Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler a Hit on Idol

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler's debut as American Idol judges has proved a hit with the critics.

Season 10 of the TV talent show got underway on Wednesday night with Tyler and Lopez replacing Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell on the hit show - and the two superstars wowed contestants and TV critics with their enthusiastic response to wannabes at auditions in New Jersey, which were taped last year.

The Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara writes, "Moments into Wednesday night’s season premiere, it was gratifyingly clear that for the first time in a long time the fumblings and flailings of contestants fighting to find their feet on stage will not be mirrored by the judges' table.

"Not only are they great to look at, Lopez and Tyler are long-time stars who have nothing to gain, or lose, by being part of American Idol."

She adds, "Their natural confidence in front of the camera was such a blessed relief that it was hard to miss even the bracing ballistics of Simon Cowell."

New York Post critic Linda Stasi agreed, calling the duo's "instant chemistry" with existing judge Randy Jackson "so right, they couldn’t have created it in a lab".

She continues, "Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are not and will never be Paula (Abdul, another former judge) and Simon. They didn’t do the brother/sister love/hate thing - and didn’t try to. And that was great. They did something completely different. They were themselves - two superstars fully engaged and absorbed. And not with themselves, but with the contestants. Perfect."

However, the show lost a few viewers - the premiere opened to the lowest ratings since season one.

Jennifer Lopez: Why I Had the Twins Pose for Gucci

Jennifer Lopez has gotten twins Emme and Max started early in modeling, but it was all for a good cause.

The actress-singer recently posed with the twins, who will be 3 next month, in ads introducing Gucci’s new kids’ line of clothing.

She did so because there was a strong charity connection, not because Emme and Max were clamoring for the gig.

“They’re like, ‘Mom, hello! Hair and makeup!’ ” Lopez, 41, jokes in Tuesday's interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“No. Actually, Frida Giannini from Gucci said she was going to launch the Gucci’s kids line, and they were going to do it in conjunction with a big donation, and they were going to do it with [the United Nations' children's charity] UNICEF, and would we do it?”

Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, were torn, but eventually agreed. “Marc didn’t really want to put the babies in an ad or anything like that,” Lopez says. “And I was just like, if they do it, I’d want to do it with my kids because it is for the kids. That’s the connection. That’s what makes it real. We don’t really parade them around like that, so it was for a good cause.”

One thing Lopez and Anthony haven’t committed to? Having more kids themselves. “I don’t know. As soon as I had the babies, I thought to myself, ‘I want to do this a thousand more times. I love this. This is life,’ ” she says. “And now that it’s like three years in, I’m like, ‘Can I do that again?’ It’s funny. But yes, if I got pregnant, I would be extremely happy.”

New Judge Jennifer Lopez Feels 'Anxious' Before American Idol Eliminations

Jennifer Lopez is finding out just how hard it is to be an American Idol judge.

"I get very involved and attached to the kids, in the sense of their trajectory and watching them," Lopez, 41, said after Idol's Tuesday's Television Critics Association's press panel, in anticipation of having to eliminate 50 percent of the contestants during a taping later in the day.

"I feel really anxious about cutting half the kids today, I really do," the pop star added. "I'm really not looking forward to it. You want to pick the right ones and you want to see who's really going to make a great show, and at the same time, be great artists. But I feel like we have so many good ones that we're going to lose some good ones today. And that's what bothers me."

And like a lot people starting a new job, Lopez says she has work on her mind even when she's not at the "office." "I realize that when we went away before we did Hollywood Week, I was thinking about the kids so much before we went back for the [Las Vegas round]," Lopez said. "I was just like, 'Oh, my God, I hope that so-and-so does good, and I wish this one would just let go a little more ... ' You just get involved ... You hope that they do great."

But Lopez says her soft-heartedness doesn't mean she's already filling the shoes of former judges Paula Abdul and Ellen DeGeneres, who were both known for being encouraging and sympathetic to the show's singers.

"I can't really say I would be like any one judge," Lopez said. "I think that I have a combination of qualities that make me who I am and gives me a specific style of how I deal with the kids and how I dish out the truth – and also dish out the comfort. That's just part of who I am."

American Idol's 10th season premieres next Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

Pink Pregnant with First Child

The rumors are true: Pink is going to be a mom.

