Ellen DeGeneres replaces Paula Abdul on American Idol,' but who will replace Adam Lambert?

The television behemoth known as "American Idol" storms into its ninth season Tuesday night and everyone is wondering: How much will the show miss Paula Abdul?

But the more esstential question might be: How much will it miss Adam Lambert?

Abdul, of course, left the "American Idol" judges panel last summer in a huff, taking her sweet and kooky demeanor with her. She was replaced by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who won't join the festivities until Hollywood Week in February, but more on that later.

For now, the show's overlords should be worried sick about how they're going to replace Lambert, the charismatic glam-rocker cited by Rolling Stone last season as the performer who "single-handedly saved the 'Idol' franchise."

OK, so that slobbery proclamation is a bit of a reach. "American Idol," after all, was prime time's ratings champ long before Lambert arrived and likely will be again. But what can't be disputed is that Lambert brought a seismic jolt to an aging "Idol" exactly when it needed one — when the show's formula and stock archetypes were starting to feel stale.

Though he was ultimately beaten out by the low-key Kris Allen, Lambert was a game-changer, dominating "Idol" and the buzz surrounding it like no contestant before him. Even viewers who previously turned a cold shoulder to the show tuned in each week specifically to see what kind of thrilling twist he would bring to an otherwise familiar song.

So who's going to step in and provide that kind of energy and spark? Who's going to fill that void? Now that we've experienced full-blown Adamania, will anything that arrives in its wake feel like one big case of the blahs?

At least it sounds like we won't be plagued by a bunch of Lambert clones. In a recent interview posted on Billboard. com, "Idol" judge Randy Jackson said he expected to see "a trillion Adam Lamberts" show up during the audition process. But that didn't happen.

"This is a whole different bunch," he said.

That comes as a big relief. Though Lambert's electrifying presence kept us enthused (and often amused) the last thing we need is a parade of shrieking, eyeliner-wearing pretenders. We prefer something original — if "Idol" still has the ability to provide that in Year 9.

Which brings us back to Ellen. How will she fit in? How will she affect the chemistry on the judges' panel? Will she bring something fresh — or fail to bring much at all, as rookie Kara DioGuardi did last season?