American Idol Producers: “We love and support all of the judges” (STATEMENT)

By On 10/05/2012 · 60 Comments · In American Idol, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj

Share on TumblrShare via email

American Idol producers have issued a statement on the Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey feud

“This is one of the best, most passionate, dynamic and invested judging panels we’ve ever had.  We love and support all of the judges and the fantastic work they are doing, and we can’t imagine a better group to find the next AMERICAN IDOL.  Despite all the accusations and media speculation —  much of which is inaccurate — production is going extremely well today and the judges are focused on finding the best talent here in Baton Rouge.”

I would imagine that The Powers That Be would just like the entire situation to settle down and disappear. See Nigel. That’s what happens when you stir the pot! You’ve got two strong women on your judges panel this year, and they aren’t taking orders from you!

I just hope both Mariah and Nicki come to some sort of understanding and stop this silly bitch fight. Just recently on The View, Nicki spoke about wanting to be a strong role model for girls. Airing your catty feud in public? That ain’t it. It’s unsettling to me, personally to see the worst stereotypes about women reinforced through Mariah and Niki’s behavior.

If Nigel and his producers believe controversy is going to save his show, he’s wrong. Has it helped the X Factor any? No it hasn’t. American Idol is the gold standard of competitive singing shows. It earned that by casting GREAT talent worthy of viewers investment.Concentrate your efforts on casting and producing an entertaining show! And whatever PERSONAL drama goes on between judges or staff? WORK IT OUT BEHIND THE SCENES.

And chicas? Keep the passion BUT SHOW SOME RESPECT! Two strong women should be bonding and affirming each other NOT tearing each other down. Blargh.

 
← Older Comments
  • fuzzywuzzy

    There are good points in that post, but one big difference is that (so far) there haven’t been major fights or even mild disagreements aired between Demi and Britney, and maybe, that’s why they haven’t attracted a lot of their respective fanbases as viewers (based on ratings info).

    With Mariah and Nicki, IF the conflict/sniping continues or their fanbases are convinced of the animosity/hatred between them, then more of their fans may watch the show simply based on the emerging fanwar. A pretty lousy motivation IMO, but as long as the ratings are impacted positively, Idol/FOX doesn’t care.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    ” I see train-wreckery as distinct from conflict and suspense that arises
    from how the singers will handle the music. I realize there’s some
    blurriness, depending how the editing is done. But “how will X handle
    theme Y?” tells us something about the contestants as musicians, while
    “will judges A and B bite and scratch?” doesn’t.”

    I agree. There is a difference between these two kinds of “drama”.

  • Jazz_11

    I disagree! They think when they hired these judge it would create a lot of  buzz, but they dragged the decitions too long the buzz/press wasn’t as high as they wanted. So I think Nigel and other producers decided to leak the cat fight to get press, again it’s the wrong moves.

  • http://twitter.com/TarheelShari Sharon S.

    First of all, thanks, Taylor, for believing my post deserved to be brought over to another thread. :-)

    With Mariah and Nicki, IF the conflict/sniping continues or their
    fanbases are convinced of the animosity/hatred between them, then more
    of their fans may watch the show simply based on the emerging fanwar. A
    pretty lousy motivation IMO, but as long as the ratings are impacted
    positively, Idol/FOX doesn’t care.

    That’s possible, but very short-sighted of TPTB, if indeed that’s the thought process at work.  If the show itself does not appeal to Nicki’s fans (and IMO it’s largely Nicki’s fans that are at issue here – Mariah’s fans are probably more in Idol’s existing demographic), I don’t see them sticking it out through the entire season, especially if Nicki and Mariah settle into a reasonably civil working relationship.  AI would need to do something besides get Nicki Minaj on the panel to keep those viewers – i.e. cast the show differently, and use more music/themes that would attract a younger, more urban/hip hop/pop-oriented audience.  If the show does not make those changes, and just relies on conflict between two of the judges to keep the “buzz” going, what will happen when one or both of them decline to return for Season 13 (assuming there is a Season 13)?  Try to cast more judges who will be at each other’s throats?  Is Idol willing to become the Jerry Springer Show of singing competitions in order to attract viewers?

    I still say it’s far from guaranteed that Nicki Minaj’s mere presence on the judging panel will be enough to retain younger viewers for any length of time, in the absence of other changes to the show (and Idol could have made those changes without Nicki’s presence, had it wanted to do so). If Idol is relying on catfights to attract and retain viewers, it’s a sad turn of events, even if it’s successful, and it doesn’t bode well for the future direction of the show.