The singer confirmed Internet reports, triggered by photos showing her with an apparent baby bump, that she and husband Carey Hart are expecting their first child and that doctor believes the baby will be a girl.

"My mom has always wished me a daughter just like me," Pink, 31, says on The Ellen DeGeneres Show airing Wednesday. "I'm terrified one of us will go to jail."

Asked by DeGeneres why she waited to confirm the rumors until now, Pink said, "I didn't want to talk about it because I was just really nervous and I have had a miscarriage before."

As for whether the baby was planned, she said, "I worked for it. ... It was not an 'oops.'"

Ricky Martin Visits Ellen

The Ricky Martin express goes on!

The singing star is promoting the hell out of his memoir, Me, and his latest stop was a big one: The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday.

The host presented Ricky with a pair of mini track suits for his twin sons with their names in the back and the title of dad’s biggest hit: Livin La Vida Loca.

Ricky spoke to Ellen about coming out and finding the right time: “I think that everyone has to go through their own process. When you’re not ready. You’re not ready. You have to go through a spiritual path. It doesn’t mater if takes you 10, 15 years since the moment you realize where you understand who you are. You cannot be forced.”

He also talked about the bullying epidemic: “Children are being bullied because they are gay and they are committing suicide. Children are committing suicide because they are being outed. If you’re not ready, you’re just not ready.”

Here is video of Ricky’s appearance. Enjoy!

Madonna Talks with Ellen DeGeneres About Gay Bullying

Madonna has spoken out against homophobic bullying, calling it “torture”.

She appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show yesterday by video-link.

The superstar, referring to an apparent spate of suicides among gay teenagers, said: “The concept that we are torturing teenagers because they are gay – it’s unfathomable.

“It’s like lynching black people or Hitler exterminating Jews. Sorry if I’m going on a rampage right now but this is America. The land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Madonna said that she could relate to teenagers who feel isolated because of their sexuality or gender identity.

“I still feel different,” she said. “I can totally relate to the idea of feeling isolated and alienated. I was incredibly lonely as a child, as a teenager. I have to say I never felt like I fit in in school.”

She said she was taken to a gay disco by a gay ballet teacher, who “told me it was good and okay to be different…and ironically made me feel I was part of the world and it was okay to be different”.

The star also thanked the gay community for backing her.

The gay community “has been incredibly supportive of me” she said. “I wouldn’t have a career if it weren’t for the gay community.”

Portia de Rossi Says Ellen DeGeneres Changed Her Life

Portia de Rossi has admitted to suffering from an eating disorder in the past, but she put all that behind her when she married talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in August 2008.

She said: "Ellen has completely changed the way I look at life. She has made me not worry about what other people think. I'm still working on that, I have to be honest.

“She has taught me that who I am is perfectly good enough...that I don't have to pretend to be anything other than who I am, and that's been the most incredible gift that she's given me."

The former Arrested Development star added that her relationship with the talk show host helped her overcome her anorexia.

She told Ellen on her talk show: "When I look in the mirror today I really do accept myself from head to toe. This is exactly the weight I'm supposed to be. I realized it's taking me a long time -- you can't fit a size eight foot into a size six shoe."

Portia has recently released her autobiography Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain, and she said she hoped it would help other people who are suffering too.

She explained: "I don't think anyone can really understand what it's like to suffer from an eating disorder unless they've actually gone through it themselves.

“I wanted to tell the story from the perspective of the person suffering and not from the healthy person's perspective. I wanted to go back to that dark horrible time and explain why I thought I was doing the right thing, why I thought I was doing the healthy thing and making good choices for my life."

Portia de Rossi is Officially Mrs. DeGeneres

Portia de Rossi tied the knot with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in August 2008, and Friday a judge granted her request to officially become Mrs. DeGeneres.

Portia said in a statement: “I am thrilled to legally adopt my wife's name. I will continue to use Portia de Rossi for professional purposes.”

The actress initially signed documents requesting to take her spouse’s name in March, before officially filing a petition in a Los Angeles court in August.

Although the couple have now further cemented their six-year relationship, Ellen, 52, recently admitted she and Portia have no plans to start a family.

She explained: “I don't think we're going to have kids. We have animals, and we love them. And, you know, we are brand new aunts. Her brother and his wife just had a baby girl who's a month old now, and it's fun to be a part of that. It's just a huge responsibility, and I don't know if that's something we want to take on. We're very happily married without children."

