Rosie On Ellen’s ‘Idol’ Move: She’ll Be ‘Much Better Than Paula’

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Rosie O’Donnell: Ellen Will Be ‘Much Better Than Paula’ On ‘Idol’
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Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Paula Abdul
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Rosie O’Donnell attends the opening night of ‘33 Variations’ on Broadway
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Rosie O’Donnell attends the 13th Annual Kids’ Night On Broadway at Madame Tussauds New York on February 3, 2009 in New York City

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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 11, 2009 3:41 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: September 11, 2009 3:51 PM EDT

NEW YORK, New York --

Rosie O’Donnell is predicting success for Ellen DeGeneres as the daytime talk show host takes over the fourth judge’s seat on “American Idol.”

“I think she’ll be very good at that show,” Rosie told Access Hollywood as she ventured out for Fashion’s Night Out in New York City on Thursday evening.

The outspoken former “View” moderator, who is gearing up to host her own radio show on SIRIUS XM this fall, said she thinks Ellen will actually fill the chair better than Paula Abdul, who in August, ended her “Idol” negotiations and Tweeted she would not be returning to the show.

”’[She’ll be] much better than Paula who was often incoherent,’ she said, causing another feud,” Rosie said, referring to her own headline-grabbing statement in the third person.

While a host of stars have taken seats as guest judges during “American Idol’s” audition rounds, including Victoria Beckham, Joe Jonas, Shania Twain and Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie, who has an extensive Broadway background, could never see herself sitting in.

“It’s all the way out in LA, No. 1,” Rosie said. “And No. 2, I could never really say anything mean to those kids trying.”

Rosie added that she hasn’t actually watched “Idol” in years.

“I kind of [went] off a little [on] ‘American Idol’ when they started making fun of the mentally challenged kids a few years ago,” she said. “I didn’t really enjoy that. Haven’t really watched it since.”

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