last season. The same survey that was basically a "What did you think of Ellen" survey? Obviously she got killed in the reviews from fans and was kindly asked to resign or be let go.