Ellen DeGeneres - the newest American Idol judge, has reportedly threatened to leave the series if Howard Stern joins the team. Stern - the 'notorious' shock jock is one of many names recently floated as a replacement for Simon Cowell - who is set to leave the AI panel to judge and to executive produce the American version of "X-Factor" a British reality show he created.

Married couple, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi walk into Madeo Restaurant hand in hand. Photo by: Fame Pictures

A source of Chicago Sun-Times spilled: "Ellen has told just about anyone who will listen that she's totally opposed to the [Howard Stern] idea." But the website quickly added that: "it’s probably not likely". Another source of Chicago Sun-Times added: "The Stern thing makes for good chatter, but is such a remote possibility, I can’t see it ever happening — at least in this life." Sigh, what's happening to American Idol?