Glee's Jane Lynch Tells Ellen DeGeneres She Inspired Her to Come Out

Emmy winner Jane Lynch visited to Emmy winner Ellen DeGeneres yesterday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

During the interview, Jane spoke about coming out in Hollywood and told Ellen: “I was more closeted in my life when I was younger,” confessed Jane.

But Jane wasn’t very secretive about her sexuality in her career, in part, due to Ellen publicly professing herself to be a lesbian back in 1997 both on her sitcom and on the cover of Time Magazine with the headline: “Yep, I’m Gay.”.

“It made it so much easier for me when you [came out],” she said.

Jane, who pre-Glee was already well-regarded character actress from such films as Best In Show and The 40 Year Old Virgin, added that it might have been harder for her to be honest about her sexuality if she were a Julia Roberts-type actor. In response, Ellen quipped, “So you’re saying Julia Roberts is gay?”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Lynch joked.

It was great to have two openly-gay women having this kind of discussion on a nationally syndicated daytime talk show.

Glee returns to FOX next week for a second season.

Ellen DeGeneres Struts Her Stuff for Richie Rich

Fans expecting to see Pamela Anderson strut her stuff during Richie Rich's runway show at New York Fashion Week got an even bigger surprise when a spiky-haired Ellen DeGeneres walked the runway during the show's finale.

Rich, who is known for his notoriously energetic and outrageous shows, outfitted the comedian in a silver suit, tiny hat and lace-up ankle sneakers. DeGeneres' wife, actress Portia de Rossi, cheered her on from the front row.

Ellen DeGeneres Makes Surprise Broadway Debut

Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres stunned New York theatregoers on Tuesday night when she made her Broadway debut with a surprise cameo in hit musical Promises, Promises.

The funnywoman, 52, hit the stage as a nurse in the first act of the play, which stars Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.

But DeGeneres' brief appearance was only a one-off. Te stint was filmed for the new season of her talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which returns to the air next week.

Kara DioGuardi is Leaving American Idol

After weeks of speculation about whether she will stay or go, Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol, Fox announced Friday.

DioGuardi’s move follows the departures of both longtime Idol judge Simon Cowell and new judge Ellen DeGeneres.

“I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave Idol,” said DioGuardi Friday. “I am very proud to have been associated with American Idol — it has truly been an amazing experience.”

The show’s creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said of DioGuardi, who is one of the music world’s most high-profile songwriters, “I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are widely rumored to be in the running to be new judges on the show. Other celeb names that have been rumored as possibilities to fill the judges’ table include Shania Twain, Elton John, Chris Isaak and Harry Connick Jr.

Although he was mum about the makeup of the judges panel, producer Nigel Lythgoe, who is back working on American Idol, told People magazine about the next season, “We will be bringing the spotlight back onto the talent and away from the judges. I think that’s really very important, especially when you lose such a superb judge as Simon Cowell. You need to move the spotlight off him very quickly! But in truth, we’ve forgotten that it’s the talent that drives the program at the end of the day.”

American Idol Judges Update: Why No Official Announcement on Steven Tyler?

Dude may look like an American Idol judge, at least according to a number of internet reports that surfaced on Tuesday, so how come there’s been no official announcement that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler will take a seat at the Idol judges’ table when season 10 callback auditions begin filming in mid-September?

Spokespersons at Fox, Idol, and FremantleMedia all declined comment when contacted by Entertainment Weekly, but a source with inside knowledge of the world’s most high-profile job search insists “there’s nothing to announce yet.” In fact, says the insider, Fox execs are hoping they can get the entire panel locked into place, then “make one, big splashy announcement, but they’re not quite there yet.”

So how much longer is the Idolnation expected to hold its collective breath? “If I was the betting type, I’d say there’ll be something official announced by the end of next week. But that can all change at any second,” adds an Entertainment Weekly source. “Still, what’s the rush? This is, what, the third or fourth time media outlets have ‘confirmed’ the Steven Tyler rumor? All this water-cooler buzz isn’t such a bad thing for a show that a lot of pundits would love to try to paint as finished.” Indeed, to paraphrase a classic bit of Monty Python, Idol‘s not dead yet!

