Nigel Lythgoe: Mariah and Nicki Have Collided (No Feud)

By On 09/19/2012 · 16 Comments · In American Idol

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In the press line after yesterday’s So You Think You Can Dance finale, American Idol producer, Nigel Lythgoe continued to deny there was a “feud” between new judges, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. No cat fight here!

“Why would there be? It’s not about them. They know that. It’s about the kids that come out there. It really has already become very constructive to the point of we’ll say, ‘Oh for Christ’s sake, shut up. Let’s move on.’ If they’re saying ‘no,’ they’ve got to tell them for half an hour why they’re saying ‘no’ and how they can improve and come back.”

Nigel’s creative way to describe the relationship between BFFs, Nicki and Mariah:

“We’re calling it, ‘Mariah and Nicki have collided,” but collided in a good way, in a creative way,” he said. “Nicki is very deferential to Mariah in the sense that [she'll tell auditioners], ‘You do realize you’re auditioning in front of this incredible singer here. Why would you choose her song to sing?’”

So where does the “colliding” part come in? Obviously there are some disagreements, no? I wish you would elaborate, Nigel!

“The kids that come in are either super-fans of Nicki and go, “Ooh wow, Nicki, I love you!’ We’ve had a couple people sing ‘Super Bass,’” he said. “Or they’re fans of Mariah and they’ve been to Camp Mariah. Then there’s the Keith Urban fans. So Randy [Jackson]‘s sort of left [out], looking around.“

Ah ha ha…Poor Randy.

“It was certainly the best first day of auditions I’ve ever had,” he said. “That includes Randy, Paula [Abdul] and Simon [Cowell], and then Jennifer [Lopez],Steven [Tyler] and Randy. The panel in general are smart, they’re witty, they’re really constructive, they already have put benchmarks for themselves.”

Best American Idol Judges Panel EVAH!  They’re IN IT TO WIN IT YO.

Via FOX News

 
  • julesb2183

     Interesting. Sounds like the feud is all made up. I am glad these judges are actually telling the contestants how to improve.

  • mileyfan123

    I’m excited for the panel. I think Nicki, Mariah, and Keith will be able to keep it real when needed. I think they will also be less obvious mouthpieces for production, unlike Randy and J Lo.

  • fantoo1

    I hope the new judges prove a lot of the critics and naysayers wrong. If they prove to have insightful critiques, are likable, and have great chemistry, then that’s all that matters, right?

  • sporkle

    I was initially doubtful at the eclectic mix of judges, but I think there’s a chance this could really work out to be a really constructive, entertaining season.

    Of course, there’s also the chance it could be a complete and total train-wreck. But that’s fun too. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

    All I can say is that Nikki’s costumes are colliding and clashing with the other judge’s costumes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

    Did the judges sign multi-year contracts or will we go through this again next year?

  • Mateja Praznik

    Most likely just 1 year contracts. Mariah, Nicki and Keith are all active artists that have other things to do. And considering how Randy almost became a mentor, I think TPTB want to keep it open with him, so they can get rid of him next season if need be.

  • julesb2183

     My guess is that Nicki and Keith will be gone after this season or the next, like JLo and Steven, to focus on their careers. Mariah will stay and Randy will stay as long as TPTB let him.

  • Jordana33

    If I had to choose between feuding or a montage of bad contestants singing “Super Bass” (let’s face it…it’s inevitable), I’d take the feud….

  • jeffreyd95821

    Let’s just throw them in a mud wrestling ring and be done with it. Sparkles the Clown can be the referee. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

     Fantoo, as I mentioned in previous messages, no matter who the judges are, the fans/audience will criticize them.  Mother Mary can be sitting at the table and the fans/critics will criticize her.

  • too-cool-for-school

    If they are constructive, I hope it can remain that way rather than eventually sucking up to everyone and being positive about everything like J-Lo, Steven and Randy did. Cue the clip of evil Nigel clapping, (the one that Slezak always uses in his recaps).

    He has so often pretended in the past to like harsh critiques and honesty but then the judges wind up being wimps. I have to believe he is somewhat responsible for that.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    It’s annoying that Nigel is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Telling TMZ about Mariah and Nicki being “at eachother’s throats”, then denying it publicly.

  • fantoo1

    Who knows if it’s Nigel leaking it though, it could be Ken.

  • http://twitter.com/cd11th Christian

    I actually think that Keith will be the one who will remain. All have other projects to produce and promote, but it seems like the women have just THAT much more to do (with their vanity endorsements and the like). And besides, if this season’s even a remote success, they will ALL [excluding Randy] likely want more money. I’m hesitant to believe that AI can afford to hike up Mariah’s $18 million, especially considering that they were/are trying to “cut down on costs”.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    Seems like they could have paid the gals less money and give them a raise next year if they do well.  Of course, they may not be there next year.  I want this to be a successful season!