Like Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Crystal Bowersox before her, Ellen DeGeneres is out at American Idol.

FORBES: Ellen DeGeneres Exits American Idol

The problem is that it is not entirely about talent, or both Adam Lambert and Crystal Bowersox would both now be American Idols.

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Last year runner-up Jessica Sanchez was just as talented and deserving as winner Phillip Phillips, the previous season runner-up Lauren Aleana was neck and neck with winner and fellow country signer Scotty McCreery, and in the previous two season, the runner ups, Crystal Bowersox and Adam Lambert, were better than the winners, Lee DeWyze and Kris Allen.

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