One other factor delaying the final announcement about who — and how many — will fill the chairs that were occupied in season 9 by Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and the definitively exiting duo of Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell: The fact that producers consider the chemistry among its roster of judges just as — and perhaps even more — important than individual star wattage. “We’ve seen over the last two years some really great people that have not fit together, as far as I’m concerned,” returning executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said in an interview with EW earlier this month. “Don’t forget, [when Idol first started] we introduced two people you’d never heard of — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson. It doesn’t always need this [element of], ‘They’ve done this, they’ve done that!’”

And so while Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson have been widely rumored as the clear front-runners for a revamped, three-member panel, at the end of the day, they’re scattered pieces of a very high-profile puzzle, and all of us will have to wait and see if the hands behind the show pick ‘em up and lock ‘em into place.

What do you think of a Tyler-J.Lo-Randy panel? Share your comments below. I am interested in finding out what Idol fans think of this rumored judges panel.

Portia de Rossi Wants to Be Portia DeGeneres

Portia de Rossi's second anniversary gift for Ellen DeGeneres? A name change.

The actress, who tied the knot with the talk show host, 52, on August 17, 2008, has asked the court to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres, according to a petition filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

As for the reason, the papers, which were initially signed by Rossi, 37, in March, say, "Petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse."

But de Rossi isn't a DeGeneres just yet. The name change won't be official until a hearing, scheduled for September 23rd, takes place.

A rep for the talk show host had no comment.

TMZ.com was first to report on the filing.

Stars Celebrate Overturning of California's Gay Marriage Ban

It's been a heavily debated topic for almost two years, but it took just a few seconds for celebrities to Tweet their cheers when Proposition 8, a ballot measure passed in November 2008 that banned same-sex marriages in California, was ruled unconstitutional Wednesday by a federal judge.

Here's what Hollywood had to say after U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker in San Francisco struck down Prop 8:

• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "This decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves."

• Ellen DeGeneres: "Equality won!"

• Portia de Rossi: "I am ecstatic that proposition 8 has been overturned in the state of California. This is an incredibly exciting and historical day and a big step towards equal rights for all."

• Lance Bass: "Congrats on the overturning of Prop 8!!!!"

• Pink: "It’s a good day!"

• Ricky Martin: "YEAHHHHH!!!!! PROP8UNCONSTITUTIONAL MOVING FORWARD!!!!!!!!"

• Kelly Osbourne: "so happy over the news on prop8 its about time!"

• Kim Kardashian: "Prop 8 was struck down! This news is amazing!!!! Its about time! Congrats to everyone!"

• Shanna Moakler: "Tonight we celebrate! EQUALITY and LOVE for all! This is so much bigger then [sic] marriage, it's about wisdom, compassion and knowing we CAN be heard, action DOES make a difference!"

• Samantha Ronson: "Song Of The Day: Let's Get Married- Jagged Edge."

• Paris Hilton: "What a huge historical day for equal rights in this country! They finally overturned Prop 8! There shouldn't be a law on true love. :)"

• Sophia Bush: "A MAJOR step forward. Everyone deserves the right to love whomever they choose. I am proud to be from Cali again!"

• Rose McGowan: "Yay! No more Prop H8! I wanna be a flower girl in a wedding asap!"

• Fran Drescher: "Congrats to CA for c-ing the light & rising above prejudice. u had me worried there! When Iowa is cooler than Cali, it's time to recalibrate!"

• Milla Jovovich: "Gay Marriage law overturned in CA!!! Thank god good ppl are being treated equally again! Now we need the rest of the US to follow!"

Still, not everyone cheered the decision. Some proponents of the proposition expressed their disappointment.

"Judge Walker's ruling overturning Prop 8 is an outrageous disrespect for our Constitution and for the majority of people of the United States who believe marriage is the union of husband and wife," conservative politician Newt Gingrich said on his Web site.

The legal fight is expected to continue with an appeal by supporters of Prop 8.

Will Randy Jackson Also Leave American Idol?

It’s been a week of ups and downs for the American Idol judges. But are there more changes still in the works?

With Ellen DeGeneres leaving the show, Kara DioGuardi reportedly out, and Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler reportedly joining the judges’ table, all eyes are on the show’s lone original judge, Randy Jackson.

The question is: Will the “dawg” be back for season 10?

“He is still under contract,” a source close to Jackson told People Magazine. “He’s a little fed up and torn with everything going on, but Randy is the kind of person who goes with the flow. He loves the show.”

