Ellen Degeneres is leaving American Idol

Fox has announced that talk show host and “funny” judge, Ellen Degeneres is leaving American Idol.

“A couple months ago, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for” (Degeneres via The NY Times).

Degeneres had four years left on her five year contract, so this news comes as a bit of a shock. Alot of people love Ellen, but didn’t think she was right for Idol.

While Degeneres sounded willing to cooperate, she is “leaving America’s top-rated reality show, effective immediately, meaning she will not appear at the auditions this summer or on the show next winter” (NY Times).