Ellen DeGeneres Makes ‘American Idol’ Television Debut

Ellen DeGeneres made her “American Idol” television debut on Tuesday night.

Viewers got their first chance to see the comedienne, who was hired over the summer, in her judge’s seat on Tuesday’s episode of the FOX reality singing competition.

Before she took her seat, however, Ellen addressed the dozens of “Idol” hopefuls at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and explained what she felt her role was on the show.

“I don’t know how you feel right now, but I’ll tell you one thing, that when people say, ‘What do you know about music?’ I’ll tell you what I do know. I do know what it’s like to stand on stage and try to please an entire room full of people,” she said as the “Idol” contenders cheered. “That is a hard thing to do.”

Ellen first started out critiquing contestants less on the vocals, and more on their on stage presence.

“You frighten me, you were stalking us,” she said of one contender, who while singing couldn’t keep his eyes focused in any one direction.

“You were like a leopard in a cage… Don’t frighten your audience,” she added. “Don’t get so intense. Sexy and scary is a fine line.”

To another performer, who appeared on the stage barefoot, Ellen offered motherly advice.

“You should put some [shoes on] here, it’s filthy here,” she said. “Hollywood is a disgusting town.”

And Ellen even paid a little tribute to Paula Abdul, whose decision not to return made it possible for Ellen to join the judging panel.

When one male contestant did an acoustic version of Paula’s hit “Straight Up,” Kara DioGuardi said, “Paula would be screaming and yelling and clapping.”

“She’d be doing this for you right now,” Ellen added, throwing her hands up in the air and clapping wildly.