MANILA, Philippines?Kara Dioguardi has only nice things to say about fellow ?American Idol? judge Ellen DeGeneres.

?Ellen brings a sense of humor, of course. But I also think she knows more about music than we think she does,? Kara told reporters during a recent conference call. ?She has a really good handle on whether a contestant has potential and star quality. She did an incredible job on her first day, delivering criticism with kindness.?

Kara was also quick to dismiss rumors of Ellen and Simon Cowell butting heads. ?You have to take every rumor you hear about ?American Idol? with a grain of salt,? she said. ?They usually aren?t true.?

How would you compare Ellen to Paula [Abdul]?

Paula and Ellen are completely different [from each other]. They both bring something valuable to the table.

Is there an Adam Lambert this year?

The contestants were interpreting songs from the get-go in audition week. They were taking some risks, and maybe that is because of Adam, but that?s definitely a sign of good artists.

Are you more relaxed in your own role? Do you have new expectations for this season, as a judge?

I?m definitely more relaxed and more comfortable because I?m a little bit more used to being in front of television. In terms of my expectations, I?ve kept them open. There was a new judge in every audition city and in Hollywood Week, we finally had Ellen. I just want to stay open to everything and be in the moment and try to be the best judge I could be.

Who do you think would be a good mentor this year?

I think Harry Connick Jr. would be great, especially for standards or maybe even jazz. I also love Meatloaf. I think he?d be fun for rock because I?ve worked with him in the studio. We recorded a song recently, and he brought out a different side of me, vocally. He has a background in method acting, and he kind of applies it to singing and performance. I think those two would be pretty good.

What are your thoughts on on the rumor that Howard Stern will join ?Idol? next year?

Right now, that?s [just] a rumor. I don?t think he has a musical background or any kind of music anything, and I think that if you?re going to replace Simon, you have to have that background. You have to know about signing great artists and being a part of their careers from the very beginning to the very end, like he?s done with talents like Leona Lewis.

Just for fun, if you could rate Ellen as a judge... ?

I?m not going to [do that]. I think she?s doing great.

There have been rumors of tension between Ellen and Simon.

Any rumor you hear about ?American Idol,? you have to take with a grain of salt. They?re usually not true. Last year, it was Kara and Paula fighting, hate each other. It?s ridiculous. We?re here to do one thing, and that?s to find the greatest ?American Idol? winner, and I know Ellen and Simon both take that seriously.

What is the biggest mistake contestants make during Hollywood Week?

It?s definitely song choice. They take on something that?s way too big for them. Or they go through the audition rounds and we [see] how great they are, and then they decide to completely change when they get to Hollywood Week. Also, the fact that they stand on that stage, and they can?t fill it up. They can?t perform. They can?t project.

How do you think Ellen is changing the dynamics in the judging?

I spent five days with her?many, many hours. What you?re seeing is an edited-down version of what happened, and there are specific reasons that the producers put certain scenes in and [not the others]. I think the dynamic will develop over time. That?s what?s going to make it such an exciting season, that it?s very unpredictable. You don?t know what?s going to happen.

A lot of the producers, and Randy Jackson in particular, have been saying things like, they would like to see a girl win this year. Do you have a preference?

I would love to see a girl win. I think that this year, or especially what?s going on in music currently, it?s the women?s movement?Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Kesha, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga. You have these very unique women at the forefront of the industry. They have their own voices, their own styles. Looking at the pool of talent this year, it?s a similar situation. But I also do think that the men are very good, solid singers. I do think it?s a lot easier to break women than men, in terms of their records once the show is done.

American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on Starworld at 6 p.m. with prime time encore on the same day at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.