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Celebrific

Tracking Celebrities in Their Native Habitat

Ellen Degeneres

Randy Jackson Was Spared To Keep Original “Connection” To American Idol

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American Idol - Randy Jackson

TMZ.com is reporting that Randy Jackson was kept on the hit reality TV show American Idol so viewers would still have an “original connection” to the show, apparently Ryan Seacrest doesn’t count!

Earlier this week it was announced that Kara DioGuardi was fired from the show, while Ellen DeGeneres chose to leave the show over time commitments and the fact that she didn’t like having to give negative criticism.

Seriously Ellen you didn’t realize you would have to criticize people on a singing talent show? [Read more…] about Randy Jackson Was Spared To Keep Original “Connection” To American Idol

Generous Ellen DeGeneres Takes a Chance on Greyson Chance

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So Ellen DeGeneres likes this 12 year-old kid Greyson Chance so much that she started her own record label and signed him on. Greyson is the young lad who covered Lady Gaga’s song Paparazzi — doing both piano and vocals. He even got a call from Ms Gaga herself while he was on Ellen’s show recently.

This kid is really talented, both as a singer and a pianist, and the young girls are already swooning over him. But what’s going to happen when his voice finally breaks in a couple of years (I think it’s already starting)? Still, if he maintains the vocal strength he already has and sticks to his vocal range, he’s going to have a long career ahead of him. Just watch a couple of his other videos and you can see his talent at work.

So kudos to Ellen for giving Grayson a leg up, and for already giving him a $10K check. What a generous gesture, putting your money where your mouth is to promote young talent. Bravo. Not sure if any other talk show host has ever done that. I guess it also doesn’t hurt that Madonna’s manager is one of the people representing him, and that Grayson’s video on YouTube has received nearly 21M views, so it’s already viral and Ellen has a marketing engine already in place.

Here’s the original video of Grayson performing at a 6th grade festival

Oh So That’s Why Simon Cowell’s a Jerk

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Let’s face it. If you or I acted in real life like Simon Cowell does on TV, we’d probably get punched in the face, not get paid mega-millions like he gets. Oh wait, I do act like him, and I even get paid for it — though nowhere nearly as much as he does. But here’s a surprise (yeah, like people as intelligent as you and I didn’t know this already): Simon suffers from depression. Has so for a very long time, depending on whom you believe (what, you don’t trust me?). No, say it ain’t so! Good old cheerful Simon? Who would have guessed? He always seems so happy about life and friendly to boot.

Gee I hope my sarcasm isn’t lost on you. Cowell probably isn’t the only celeb to suffer from depression. My fairly extensive experience in interacting with creative types suggests that they have a lot of self-doubt, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot more celebs suffer from depression as well. But they don’t go around acting like a-holes, making people feel like crap, and getting paid for it. Oh wait, they often do. Ok, never mind. Oh, and whadda ya want bet that good old cheerful, kind Dr. Phil suffers similar ailments?

Anyway, as for the suggestion that Simon is bored by American Idol, are you really truly surprised? I mean, there really are a lot untalented people on the show. It hurts my brain to watch a single episode, at least during the beginning of any given season. In fact, all my sarcasm aside, this is probably why Simon is such a jerk to so many American Idol hopefuls. Apparently he was pretty blunt to Oprah about being bored and leaving American Idol. His replacement hasn’t been named yet and doesn’t want to be replaced with another Ellen (the suggestion being she doesn’t know much about music).

Idol’s 9th Life Takes New Twists

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America’s number one TV show, American Idol began its ninth season last Tuesday, and three notable changes have gotten everyone talking.

1. Paula’s out. She left the show before the ninth season began, sighting “contract negotiation problems.” Let me refer to that old saying, “You never really know what you got ‘til it’s gone” or something like that. We miss Paula Abdul’s good-hearted opinions and unintentional comic relief that Kara DioGuardi could never provide.

2. Ellen’s in. The talk show host is the official replacement of Paula, and although she has no background whatsoever in music (except maybe for her regular dance routines on her talk show), Ellen Degeneres promises to give “a layman’s point of view to the show.” It was disappointing though that she wasn’t part of the panel of judges during the initial audition rounds. Instead, guest judges such as Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Victoria Beckham, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, Joe Jonas, and Katy Perry took the fourth seat.

3. Simon’s leaving. Yes, the infamous AI judge is taking a bow after this season to focus on the American version of X-Factor. Simon Cowell created the popular talent show for Britain, and now he’s taking it to the US. Simon will be busy producing and judging X-Factor for Fox in 2011. “I wanted to do something different,” he said. “I wanted a new challenge.” Will AI ever find a suitable replacement for the brutally honest judge? I doubt it. Other copycat reality talent shows have tried and failed.

AI fans, what do you think about Simon’s plans of ditching the show? Are you looking forward to Ellen as the new Paula?