And the fourth American Idol seat goes to Ellen DeGeneres.Fox has announced that the Emmy-winning talk show host and comedian has joined Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi on the Idol judging panel, starting from the ninth season next year.

I think you can really call this an American Idol reunion now, the upcoming VH1 Divas concert.  We‘ve got three former contestants and a former judge.  That counts, right?

Seriously?  I don‘t know.  Since last season‘s top four contestants have snagged record deals--three within weeks, and Danny Gokey just getting his last week--I‘m suddenly wondering as to who will be next contestant from the last batch of

"It‘s like comparing a carrot to a banana," Simon Cowell said over the weekend, when asked about how the chemistry between the American Idol

With a third of a year to go before American Idol returns, the least we could do is this roundup.  Because there‘s a world outside the last crop of finalists--and then there‘s David Cook hitting platinum with "Light On".  Had to mention that because a friend‘s been goading me to mention it when I mentioned Adam Lambert‘s album release...

The Emmys are getting a viral, user-generated component this year asCBS is teaming up with Vaseline to sponsor "Breakthrough Performance ofthe Year," a category which allows viewers to vote for their favoriteTV moments of the year, with the top three and winner being revealed onthe primetime Emmy Awards telecast Sunday, September 20 on CBS.

And pandemonium ensues.  First posted on Adam Lambert‘s Twitter page, confirmation that his first album after American Idol will be released

Welcome back to pop star sensibilities, American Idol.Canadian pop-rocker Avril Lavigne is the next celebrity to throw herself into the pot of the show‘s guest judges, one that I also lovingly call the "temporary Paula Abdul replacement" pot.  (I think I mentioned it before.)

We‘ve been waiting for quite a while for this, and it‘s finally happened: American Idol third placer Danny Gokey has signed a record deal with 19 Recordings and RCA Nashville.  It‘s a pretty big thing, actually: this is the first time the entire final four of an Idol season has been given a record deal with 19, with Kris Allen Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta signing their contracts last June.

If I were you, I‘d save up for November and prepare to buy one, maybe two, maybe three albums from last season‘s American Idol crop.Just when we‘ve kept quiet (for just a bit, and in a good way) about the season 8 finalists, we realize that they‘ve got albums to work on, and a career after the tour, which is set to wrap up in a couple of weeks or so.  Of course, there‘s winner Kris Allen.  Of course, there‘s Adam Lambert, never mind the earlier tussle about his unreleased material.  Add in fourth placer Allison Iraheta, and you have the three contestants who‘ll release albums--so far.