Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
Missing Paula, awaiting Ellen on “American Idol”
It’s been a long three weeks of screechers, also-rans and attention-seekers as “American Idol” plows through auditions looking for a potential star. And that’s just the celebrity judges.
With the audition rounds finally coming to a conclusion, all eyes are now turning to the debut of Ellen DeGeneres in the first Hollywood rounds on Feb 9, and whether she can fill the shoes of the missing Paula Abdul.
So far, most of the celebrity singers and actors called in at short notice last summer to replace the wacky and volatile Abdul have demonstrated only how difficult it is to find the right blend of chemistry, entertainment and insight on the judging panel that has arguably been one of the show’s biggest attractions over the past eight 
years.
And the “performances” of Avril Lavigne, Posh Spice and Joe Jonas don’t bode well for the departure next season of Simon Cowell and his spot-on but oh so insulting quips ( Think “human orange” and “nails on a chalkboard”) .
