by Tim Nudd
via people.com

The talk-show host, 52, who's just wrapping up her first season as an American Idol judge, has now started her own record label – inspired by 12-year-old phenom Greyson Chance, whom she discovered and has now signed as her first artist.

"Greyson ... inspired me to start a record label called eleveneleven. He is my first artist, and we are making a record together," DeGeneres says.

Chance, just 12 years old, has rocketed to fame thanks to his performance of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi," posted to YouTube, from a talent show in his Oklahoma hometown. DeGeneres happened upon the clip when it had about 10,000 views and invited him on her show earlier this month. The video, including reposts, now has more than 30 million views.

Returning to The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday, Chance says he's overwhelmed by what's happened. "It's crazy thinking about 30 million people," he says. "It just makes me happy. It really just hasn't sunken in yet. It has been two weeks, and it still hasn't sunken in yet. It's awesome."

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Filed under: Ellen DeGeneres • Entertainment • Music

We've got the cast of American Idol on tonight's show – and here are some of the more MEMORABLE auditions.

Anyone got any other favorite moments from the show?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPiGT293sWw]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmWL73k11NA]

Filed under: American Idol • Ellen DeGeneres • Larry King Live • Ryan Seacrest • Simon Cowell

TUNE IN TONIGHT TO SEE THE CAST OF AMERICAN IDOL ON LKL – 9pm ET!!

Fox knows how to work a cross over when it comes to their shows (take note of the musical themed episodes planned for “Fringe” and other series in celebration of the  success and return of  “Glee.”)

In May, the “American Idol” gang will be visiting Springfield during “The Simpsons’” season finale.

Judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest will be even more animated than they are during their critiques of contestants when they join Bart and the rest of the Springfield inhabitants on an episode scheduled to air May 23.

Word is that Springfield’s beloved bartender, Moe, gets an invitation to serve as an “Idol” judge. Have we finally found a replacement for the soon to be departing Cowell?

Filed under: American Idol • Ellen DeGeneres • Larry King Live • Ryan Seacrest • Simon Cowell

(Entertainment Tonight) Paula Abdul spoke with Entertainment Tonight's Samantha Harris about her future in show biz following reports that she may be returning to "American Idol."

"I'm always a fan but I don't think that's happening," Abdul said of coming back to the judges' table. Abdul attended the 8th Annual TV Land Awards and referred to her time on "Idol" as the "most wonderful experience of my life."

Season nine of the hit singing show is in full swing, and WE'VE GOT RYAN SEACREST AND THE JUDGES TONIGHT ON LKL – TUNE in at 9pmet – and let us know, do you think Paula should return to American Idol?  Weigh in now!!

(Read more from Entertainment Tonight)

Filed under: American Idol • Ellen DeGeneres • Larry King Live • Ryan Seacrest • Simon Cowell

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/10/ellend.jpg ="GETTY IMAGES”]

Ellen DeGeneres will have her life story told in comic-book form at the end of this month. The comedian, talk-show host and "American Idol" judge joins the ranks of accomplished women including Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Stephenie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, Judge Sonia Sotomayor and Barbara Walters, who all have been subjects of the "Female Force" series, published by Bluewater Productions.

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Filed under: Ellen DeGeneres

Even before Ellen DeGeneres took her seat on "American Idol," the roar began.

Cries of "What does she know about music" and "Bring back Paula Abdul" lit up blogs and message boards. Then the next shoe dropped - anchor judge Simon Cowell announced that the ninth season would be his last.

Fans had barely adjusted to the addition of a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, the season before. Once it was announced that DeGeneres was coming onboard, the naysayers were even more perturbed.

The whole situation brought DeGeneres into a whirlwind of drama, exacerbated by rumors that she and Cowell don't get along (both deny that's the case) and initial performances by contestants that have been less than stellar.

Now, after fans have had a week to check out DeGeneres' live judging of the talent competition, the talk show host and comic appears to be almost as polarizing as last season's runner-up, Adam Lambert.

"I knew it was going to be bad as soon as they announced it," said Brian Wheaton, who started a Facebook group called "Ellen is going to RUIN IDOL!"

"Why bring her on?" Wheaton said. "Because she's funny? We had plenty of humor before with Paula and Simon."

Change is never easy, but it's even more difficult for an enterprise that has a multitude of diehard fans and has ranked No. 1 in the ratings for the past five seasons. For a show like "Idol," which leans so heavily on formula, tweaking the dynamic can prove to be tricky.

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Filed under: American Idol • Ellen DeGeneres

By Marc Malkin via E! Online

If you miss Kate Gosselin's run on The View this week, not to worry. She's apparently gunning for her own ladies-only chatfest.

And I hear Gosselin may already be cooking something up with a well-seasoned television veteran.

Keep reading to find out what's going and who's involved…

Sources tell me that Telepictures—the media heavyweight behind Ellen DeGeneres' and Tyra Banks' hit shows—is looking to develop a View-like morning show with Gosselin and television cooking queen Paula Deen.

"They're looking around and casting for other women to be on the show with them," one source said. "But they want all the women to be moms."

For the one percent of the world's population who may not know this already, Gosselin, 34, has eight little ones with estranged husband Jon, 32.

Deen, 62, has two grown sons, Jamie and Bobby. She already hosts three shows, Paula's Home Cooking, Paula's Party and Paula's Best Dishes, for the Food Network. Although Deen signed a deal with Telepictures to host her own syndicated talk show, the project never took off.

A rep for Telepictures would not confirm or deny a Gosselin-Deen show was in the works. "We don't comment on any development activity," the rep said.

Gosselin told Entertainment Weekly about four months ago she has hopes of landing a talk show.  "There are no mom-centered talk shows," she told the magazine. "I think that would be a very comfortable thing for me."

Filed under: Ellen DeGeneres • Jon & Kate Gosselin

By Gil Kaufman
MTV.com

Chances are good that hardcore "American Idol" watchers wouldn't be satisfied with anyone producers signed up to replace beloved original panelist Paula Abdul.

But the announcement on Wednesday that comedian/talk show host Ellen DeGeneres — an avowed huge fan of the show — will be taking the fourth judge's seat for season nine brought at best a mixed reaction, at worst a chorus of boos and concerns that she might throw a wrench in the works. (MTV News' Jim Cantiello has his opinions as well.)

"I think [the powers that be] had their sights set on hiring an A-lister rather than say, a pop singer who has seen better days [which Abdul arguably was]," wrote MJ Santilli, founder of the popular "Idol" blog MJsBigBlog.com. "Ellen does have a fan base all her own, and the curiosity factor will bring in viewers. Plus, Ellen will pimp the hell out of the show (she kinda already does) on her talk show. But man, she really was awkward and unfunny when she guest-judged on ["So You Think You Can Dance"] over the summer, so I hope that she brushes up on her skills between now and November."

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Filed under: American Idol • Ellen DeGeneres