Ellen will join the 'Idol' judges

The Paula Abdul jokes really are old news now.

In a late afternoon announcement Wednesday Fox announced that Ellen DeGeneres will join American Idol as the show's official, full-time judge when it returns in January.

Yes, that Ellen DeGeneres.

This ends any speculation that Abdul would be invited back into the Idol fold, after playing what some believe was a game of brinkmanship -- brinkwomanship? -- gone awfully, horribly wrong.

The real story now is how DeGeneres, a vibrant and outgoing personality in her own right, will fit in with the Idol judges' chemistry.

Kara DioGuardi, already an odd fit during last year's swansong season for Abdul, is really behind the 8-ball now.

DeGeneres is witty, articulate and quick on her feet, which puts her three up on Abdul -- and makes her a potential triple-threat for DioGuardi.

Of course, how DeGeneres will get along with Simon Cowell is the $100-million question.

DeGeneres' stage background and her paid dues in the hard-knocks school of standup comedy will serve her well in the weeks and months to come.

Being a media maven used to the spotlight, though, is not quite the same as having hands-on experience in the music industry -- a point Cowell will no doubt raise early and often, or at least every time he disagrees with DeGeneres's calls. Link...