Via People Magazine:
Kristin Chenoweth is the latest star to be tapped to temporarily fill Paula Abdul’s former seat as an American Idol guest judge, FOX tells PEOPLE exclusively.
The actress, who is nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her performance in ABC’s canceled Pushing Daisies will join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for the Orlando auditions later this week.
Chenoweth brings considerable vocal chops to the judges’ panel: An original cast member of the Broadway smash Wicked, she performed a solo sold out concert at the Metropolitan Opera House in 2007 and won a Tony award for her performance in the musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Another singer with Broadway experience to sit in the judges chair? Frankly, I think they should chuck the guest hosts completely and stick with the 3 judge panel, but what do I know?
Chenoweth joins a list of guest judges that include: Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris, and Shania Twain.
ETA: I hope, if the producers do settle on a permanent 4th judge by January, they choose a singer/recording artist with experience in the pop world like Cyndi Lauper or Queen Latifah. These kids are supposedly going on to pop recording careers after the show. Of course, that many of them–more of them actually–end up in theater does bolster an argument for saving that 4th spot for Broadway…
