Funny lady Ellen DeGeneres is sitting at the judges table tonight for the first time on American Idol. "I'm just a fan like everybody else," she says. "Ultimately, it doesn't come down to some expert in the music industry, it comes down to the person at home that says, 'That's the person I relate to and whose records I'm going to buy.' I hope to be that voice."

Ellen has already has her fair share of Idol drama -- rumors are circulating that her and fellow judge Simon Cowell don't get along at all. And although Ellen isn't completely putting the rumors to rest, she did tell Ryan Seacrest today: "I think he's a funny guy and I think he's a smart guy. I like Simon. He's going to be a challenge. He's Simon, and I'm me. We are completely different people. We'll see how it goes."

Are you excited to see Ellen start tonight?

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Photo: Michael Becker/FOX