Free Photo Hosting

Randy Jackson says he is excited to have Ellen DeGeneres joining the “American Idol” judges’ panel this season.

Fox announced Wednesday DeGeneres would be Paula Abdul’s permanent replacement on the show, joining Jackson, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi on the panel that sits in judgment of would-be singing stars.

Abdul and the show’s producers reportedly couldn’t agree on the terms of a new contract.

“Yo baby You know we got love,” Jackson told TV’s “Extra,” adding he is “so happy” about DeGeneres joining the “Idol” cast.

“It’s going go be fun. We’re gonna rock the house every night” he said. “Ellen’s gonna be rockin’, man.”

The new season of the singing competition series begins in January.

Free Photo Hosting

E! News reported the recording artist is to join permanent panelists Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi for contestant auditions in Chicago for two days this week.

Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Mary J. Blige are among the other celebrities alternately filling in for longtime “Idol” judge Paula Abdul, who recently announced she would return for the show’s upcoming ninth season.

No permanent replacement for Abdul has been announced.

E! News said rumors have been swirling that she and the show’s producers have renewed talks in an effort to secure a deal before the series returns.

Free Photo Hosting

We hear Simon is about to close a two-year deal with Fox that would keep him with through 2011.

“We’ve heard from Fox, who has asked us for approval for Simon Cowell to appear for three more years on ‘Idol [including the current season],’” Robert Sillerman, chief executive of CKX, the parent company of “Idol” co-producer 19 Entertainment, told the Hollywood Reporter Monday.

Sillerman said 19′s negotiations with Cowell include the current season, which began filming this week in Denver, as well as 2010 and 2011.

“We did grant approval for that, quite obviously,” he added.

Fox had no comment yesterday, and Cowell was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Daily News.

Cowell’s new deal with Fox will reportedly be worth $45 million a year, up from his current $36 million.

Cowell’s future on the show has been much-discussed this summer following comments he made to a British newspaper that he might consider leaving after the current season, when his deal was set to expire.

Says NY Daily news, these figures must be salt in the wounds of recently departed “Idol” judge Paula Abdul, who bowed out of her position via an announcement on Twitter last week.

Hmmmm, ya think?

Sources say Abdul was gunning for $10 million a year, up from $4 million, but Fox wouldn’t go that high.

Fox exec Peter Rice told reporter’s last week at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena that the network made a “fair” offer that was “a substantial raise on money she has made in the past,” but that Abdul turned it down.

“We’re very sad that she’s not coming back,” Rice said. “She’s been a very important part of the ‘Idol’ family.”

While Fox searches for a permanent replacement for Abdul, female pop stars like Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham – who filled in during the Denver auditions this week – will guest-judge.

Meanwhile, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest will all be back for the upcoming season.

Well Miss Paula, success is the best revenge – get at us at the Buzz – we’ve got some ideas for you.  Buzz

Alexis Cohen, 25, was pronounced dead at a Toms River, N.J., hospital Saturday, hours after her body was found in a Seaside Heights street, the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call reported Sunday.

Cohen’s death has been declared vehicular homicide, The Newark N.J. Star-Ledger reported.

Cohen garnered instant notoriety in January 2008 following her televised appearance on an “American Idol” audition show when she responded to judges’ criticism with profanity-laced comments. She returned in January for a repeat audition that again ended in profanity.

She capitalized on her failures with appearances on TV shows such as “Extra,” “Live with Regis and Kelly” and “The View.”

In a recent interview with AOL Television to promote the return of his A&E reality show “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” Gene said Adam’s decision to come out has effectively stopped the handsome 20-something’s career in its tracks.

“He’s enormously talented, best talent ‘American Idol’ has had, but I think he killed his career because now conversation is not about his talent but about his sexual preference,” Gene said.

Shortly after “Idol” wrapped up, Adam came out in a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine — although, by his own admission, Adam joked he was “never really in” the closet. But Gene believes some people won’t be able to get past Adam’s revelation about his sexual preference.