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"Ellen DeGeneres hit a high note with critics -- and fans -- for her American Idol debut Tuesday.\r\n The New York Times noted she was &amp;quot;witty both in her embraces and her take-downs.&amp;quot; The Los Angeles Times lauded her &amp;quot;calm demeanor and deadpan wit.&amp;quot;\r\nSaid Entertainment Weekly: &amp;quot;Not only did the comedian/talk-show host treat the Paula Abdul Memorial Chair with a level of dignity and purpose that it had never before experienced, but she wasn&amp;apos;t afraid to dole out tough criticism when necessary.&amp;quot;\r\n New York Daily News observed that the difference between DeGeneres, 52, and Simon Cowell &amp;quot;became clear&amp;quot; on Tuesday&amp;apos;s show.\r\nTo one singer, Cowell, 50, sniped, &amp;quot;I hated everything about that.&amp;quot; To another, he yawned, &amp;quot;Wrong, wrong, wrong.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nDeGeneres&amp;apos; worst remarks? &amp;quot;I&amp;apos;m tired as it is - that almost put me out&amp;quot;; &amp;quot;It was crazy - in a bad way.&amp;quot;\r\nMTV said DeGeneres &amp;quot;provided exactly what the panel lacked in the past - a strong, confident voice of reason with the right combination of humor and useful advice.&amp;quot;\r\nSaid E! News: &amp;quot;She fit right in. Not only did the show wisely not dwell on her too much, leaving the emphasis on the terrifying &amp;apos;sudden death&amp;apos; round of Hollywood week, but she wasn&amp;apos;t too funny, either.&amp;quot;\r\n\r\nFans sang her praises as well.  On a fan site, one person wrote that DeGeneres was &amp;quot;a breath of fresh air&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;everything I expected and then some.&amp;quot;\r\nTell Us: Do you think Ellen made a good Idol judge?"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/critics-ellen-degeneres-fit-right-in-on-idol-2010102>