American Idol: Make Rosie O'Donnell The New Judge

Filed under: Exclusives, Television, Theater

There's a lot of talk about who the new judges on 'American Idol' should be now that Simon Cowell is leaving the show to launch 'X-Factor,' Kara DioGuardi was fired and Ellen DeGeneres opted not to return for a second season.

It's already been announced that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith will be joining founding judge Randy Jackson at the table; however negotiations with Jennifer Lopez did not pan out.

Now there's buzz that Mariah Carey wants the job, and other reports claim that Shania Twain is in talks with the reality series as well.

Forget all of them! BV Buzz thinks Rosie O'Donnell is the one for the job!

It's real simple - O'Donnell knows music, has edge and brings ratings!

Need proof?

When the 52-year-old comedienne took over as moderator on 'The View' in Sept. of 2006, the talk show got a 30-percent bump in the ratings because of O'Donnell's fiery commentaries and celebrity feuds.

During O'Donnell's stint as host of her own nationally syndicated daytime show, she singlehandedly made Macy Gray a superstar. Her enthusiasm over Gray's debut CD, 'On How Life Is,' helped drive it to multi-platinum status and earned Gray a Grammy Award.

The New York City native is a Broadway enthusiast who has starred in shows on the Great White Way including 'Grease,' 'Fiddler on the Roof,' 'Love, Loss and What I Wore' and 'Seussical,' among others. O'Donnell executive produced Boy George's ill-fated Broadway show, 'Taboo,' and has launched Rosie's Broadway Kids, which provides free instruction in music and dance to New York City public schools or students.

Since everyone from 'American Idol' winners Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard, to finalists like Diana DeGarmo, Melinda Doolittle and Clay Aiken have starred in Broadway productions; O'Donnell's presence on 'American Idol' could bode well for the overall theater community.

(Read: 'Justin Guarini: 'American Idol' Star Is Broadway Bound')

Face it, without Cowell's frank nature and snappy sound bites and the absence of Paula Abdul and her infamous incoherence; 'American Idol' could soon be a show we reference in the past tense!

If 'A.I.' producers 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media really want to breathe fresh life into the waning competition series, then O' Donnell is the one for the job!

Currently, the Emmy Award winning TV personality hosts a radio show called 'Rosie Radio' on Sirius XM Radio. O'Donnell is also set to host a new talk show on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network starting in 2011.
For related stories, read also: 'Swan Song: Paula Abdul Reveals 'American Idol' Exit on Twitter'

'Reality Check: 'American Idol's' Trenyce 'Aint Misbehavin''

& 'Corey Clark: 'American Idol' Star Shoots Reality Show & Says Series Can't Survive Without Simon Cowell.'

 

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