Ellen quit! I’m not surprised. Are you? Do you remember when Simon told Oprah that when Ellen signed on to do Idol, she had no idea that Simon was about to drop his “I’m outta here” bombshell? She started the day he quit, more or less. Imagine that! I’m betting that she decided to do one season right then and there. Just my astute observation.

Kara fired?
Further … on the hot carpet, TMZ.com reports that Kara DioGuardi was fired from Idol, and that American Idol is reportedly returning to their three-judge format, which includes Randy Jackson.

I suspect that they are keeping Randy on, not because he’s the hottest dawg since sliced bread, but rather so that some semblance of continuity and comfort remain. Three new judges would be too jarring.

Jennifer Lopez? Steven Tyler?
As I hear it, the three judges are Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

But wait, what about P Diddy?
P Diddy, a.k.a. Sean Combs, told George Lopez on his show Lopez Tonight, that he would love the job.

“At first when people were asking me if I was interested in the job I was like no … that’s not my style, but once I heard what Simon makes … [I] would love the job. . . . . I’ve got six kids. If I would get the same check Simon gets … we would have a ball.”

A word to P Diddy – P. do you really need more to have a ball with your six kids?

At the end of the day, the name of the show is American Idol. And I am hoping that the contestants are compelling enough, both in song and story, to carry the show forward. Remember when Fantasia sang Stormy Weather? I’m seriously hungry for more of that!

What are you hungry for? What shows curb your nighttime eating? What shows keep you out of the kitchen and away from the fridge?