By Eric Ditzian
Last March, as it became increasingly clear Simon Cowell didn't give a hoot and Ellen DeGeneres' nice-gal charm didn't translate well to reality competition judging, I wrote a story headlined, "Is Kara DioGuardi The Best 'American Idol' Judge?"
"She's consistently given out the most insightful criticism, displayed the most informed ear and dolled out the advice contestants would be most wise to follow," I argued, staking out an opinion that was surely not popular but which was difficult to dispute if you looked at the show honestly.
Now comes word that, following Ellen DeGeneres' exit, DioGuardi might well be getting the heave-ho from "Idol" producers. All I can say is, "Noooo!"
It feels weird to be in a position of defending Kara. There really is something a bit prickly about her presence on the "Idol" panel, a hyper-sensitivity mixed with an over-seriousness. Alas, she's just not that likeable. Of course, why she comes off as unlikeable, whereas the far more acerbic Simon Cowell is a fan favorite, is the topic for a different blog post.
But you know what? Forget likeability. As with my politicians, I prefer my "Idol" judges to be competent rather than someone with whom I'd like to share a beer. And Kara was undoubtedly the most competent season nine judge, both understanding and communicating the key ingredients of a successful recording artist.
Listen, being an "Idol" judge is incredibly hard. It takes practice to pop off a TV-friendly sound bite. If you doubt that, just remember how much Ellen, with years of experience in front of the camera, struggled during the live shows. With Kara, Ellen and Simon gone, we'd be stuck with Randy Jackson's shrug-heavy commentary and two new judges attempting to learn on the job.
For a show already dipping in the ratings, the last thing producers should do is boot the one person with the potential to replace Simon as the must-hear "Idol" judge. No knock against rumored replacements Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, but can either of these reality novices offer more enlightening words than Kara, herself a vet of both the judges table and the recording studio?
While I don't imagine Kara will get the same support that Conan O'Brien did during his struggles with NBC ("I'm with KaKa" doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?), we'd like to see the "Idol" faithful raise their voices and say in unison, "Don't let Kara go!"
Do you want to keep Kara DioGuardi on "American Idol"? Let us know in the comments!