September 14, 2009

FOX411 EXCLUSIVE: Kara DioGuardi spills on sharing stage with Ellen DeGeneres

Kara DioGuardi, last season's new judge on "American Idol," tells FOX411 she's thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres on the show full-time because now she's not the new kid at school anymore!

The songwriter says she's excited to share the table with the comedian, and is also crossing her fingers that Ellen can convince Justin Timberlake to stop by the set.

"It would be exciting if Ellen coaxed him into being on the show," she told FOX411. "He's a tremendous performer, and he’s made the leap from going from a band to a hugely successful solo career. We have a lot of performers attempting to do just that and it takes a very specific set of skills."

DioGuardi spent her weekend in and out of the hair and makeup chair getting ready to attend the MTV Video Music Awards and one fashion show after another in New York. FOX411 caught up with her at the Byron and Tracey salon at the Metropolitan Showtime house for our exclusive interview between her appearances.

"I found out about Ellen on the plane to New York on Wednesday night, " DioGuardi said. "I was taking a nap and my manager woke me and said, 'Ellen’s going to be on Idol!'"

DioGuardi said she had "heard rumblings, but everything is always a surprise to me on 'Idol.' I'm the newbie, so I show up an hour early for work. I'm like an eager puppy. The last few weeks with Paula leaving and Ellen joining were all very unexpected, but now there’s someone newer than me!"

The "Idol" judge gave several reasons DeGeneres would make a great addition to the show. "Ellen has an incredible, positive attitude, and she's a lover of music," said DioGuardi. "She's a die hard fan of 'American Idol.' She's an accomplished performer, someone who's won Emmys. She proves on her show that she can bring out the best in her fans and in her guests – even the audience. Ellen knows how to make people have a good time."

DioGuardi said DeGeneres brings an added star-maker's eye to the judge's panel, too. "Music, singing and arranging are an important part of the show, but the additional component is being a star, and Ellen knows how to be a star and give people a true sense of who she is. She’ll be able to bring out the stars on 'American Idol' this season."

I'm like an eager puppy.

Badgley also marked our first encounter with American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi, or as we privately think of her, "the one we fast-forward through. After fast-forwarding through Randy." Kara is tiny, very pretty, and totally disinterested in talking about Paula Abdul. "I haven't talked to her. I'm sure she's doing her own thing," she said dismissively when asked about the Loopy One's post-Idol career prospects. Clearly, Kara's unaware of how much fun it can be to announce wholly uninformed speculations about people you barely know. We expected more from her.

Badgley also marked our first animal shelter meeting with American Idol judge Kuntra DildoGonorrea, or as we privately think of her, "the one we hurl at the sight of and fast-forward through. After fast-forwarding through Randy." Kuntra is gaunt, whorish, very dogfaced, and totally disinterested in talking about Paula Abdul. "I haven't talked to her. I'm sure she'll be more popular than I ever will be in a million years," she said dismissively when asked about the Loopy One's post-Idol career prospects. Clearly, Kuntra's unaware of how much fun it can be to announce informed opinions that she writes shit songs. She is aware that she will be loathed by all the Paula fans. We expect more horrible judging, ugly prune-lipped facial expressions and plenty of disgusting frauen-like behavior from her.

Vulture Exclusive: Kara DioGuardi Shops New Reality Show, Dropped

9/16/09 at 4:36 PM

With Paula Abdul's departure and Ellen DeGeneres's recent addition to American Idol, everyone seated at the judges' table now has their own separate reality competition show — except for Kara DioGuardi. But that may soon change! We ran into her last night, and she told us she's currently developing one: "It's called Dropped ... I'm starting to shop it now," she told us at the G-Star Raw show at the Hammerstein Ballroom. "It takes the best acts that have been dropped and gives them a second chance. You look at Katy Perry, the Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, and Lady Gaga, they all have one thing in common: They've all been dropped from their labels ... I was dropped. Think about how many times in your life you haven't achieved one goal, but you've achieved another one."

DioGuardi says the show would focus on music — and more! "[It'll be] 'You didn't get up at five this morning to go to a radio interview. How do you think that's doing to affect you?'" (Negatively, we bet.) So will she be the host of Dropped? "Oh, my God, now we're getting into particulars ... All right, maybe! I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."

For the record, we totally hope Dropped happens, as it might finally give a televised platform to forgotten artists like Katherine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, and Ruben Studdard.

By: Diana Scholl

I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."