Can you imagine if this spitfire comedienne became a judge on American Idol?! The contestants would be in tears, but we would be in stitches!

Now that Simon Cowell announced Jan. 11 that he’s officially leaving American Idol to focus on his other talent show, The X-Factor, we’ve been scratching our heads trying to figure out who in the heck could possibly fill his black V-neck T-shirts. Thankfully, self-proclaimed “D-lister” Kathy Griffin is confident she’s up to the task — after all, she can be just as nasty as the caustic Cowell.

“You don’t seem to get it. I’m judging ALL THE TIME,” Kathy, 49, told HollywoodLife.com exclusively Jan. 12. “It’s not just a job offer for me. It’s a lifestyle choice. So, believe me, whether Simon or X or Y or Z approaches me, I’m judging. It’s good to have a passion.”

As it turns out, Kathy was our audience’s second choice to replace Simon on “Idol,” finishing just a few percentage points shy of Piers Morgan of America’s Got Talent!

Whew. It’s good to know Kathy’s on board! After watching her Emmy award-winning show, My Life on the D-List, it’s obvious the flame-haired funnygirl is full of controversial opinions—and she isn’t afraid to vocalize them, either. We think she’d be a smash hit on Idol.

Randy Jackson, Ellen Degeneres … and now, Kathy Griffin.