PAULA ABDUL - IDOL ABDUL GIVES DEGENERES HER BLESSING

IDOL ABDUL GIVES DEGENERES HER BLESSING

PAULA ABDUL has given her AMERICAN IDOL replacement the thumbs up, insisting ELLEN DEGENERES will be "wildly funny" as a talent show judge.
Fans were shocked when DeGeneres was named the hit show's new star - because many had hoped Abdul's departure from the programme would be temporary, as well as the comedienne-turned-talk show host having no musical background.
But the Straight Up singer has called on fans to be supportive of the new recruit, who has signed a five-year deal with producers.
A statement from the former Idol star reads, "Ellen DeGeneres is wildly funny and talented in her own right. I wish her and the show only the best of luck."
In a radio interview in Los Angeles on Thursday morning (10Sep09), DeGeneres revealed she wanted Abdul's blessing: "I hope Paula's OK with it. I don't want anybody to think I took Paula's job away."