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Post by jayzero42690 on Jul 23, 2012 14:35:19 GMT -5
Mariah Carey joins 'American Idol'
Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez and now … Mariah Carey.
Fox just made it official: Carey is the latest successful pop diva to join American Idol. The 42-year-old will join the judges table for season 12.
As reported in this week’s issue of EW, Carey has been the leading contender to join the panel this summer, which has seen a flurry of celebrity names floated in the press as possible candidates. Her salary is expected to be somewhere north of $12 million — the sum paid Jennifer Lopez during her first year on the show — and possibly as high as $17 million.
Previously, Simon Cowell was courting Carey as a mentor for X Factor’s second season, though it’s not clear if her Idol announcement precludes an appearance on Fox’s other show.
“It’s the biggest recording artist than any of these [singing competition] shows have ever had,” Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told critics at their press tour in Beverly Hills on Monday. “It’s an artist many of these contestants have tried to emulate. [The deal] only concluded only hours ago. Not being the only game in town we need to keep things fresh.”
The move comes on the heels of Steven Tyler exiting the hit singing competition, and Fox being unable to convince Lopez to sign on for a third round. Lopez was holding out for a raise beyond her $15 million second-year salary and took to the media to proclaim that she was almost certainly leaving the show. If there was a slight chance of Lopez staying before, it vanished once Fox signed Carey — Fox won’t pay for two high-priced female vocalists.
“I think I can say it’s 100 percent that Jennifer won’t be back on the show,” Reilly said.
Earlier in the morning, Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (who’s not involved in the judges talks) expressed hope that Lopez would change her mind. “I was really upset to hear of Steven leaving us and the possibility of Jennifer leaving us. She did say ’99 percent.’ Strange thing to say, ’99 percent.’ You’re either leaving or not leaving. I’m hoping she’s not leaving.” Lythgoe is involved in his own negotiations to return to the show and insiders expect he’ll stay on board.
Despite some reports to the contrary, veteran judge Randy Jackson (who, as it so happens, is Carey’s manager and was involved in her negotiations) is now expected to stay on board, though nothing has yet been announced. Either way, Fox is expected to now focus on its search for another male judge. One dark horse (and attractively low budget) candidate is former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert.
Fox’s decision to shake up Idol was effectively made months ago. In recent years, changing Idol‘s panel has typically resulted in a ratings spike, at least at the start of the season. For this year’s 11th season, Fox decided to leave the panel unchanged from the previous year and the series suffered the largest ratings drop in the show’s history. Though the show’s audience was still huge, averaging 18 million viewers per week, ratings were down 23 percent. What do you think? Will Mariah Carey improve Idol‘s ratings?
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Post by Tiarnán on Jul 23, 2012 16:19:22 GMT -5
Happy for Mariah.
Adam would be a great judge. Think of all the advice he could give to the aspiring Idols on how to finish in second place.
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Post by Brandon on Jul 23, 2012 16:22:22 GMT -5
Adam would be a great judge. Think of all the advice he could give to the aspiring Idols on how to finish in second place.
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Post by Brandon on Aug 4, 2012 14:23:36 GMT -5
Nick Jonas: American Idol Judge?
Is Nick Jonas the newest American Idol judge?
The 19-year-old musician is "pretty close to signing to be the Idol judge. They flew him in to L.A. last week for final meetings," an insider told US Weekly.
According to another source, "[American Idol producers] think he can help bring that younger demo to the show."
Mariah Carey already signed on the dotted line, leaving two open spots at the judging table. Randy Jackson is apparently being moved to a mentor position.
Between Nick and Mariah, I could potentially be here for Idol more so than X-Factor.
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Post by jayzero42690 on Sept 17, 2012 7:30:30 GMT -5
'American Idol' announces judges: Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj confirmed
It’s official: American Idol is adding new judges from the worlds of country music and hip hop.
Fox announced Sunday that 44-year-old Aussie singer Keith Urban and colorful 29-year-old rapper Nicki Minaj will sit with pop diva Mariah Carey at the season 12 judges table of the reality hit, along with returning judge Randy Jackson. The confirmation settles months of behind-the-scenes reports and speculation about the show’s panel that saw singers such as Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Adam Lambert and Kanye West floated as possible judges.
“Nicki’s an unbelievably captivating international phenomenon who has made an indelible mark on rap and pop,” said Fox’s president of alternative Mike Darnell in a statement. “And Keith is another great addition to Idol – he’s one of the biggest stars in country music and I know that our fans and contestants will fall in love with him. With an unparalleled star like Mariah, fan-favorite Randy, chart-toppers like Nicki and Keith and our incomparable host Ryan [Seacrest], we’ve put together one of the most exciting judging panels around.”
