From Popeater: Will Ellen Boost Idol’s Ratings?

By CC Staff

After months of speculation, Ellen DeGeneres will finally have the chance to prove herself worthy of the seat between ‘American Idol’ judges Kara, Randy and Simon. Tuesday night marks her much anticipated ‘Idol’ debut, replacing former judge Paula Abdul.

The addition of DeGeneres to the gang is expected to boost viewership, which has been down compared to previous seasons, Reuters reports. Fox is hoping these viewers will stick around for the rest of the season.

“Ellen brings a huge fan base and people will be curious to see how she does,” said Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly. “But if she performs poorly, that is bad for the show’s long-term health.”

‘Idol’ viewership peaked in 2006, with about 30.8 million per episode. So far, the ninth season has only reached 26.8 million, according to Fox.

While many people have criticized DeGeneres for her lack of experience in the music industry, she believes this could work to her advantage, as she represents the average viewer.

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