So despite the shake-ups, Jackson is still on board – at least for now. “He wouldn’t stay somewhere he wasn’t happy,” the source adds.

The Grammy winning producer would love to continue his run on the show, says the source, but “he has a million other projects going on. Idol is a notch on his very accomplished belt.”

Meanwhile, FOX has kept mum about next season. On Monday, at the network’s presentation for the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, FOX entertainment chairman Peter Rice said cryptically, “No one has signed a deal yet on either side of the camera who wasn’t on the show last year. There are no specific deals with anybody.”

Jackson’s rep could not be reached for comment.

The 'Dawg' Speaks! Randy Jackson on the 'American Idol' Rumors

With each new day, comes new 'American Idol' casting rumors. Ellen DeGeneres quits. Is Jennifer Lopez onboard? Is Steven Tyler? Did Kara DioGuardi really get fired? What is going on with Randy Jackson?

One of the main players involved -- Mr. Randy Jackson – has finally spoken up. E!Online spoke to the big "dawg" earlier today and he confirmed one thing. The host isn't going anywhere.

"The only thing that's for sure is Ryan [Seacrest]," Jackson told E!Online at the 2010 Farmers Classic tennis tournament. "Nothing has been decided," he added.

And while he wouldn't comment on rumors about whether or not he was fired along with DioGuardi, he did say he'd be pumped to welcome J.Lo to the judge's panel. "If Jennifer Lopez is a judge I would be very happy," says Jackson. "I love her."

At the Television Critic's press conference, Fox executives Kevin Reilly and Peter Rice referenced the ongoing casting talks. "The only thing I can tell you with absolute certainty right now is that no one has signed a deal yet on either side of the camera to join American Idol next year that wasn't on it last year. There are no signed deals with anybody."

When pressed about DioGuardi's alleged firing, Rice said, "I'm not going to get into the speculation about it, [because] it's not fair to everyone who is being speculated about."

But when asked about all the J.Lo and Steven Tyler casting rumors, Rice admitted, "Much of the information that has been written is accurate, and some of the information has been wildly inaccurate."

Will Jennifer Lopez be New “Idol” Judge?

The guessing game as to who will replace Simon Cowell on American Idol continues but the question of who will replace Ellen DeGeneres is apparently already answered: Jennifer Lopez.

It has been reported that negotiations with Lopez began in secret about a month ago and was closed earlier this week clearing the way for Ellen’s departure to be announced. DeGeneres apparently made it clear a few months ago that she wanted off the show which saw its ratings drop last season.

It seems like a terrific time for Lopez to join Idol since her once red-hot recording and movie career has cooled.

Ellen DeGeneres Out as “American Idol” Judge!

Ellen DeGeneres has announced that she is leaving American Idol after just one season as a judge.

The popular singing competition, which also lost acerbic judge Simon Cowell at the end of last season, is suffering from declining ratings and some big changes are expected on the show.

Ellen is leaving despite a five year contract.

“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” she said in a statement. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for.”

The Emmy winning star remains the host of her popular daily syndicated talk show. As the fourth judge replacing Paula Abdul, she never seemed to find her footing on the show.

“I … realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on Idol and I am very grateful for the year I had, I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

In the same statement, Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said, “I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills. She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”

Peter Rice, the FOX entertainment chairman, said: “We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of Idol. We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”

Ellen DeGeneres to Start Her Own Record Label

Ellen DeGeneres is starting a record label!

The label, to be called eleveneleven, already has its first discovery: 12-year-old YouTube sensation Greyson Chance who first appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show two weeks ago.

The official announcement will be made today on Ellen’s talk show.

“Greyson … inspired me to start a record label called eleveneleven. He is my first artist and we are making a record together,” DeGeneres said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Chance is from Edmond, Oklahoma and was spotted by Ellen after posting a video of himself playing the piano and singing Lady Gaga’s hit song Paparazzi at a sixth grade music festival on the web. He was invited to appear on Ellen’s show on May 13th which sparked even more interest in him.

Chance, whose original video has been viewed more than 20 million times, has since posted two original compositions on YouTube — Stars and Broken Hearts. Chance already has other heavy hitters behind him: Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary and Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter.

Ellen will continue to use her show as a platform to find new artists whom she will sign to eleveneleven which is being set up in collaboration with Telepictures Productions.