Nigel tweeted this morning that a very special guest would be presenting him with an International Emmy tonight in New York City…and look who it is!!! LADY GAGA! (VIA The Hollywood Reporter)
Gaga kind of owes Nigel. She made her debut on national television on Nigel’s So You Think You Can Dance a few years ago. Later, after her career took off, she never forgot the guy who introduced her to American audiences. She performed on the American Idol finale in May.
At the International Emmys Tuesday night, Gaga presented Nigel with the Founder Award.
“He always spoke poetically about the pursuit of widening the boundaries of love and acceptance in TV,” she said about Nigel, who received the award for his outstanding contributions to dance and performing arts on television.
Gaga introduced a video tribute to Nigel that featured American Idol judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and host Ryan Seacrest.
“I think the four of them are really jealous. It takes a fool to judge but a true genius to find talent,” said Gaga when the lights came back up.
“Three judges that will never ever be forgotten: Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and ah …,” said Nigel, pretending to blank on former judge Simon Cowell’s name.
“Simon Cowell unfortunately can’t be here tonight due to injuries from self-inflected love bites,” joked Nigel.
“I now call Simon Lord Voldemort, because he must not be named, because every time I name him, the press says we are enemies, and (we) are fighting each other,” he added of the X Factor judge.
“That’s not truthful. Simon has no enemies whatsoever in the world, but a lot of friends who hate him.”
Ha ha. Congratulations, Nigel!
