ELLEN DEGENERES AND SIMON COWELL GIVE THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW
NEW YORK – In an exclusive interview with this week’s Entertainment Weekly, daytime’s talk-show sweetheart and TV’s grumpiest star sound off about seating arrangements, gay jokes, and the one thing Ellen won’t tolerate as American Idol’s new judge.
It looks like Simon Cowell may have finally met his match, after the departure of original panelist Paula Abdul. “Simon really is mean to people sometimes,” says DeGeneres. “If he’s rude, I’m going to let him know he’s rude.”
Below is a sampling from the Q&A
EW: Ellen, how did you first hear the show was interested in having you as a judge?
DeGeneres: My manager and agent called and said, “There’s interest. Is there interest on your side?” And I said, “Yeah!” I’m a huge fan of the show, but I didn’t think for a second, “Oh, Paula’s gone; now I’ll do this.” It didn’t even occur to me. I was really surprised it didn’t get out, because we talked about it for a while.
EW: Ellen, being on Idol should also be a boon to your talk show, since you’ll have each kicked-off contestant as a guest and can give some behind-the-scenes scoop. Is there anything that will be off-limits?
DeGeneres: I think anything that will hurt Idol in any way. I don’t want to give anything away. And if someone’s a real jerk, I’m not going to expose them. I may change my mind if they really are a jerk.
Cowell: They’re very media savvy, these contestants. You never really get to know much about them because they’re aware of themselves and they’re always nice to you. It’s only afterwards that it all changes.
DeGeneres: But when you give your feedback, Simon, and somebody talks back to you, that’s one thing that I just don’t think I would tolerate. It’s unbelievable that people don’t have any respect. They go on a show, they know they’re going to be judged, that’s what the entire show is about, and yet they tell you you’re wrong. It’s just rude and disrespectful and not okay. So that’s not going to happen on my dime.
EW: Many Idol fans really had the knives out when Kara DioGuardi joined the judges’ panel last year. Are you scared that there will be negativity directed at you, Ellen?
DeGeneres: Yeah, sure. And I understand it. I was one of those people that was skeptical, like, “Why are they adding a fourth judge? I don’t understand this.” But I do think that Kara adds a lot to the show now. And also, it’s not just a new judge. It’s a new judge in the place of someone that they loved. I mean, a lot of people loved Paula, and I don’t want to be the person that took Paula’s job away from her. Which I wasn’t. I’m not going to be able to please everyone. I gave up trying to do that a long time ago.
Cowell: Join the club.
DeGeneres: I am who I am. People either like me or they don’t like me, and it’s got nothing to do with if I’m a new judge on Idol.
Cowell: I also think the day people stop screaming at the TV set disagreeing with us, it’s over. If we’re all on the same page, it’d be the most boring thing in the world.
EW: What do you say to the Paula fans who don’t know if they want to watch the show without her?
DeGeneres: It’s not like someone came to me and said, “Hey, we think Paula’s going to leave, will you take this?” I never would have done that. I wish her the best. There’s plenty of space for everybody in this town. I hope nobody is angry that she chose to leave and I happen to be in the same place that she used to be.
EW: Ellen, you are the first Idol judge with no experience in the music industry. Do you think it matters?
DeGeneres: It’s not like I’m not a huge fan of music. That accounts for something. I’ve also been on stage, alone, trying to entertain an audience. I started in stand-up for 15 years. I know how important it is to reach that audience. So I can put myself in their position. It’s not necessarily singing, but it’s keeping an audience captivated.
Cowell: The only people who matter in the judging process are the public. We could hire four incredible vocal coaches tomorrow, who know more about music than I’ll ever know in a lifetime, and it will be the most boring show in the world. It’s more than a scientific ability, it is your star power that is vital. Ellen has got a good instinct for people, and that is absolutely crucial.
EW: Ellen, last year you served as a judge on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance – although it seemed like you were going more for comedy than for criticism.
DeGeneres: I just wanted to go see the show, and suddenly I was asked if I want to be a judge. And I’m like, “Well, those are better seats – I’ll be a judge.” I just thought it would be interesting, and then I thought, “Oh, I have to actually critique them.” I don’t know anything about dance, so I just really did focus on making it funny. But it’s a totally different thing [from] singing. And I will be funny [on Idol]- if something’s obnoxious or stupid and there’s a joke to be made, that’s what I do first and foremost. But I’ll have more to say about a singer – with singing, it’ll be funny, but there will also be true, honest critiquing.
EW: Ellen, you’ve signed a five-year contract – and rumors persist that Simon will leave Idol after his contract is up in 2010. How do you feel about the prospect of being a judge without him?
DeGeneres: If Simon goes, I go!
Cowell: [Laughs] Oh, Ellen!
DeGeneres: I will not be there without Simon.
Cowell: That’s quite a tricky situation you’ve put me into! I think right now we have to concentrate on the next season and just get through that and worry about everything else afterwards.
EW: Ellen, in the past Simon and Ryan have been criticized for their gay-themed banter. Are you going to police this?
DeGeneres: Simon, I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you – I’m gay.
Cowell: Are you serious? No one told me that. Let me tell you something: We are the least racist, homophobic show in the world. What we do have, thank God, is a sense of humor. I hate political correctness. I wouldn’t go into any show saying anything is off-limits. If we have to abide by a ton of rules, we might as well call it a day now.
EW: Is that cool with you, Ellen?
DeGeneres: Well, I don’t go by that rule, where there’s no political correctness at all. If we lived in a world where there was no such thing as racism or homophobia, then obviously there would be no off-limits. Unfortunately, there are people in this world that don’t like other people, and that was one of the issues that was brought up about Adam Lambert. So I’m sensitive to it just because I’ve experienced that kind of discrimination. At the same time, the stuff that Simon and Ryan do – none of that has ever been offensive to me. I’m more offended by people who make jokes about something sounding like an animal that’s been caught in a lawn mower or whatever. Because there are sick people out there that would go, “What’s that sound like?”
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