Ellen DeGeneres Set for ‘American Idol’ Debut

It was a big surprise to many when Ellen DeGeneres was named as Paula Abdul’s replacement on American Idol.

And this Tuesday, she finally makes her long-awaited debut. But will she get viewers to stay?

According to a Reuters report, Idol fans and TV critics have been divided over Abdul’s replacement.

According to Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Slezak, “Ellen brings a huge fan base and people will be curious to see how she does. But if she performs poorly, that is bad for the show’s long-term health.”

DeGeneres’s arrival to the judges’ panel comes at a time when the show could be in jeopardy. Audience viewership has slipped about 3 percent since its all-time high in 2006, and also faces challenges from rival network CBS’s popular crime drama, NCIS.

Simon Cowell’s announcement that this will be his last season has also affected the show.

DeGeneres lacks the musical industry experience of her fellow judges, but she says she aims to be the voice of the viewer at home.