Kara DioGuardi will join Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, as a judge when the eighth season of American Idol premieres in January. Mike Darnell, president, alternative programming of Fox, said:

"For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges’ table."

Paula just had surgery on her neck to try to get rid of the pain. Looks like she might need more pain killers, which means her loopy behavior on Idol might require some time off from Idol this coming season. Kara will make a good replacement for Paula if she is unable to fulfill her contractual requirements.

Ellen DeGeneres got Simon Cowell to really open up about Fantasia, and her insane performance on American Idol. He’s so great, honest, and humble. Click here if you missed the Fantasia performance.

Fantasia gave a freaky performance tonight on American Idol. The look on Simon Cowell’s face says it all. The song was a lot of yelling and booty shaking, but nothing that could be danced to. I’m not even sure it was bad, it was just off, and I don’t mean off the hook, I mean different, but that’s Fantasia. She does give an energetic show, and usually sweats like a pig. As Ryan Seacrest was spreading on the compliments she tried to grab and kiss him. The whole experience sent cold shivers down my spine. Video of Fantasia’s performance is below.

John Rich, who is a judge on the upcoming show Nashville Star, had a slightly different view of Paula Abdul’s difficulty doing her judging job on American Idol this week. Rich said:

"When Paula made a comment on a performance that didn’t just happen, I put myself in the place of that artist [Jason Castro], and what they may feel, the humiliation of that. The lack of respect is terrible. If you’re not any more serious about it than that, get another job! Let somebody that cares judge it."

AMEN!

Rich had harsh words for the show American Idol itself too:

"American Idol infuriates me. They’re being fake about it. I’m not surprised their ratings are in the toilet."

To make it clear this wasn’t any sort of rivalry talking Rich said:

"I’m actually friends with Randy Jackson."

This sounds like something Simon Cowell would say if he wasn’t a judge on American Idol.

It finally happened. Simon Cowell’s least favorite American Idol contestant, Brooke White, was FINALLY voted off. Brooke said at the start "I’ll let the chips fall where they may," then today the chips were gone, and there were only crumbs left. Before her final number Brooke cried really hard, then fought threw her sobs to say:

"I just want to say thank you. It’s going to be terrible for me right now, but thank you."

I’d like to see Brooke perform, and I’m sure I will at a local coffee shop somewhere in Los Angeles.