By Michael Slezak

updated 3:28 p.m. ET Sept. 28, 2009

Tonight marks the fourth-season finale of “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” (MTV, 9:00 p.m. EDT), and to mark the occasion, the titular producer and “American Idol” judge got on the phone with EW.com to discuss the AfroBorike-vs.-We Are Heroes “ABDC” finale, the addition of Ellen DeGeneres to “Idol’s” judges panel, and critics who are tired of him using the word “Dawg” in every episode of the nation’s No. 1 television program.

There’s been a wide-range of responses to Ellen DeGeneres joining the “Idol” judges’ panel. What would you say to people who argue Ellen doesn’t have the musical background or the toughness to be a good judge?

Jackson: Between myself, Simon and Kara, we’re so well-versed in the music industry, I don’t know if there needs to be any more insider information talking about the music and everything. (Music) is clearly what we all do every day as our real life’s work — even though we have other TV shows and other things going on — and Ellen, she can represent the voice of the people. It’s almost like having someone from the public on the panel. Ellen is very smart, very talented, and is a huge, huge, giant music fan, along with being a friend of mine, a friend of Ryan’s, a friend of Simon’s. We’ve all known her for a while and we love her, and I think she’ll be really good. I think she’ll offer that insight of the person sitting at home.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33060922/ns/entertainment-television/