The episode was written by Allen Glazier and Dan Greaney and directed by Steven Dean Moore . The episode also features references to '' Lost '' and its series finale , Tiger Woods , and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill . " Judge Me Tender " has received mixed reviews from critics with many criticizing the short and unfunny cameos of the '' American Idol '' judges except for Simon Cowell . They especially criticized Ellen DeGeneres since she had experience as a voice artist in an animated film called ( '' Finding Nemo '' ) . The episode went down 14 % from the previous week 's episode due to the competition of airing against the '' Lost '' clip show according to Nielsen Media Research
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Judge Me Tender