First things first: Dueling divas Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj did not tear each other’s throats out when they took the stage to promote the 12th season of American Idol Tuesday morning at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena.
But their very public feud was a big topic of conversation.
Asked if the rivalry was authentic or trumped up for ratings, “It’s authentic,” maintained Fox’s reality boss Mike Darnell. “There’s passion on this group. They disagree about the talent and how to approach the talent. [But] it’s not just the girls, it’s everybody.”
Added Carey: “This is a very passionate panel. There’s a lot of strong personalities. Starting this process, I felt like there was a possibility that there could be differences of opinion… The fighting is what it is. This is American Idol. It’s bigger than all that. It’s about the next huge talent super star that will come from this show.”
A reporter then challenged the ladies to reveal one thing they admire about each other, and Minaj was the first to take the bait. “She’s one of my favorite artists of all time,” she gushed. “She’s really shaped a generation of singers. To be on a panel with her, it’s kind of crazy. All these singers that come in, they aspire to be a Mariah Carey.”
Carey then returned the compliment, reminding the assembled media that, “Nicki and worked together very early on in her career [on the song "Up Out My Face"]. … I did know and feel that she was going to go very far.”
Other highlights from the panel:
* “The girls are pretty strong this year,” revealed exec producer Nigel Lythgoe. “Stronger than the boys.”
* There’s too many of these shows on the air and they’re all taking each other down a little bit,” admitted Darnell. “But this is still the king of them all, and the only show that makes stars. Period.”
More to come…
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