I don’t know the back story but I believe they’ve made a bad trade.
This won’t go over as well as they hope.
I realize people made fun of Abdul but she had a way of softening some of the harsher criticism, which the show needed.
Also Paula Abdul was a singer, Ellen was a comedian, actress, and talk show host. But not a well known singer.
Why not give the gig to Alan Thicke or Arsenio Hall?