DeGeneres

Update: Read what Fox’s Mike Darnell told the Hollywood Reporter about choosing DeGeneres.

She’s an avid fan, and now Ellen DeGeneres is the No. 4 judge on “American Idol.” Fox announced Wednesday night that DeGeneres will join the show for the season beginning in…

Peter Rice, the new chairman of entertainment for Fox, was looking forward to his first confab with the Television Critics Association. Then Paula Abdul Twittered Tuesday night that she was leaving “America Idol,” and Rice no longer looked forward to…

Paula Abdul will meet with Nigel Lithgow, executive producer and judge on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” this weekend in Las Vegas to talk about a possible role on the show, Lithgow told TV critics at a “SYTYCD”…

In a statement Tuesday night on Twitter, now answered by Fox, Paula Abdul says that “with sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return” to “American Idol” next season. She adds, “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but…

Not much new on TV in this holiday week, but here are seven shows you might find interesting. Stay tuned to the end of this post for a look at some July 4 cable marathons.

‘American Idol,’ 7 p.m. Monday on…

“Who’ll be the next American Idol?” Giving Kris Allen little time to savor his victory, Fox has announced a June 14 start for auditions for the next round, which will be Season 9. The closest to St. Louis — Chicago.

Where…

Who’d have thought a few weeks ago that we’d go into the “American Idol” finale with Adam Lambert as the underdog? But after the last performances and “just under 100 million votes” (as Ryan Seacrest informs us), sentiment on Wednesday…

* Camryn Manheim and her cute little boy, Homer, in the front row. He’s rocking out.

* Notice nobody much applauds when Kara DioGuardi is announced as No. 2 judge? Who expects her to be back next season?

* Adam is great…

Adam and Kris take questions about the finale.

Vote now in our last “American Idol” poll of the season. You can also come back tonight from 7-9:07 and comment along as pop music critic Kevin Johnson and I live-blog the finale right…