Earlier this summer, Fox announced the exit of Idol season 10 and 11 judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, along with the hiring of Carey. The network then strongly considered shifting Jackson to a mentor role. After quietly selecting Minaj and Urban for slots, Fox recently made an offer to Latin singer-songwriter Enrique Iglesias to fill a fourth spot, but those talks broke down last week. In addition to Carey receiving about $17 million for her role on the show, we’re hearing Urban will pull down about $4 million. According to one report, Minaj will earn around $8 million.
The network hopes the new hires will boost the ratings of the aging series — or at least stabilize its declines. Though Idol remains TV’s top entertainment series, the show suffered a record year-over-year ratings drop last season. Part of the problem is the marketplace has become more crowded with singing competition shows like NBC’s The Voice and Fox’s own X Factor.
The announcement also confirms Idol will return to a four-judge format that the show previously used in its eighth and ninth seasons. Idol switched back to three judges after some felt the show was spending too much time showcasing the judges’ opinions rather than the contestants’ performances. But hot rival The Voice has managed to function just fine with four judges, and X Factor has employed a judging quartet as well.
One question is whether the addition of Minaj and Urban will result in a greater diversity of singers going to Hollywood, or just give the panel some fresh perspective. Though Idol‘s most successful graduate, Carrie Underwood, is a country artist, and the show has had several rock and country contestants over the years, Idol is best known for celebrating pop music (the show is based on the British series Pop Idol). Rap music has been practically nonexistent on the show.
American Idol returns to Fox in January.
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Post by Burke on Oct 3, 2012 16:09:52 GMT -5
TMZ reports that Nicki Minaj interrupted the American Idol auditions in Charlotte, North Carolina today, swearing at Mariah Carey and threatening to knock her out.
She said: "I told them, I'm not f*ckin' putting up with her f*ckin' highness over there."
It happened while the two were sitting at the judge's table. Keith Urban sat in between them and Randy Jackson sat on the far end next to Carey. Producers ended auditions so things could calm down a bit. They seem upset by the incident as it was not a joke and producers are worried about the long term future of Carey and Minaj co-existing on the show.
UPDATE: TMZ has a video of the Nicki Minaj-Mariah Carey incident at the American Idol auditions in Charlotte, North Carolina last night.
While she did say she would knock Carey out, she reportedly said it before the video begins. The entire thing started after a disagreement over a contestant's performance. You can hear Nicki say: "Get this s**t in self control. Get in control. Get in control."
Randy then tells her to settle down.
She adds: "Don't lose your head. Don't lose your head (inaudible). Don't tell me I'm a gangster. (inaudible) every 5 minutes. So every time you patronize me, I'm-ma take it back, and if you've got a f**king problem, handle it. I told them I'm not f**kin' putting up with her f**king highness over there. Figure it the f**k out. Figure it out. I'm not gonna sit here every f**king minute to have you come down and harass me every minute everyday."
Carey is talking back to Minaj but it's hard to hear what is being said.
Lol. Odds on this being a publicity stunt in a desperate attempt to try and take attention away from X Factor/Britney and get in on themselves?
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Post by jayzero42690 on Oct 3, 2012 16:28:20 GMT -5
Yeah they need to drop her ass
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Post by Brandon on Oct 3, 2012 16:55:54 GMT -5
Nicki is always pulling dramatic shit like this and deleting her Twitter. It's not even cute. Isn't she like 32. Anything for attention, I guess. Mariah remains legendary.
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Post by Brandon on Oct 3, 2012 17:19:47 GMT -5
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Post by Mutant Couch on Oct 3, 2012 20:17:07 GMT -5
I still don't understand why Nicki Minaj is judging a singing show. It's like she knows her novelty value is already decreasing and is trying to jump start her career before it dies. I want Elton John to do one of these shows so bad. That bitch does not care. Anyone that goes after Madonna is going to be entertaining.
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Post by Mutant Couch on Oct 3, 2012 23:07:57 GMT -5
Also, this song is amazing. It's too bad he's going to disappear into obscurity now, but whatever.
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Post by jayzero42690 on Oct 3, 2012 23:20:29 GMT -5
I still like his and Elise's version of "Somebody That I Used to Know" better than any I've heard. I was bummed she got eliminated on my B-Day :\
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Post by Brandon on Jan 8, 2013 15:27:43 GMT -5
Queen of shade.
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Post by Astrozombie on Jan 25, 2013 16:52:46 GMT -5
I saw the preview for next weeks Idol and it looks like the kid from the Glee Project S1 is auditioning. You know, the short awkward kid who started taking off all his clothes in the middle of his performance?
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Post by Tiarnán on Jan 26, 2013 21:31:55 GMT -5
Was that the guy from Little Rock who has some social disorder? His voice is reeeaaally good. Like a cool Freddie Mercury/Karen Carpenter blend.
I'm liking it so far. Keith Urban has made some great comments and looks to have a really good ear (and everything else). The two girls have surpassed expectations and offer much more than the early season drama they've brought with them. Randy has actually managed to regress which is shocking cause he was already terrible but whatever, I'm used to it.
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