  • elliegrll

     

    AI would need to do something besides get Nicki Minaj on the panel to keep those viewers 

    This is always the case, no matter who the judges are, and it’s true for the other singing shows too.  People will initially tune in because of the judges, but it’s the cast of contestants who have to keep them tuning in for the rest of the season.

    There are clear changes that need to take place in order to keep new viewers interested, such as expanding the playlist, especially including songs from the 2000s and 1990s.   Making sure that the pool of contestants is diverse.  And letting everyone perform songs that are arranged in the style that suits them best.

  • Incipit

    Is Idol willing to become the Jerry Springer Show of singing competitions in order to attract viewers?

    Quite possibly, considering their recipe for creating buzz,  I give them too much credit, Sharon S. But one option is the Bait & Switch. Bait the audience with the judges, switch them to the contestants…if they can.

    But that won’t work unless this happens too:

     i.e. cast the show differently, and use more music/themes that would a appeal to a younger, more urban/hip hop/pop-oriented audience.

    And posters have been saying that since last year – in fact, way before the Stunt Casting – the barometer to see if Idol was serious about getting new viewers was how varied was the cast, how refreshed was the song catalog, and how revamped were the themes in Season 12. Well, they took a step – maybe it’s a misstep, maybe it was driven by FOX, and not Idol PTB, maybe it will work – we shall see.

    But now that Ms Minaj is on the panel, they have a built in expectation of some contestants who perform in her genre…so they better have something to perform. But not all of them – there are Country and Pop judges to consider too. . I don’t know if this set of middle aged, Glory note-loving Brits can pull it off – any or all of it. They may need an ‘advisor’ – as long as it isn’t the ubiquitous Will.I.Am. *snerk*.

    JMO. Of Course.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    ” AI would need to do something besides get Nicki Minaj on the panel to
    keep those viewers – i.e. cast the show differently, and use more
    music/themes that would a appeal to a younger, more urban/hip
    hop/pop-oriented audience.  If the show does not make those changes, and
    just relies on conflict between two of the judges to keep the “buzz”
    going, what will happen when one or both of them decline to return for
    Season 13 (assuming there is a Season 13)?  Try to cast more judges who
    will be at each other’s throats?  Is Idol willing to become the Jerry
    Springer Show of singing competitions in order to attract viewers?”

    True, but I’m not sure how far sighted they want to be and I think that the way that the fight was publicized, Idol/FOX have already decided to expand into the JSS-flavor of television. However, I suspect that the plan is more than just initially attracting new fans with the “feud” and hoping that they will stick around, Idol/FOX also has to substantially change the casting of the contestants to appeal to Nicki’s fans.

    “I still say it’s far from guaranteed that Nicki Minaj’s mere presence on
    the judging panel will be enough to retain younger viewers for any
    length of time, in the absence of other changes to the show (and Idol
    could make those changes without Nicki’s presence, if it wants to do
    so). If Idol is relying on catfights to attract and retain viewers, it’s
    a sad turn of events, even if it’s successful, and it doesn’t bode well
    for the future direction of the show.”

    I think that Idol/FOX may be looking at the X-Factor and seeing that even having hired Demi and Britney (with their 10′s of millions of twittter followers), the demo ratings have fallen, so just having current stars as judges isn’t enough. That’s where the bright idea of leaking the video of the fight comes in, to try to fuel a fan war and possibly increase the chances of Mariah and Nicki’s fans tuning in. And, yes, I agree that it doesn’t bode well for the future of the show. At this point, raising ratings in the key demo is the highest priority.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    “But one option is the Bait & Switch. Bait the hypothetical new,
    younger audience with the judges, switch them to the contestants…if
    they can.”

    Yes, this would be “part 2″ of the strategy, but will Idol/FOX do it? We should be able to tell pretty early on if they are serious about trying to keep any new, younger viewers who initially tune in more to support Nicki/Mariah rather than out of interest in the show itself by how they cast the contestants for the voting rounds. IMO, Nicki and Mariah need to find a way to disagree with each other, as judges, without those disagreements devolving into vicious, personal attacks. Whether they can achieve that is anyone’s guess at this point.

  • MyDailyComment

    I want to see one of the contestants run up on stage and push someone down while they try to sing.  We need more drama not less!

    Jerry Springer IDOL

    Someone needs a chair to hit someone!!!

    (I’m not being honest.)

  • MyDailyComment

    They have only been working for about a week. How can they be the best at anything when no other group of judges ever had this kind of behavior?

← Older Comments