# If any of the judges on American Idol quit, who would you replace them with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578 "2008-04-23T18:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/21 "2008-04-23T21:16:12Z")
Randy Jackson----\> Smokey Robinson Simon Cowell------\> Elton John Paual Abdul--------\> Somebody not of this earth. Seriously, I have no idea what planet that lady is on when she speaks. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/22 "2008-04-23T21:16:50Z")
I’d like to offer up G. Gordon Liddy. It’s been a while since he’s had any pop culture exposure, and it’s either this or a cameo in a Quentin Tarantino flick. This would also have the side benefit of combating claims that Hollywood is nothing but a bunch of gutless Commie-pinko liberal bed wetters who couldn’t do ten minutes in “The Hole” without crying for their mommies or coke dealers. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/23 "2008-04-23T21:51:26Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] I’d like to offer up G. Gordon Liddy. [/QUOTE] 😃 Hahaha! What a great suggestion! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/24 "2008-04-23T22:57:07Z")
Simon Cowell —\> Sam the Eagle Randy Jackson —\> Rowlf the Dog Paula Abdul —\> Miss Piggy ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/25 "2008-04-23T23:03:38Z")
**Lewis Black** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/26 "2008-04-23T23:40:39Z")
Taking the question seriously, a replacement judge would have to be someone with real pop music credibility, either as a major hit performer (like Paula) or on the production side (like Simon) or a little of both (like Randy). If Simon leaves, I think that Randy will take his chair, and suddenly become a lot more critical. For a replacement, a great candidate with unquestionable pop music chops, a great background in pop star promotion (for herself at least), and always interesting opinions would be Madonna. I could easily see her replacing Paula, and probably Randy. She’d have to lose the faux British accent, though. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/27 "2008-04-23T23:52:41Z")
[QUOTE=Billdo] For a replacement, a great candidate with unquestionable pop music chops, a great background in pop star promotion (for herself at least), and always interesting opinions would be Madonna. I could easily see her replacing Paula, and probably Randy. She’d have to lose the faux British accent, though. [/QUOTE] Was just thinking the same thing. Comedy suggestion: Chuck Norris, either for the roundhouse kicks or for the winner being able to thank him afterwards. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/28 "2008-04-24T05:09:34Z")
Ditka! ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/29 "2008-04-24T05:27:02Z")
Either Paul Westerberg, or Statler and Waldorf. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578/30 "2008-04-24T05:34:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Ditka! [/QUOTE] Full-sized Ditka or mini-Ditka? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-any-of-the-judges-on-american-idol-quit-who-would-you-replace-them-with/446578.md?page=1)