Tv, Ellen Degeneres | featured news

Ellen DeGeneres, the award-winning comedian and talk show host, has been selected by the Kennedy Center to receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Ellen DeGeneres is dancing off "American Idol" after one season and Jennifer Lopez is poised to step in.

Ellen DeGeneres is leaving Fox's hit show after one season, opening two vacancies on its judging panel

The news caught many industry veteranos and more than a few critics who derided DeGeneres ascension to the Idol panel by surprise.

Even before Ellen DeGeneres took her seat on "American Idol," the roar began. Cries of "What does she know about music" and "Bring back Paula Abdul" lit up blogs and message boards. Then the next shoe dropped -- anchor judge Simon Cowell announced that the ninth season would be his last.

Ellen DeGeneres hit the right notes with "American Idol" viewers. Fans took to the Internet to express their pleasant surprise over the 52-year-old funnylady's debut as the singing competition's fourth judge. DeGeneres assumed her judging panel post for Tuesday's episode chronicling the first round of "Hollywood Week," the cutthroat post-audition phase in which 181 contestants will be narrowed down to 24 semifinalists.

Ellen DeGeneres has signed on to play Mother Nature in an untitled comedy being produced by Walden Media, says The Hollywood Reporter . The project is being penned by "Sex and the City" writer-executive producer Jenny Bicks.