adminlong-term judge Randy Jackson.
And it didn’t take long for the much-hyped feud between Carey and Minaj to begin to simmer, with Minaj dubbing her a ‘b****’.
“History has shown that an Idol can do anything,” said host Ryan Seacrest, detailing the 200 million records sold and 371 number one hits racked up by former contestants.
“Together we have created a phenomenon,” Seacrest added. “It’s the dawn of a brand new season. A new generation will carry the torch.”
And with thousands of people lining up to audition in New York City they were hopeful the process would get off to a winning start.
“How could you not find someone good?’ asked Mariah Carey.
The judges gathered at Jazz at Lincoln Centre in Manhattan to hear the hopefuls – and from the off, Carey and Minaj began to fight.
“I wanted to bring my dog,” said Carey when she saw Minaj’s white, fluffy drum major’s hat sitting on the judges’ desk. ‘We can have accessories? I didn’t know that was allowed. But that’s the last thing I’m going to say.”
“Play nice,” said Minaj. “I actually love the hat,” said Carey. “But why’d you have to reference the hat?” asked Minaj.
“In the elevator you said, “Stop looking me up and down, Mariah.” “I wasn’t. I was admiring the hat,” said Carey.
“It’s going to be wild,” said Jackson.
The first contestant of the new season told Mariah that her song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the best ever Christmas tune – much to the anger of Nicki Minaj.
“She’s a b****, she’s a b****, she’s a b****,” Minaj chanted through gritted teeth.
“If she called me something that begins with a ‘B’ and ends in an ‘itch’, I rebuke it,” said Carey.
“I’m in a good seat right here,” laughed Urban – who was stuck between the two women.
And after a commercial break it was straight back into it, with an argument over a Lindsay Lohan film.
“I want to lose three pounds,” said Carey as she got her make-up done.
“I know how you can,” said Minaj.
“It’s a quote from Mean Girls. If you knew Mean Girls you would know,” said Carey. “I do know Mean Girls,” said Minaj.
“OK, who says ‘I want to lose three pounds. “Which character?” challenged Carey.
“Not Lindsay. The other one, with the blonde hair,” said Minaj.
“What’s her name?” asked Carey. “You know something?” said Minaj. “Mariah?”
“I just want to know,” said Carey. “Broken promises, right?”
Host Ryan Seacrest said: ‘When you add three incredibly passionate performers to the panel, you know there’s going to be some potential personality conflict.”
Viewers then saw Minaj pretending to choke Carey as she walked towards her. ‘What is going on with you, Miss Minaj?’ asked Carey.
Then – affecting a posh English accent – Carey asked for some ice from an assistant as Minaj literally got her claws out.
After a successful first day of try-outs the judges were back for day two – and this time Minaj was sporting a wild multi-coloured wig.
And it was only seconds before she and Carey started to bicker again.
The new judges replace Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, who left after the end of season 11.
“We had a good time, right?” asked Jackson at the end of the programme.
“‘Who said I had fun?’ joked Carey. ‘I had a little fun. I did,” she added.
“I feel like we gel well, in a weird crazy way,’” said Minaj. “I agree,” said Carey.
But as they went their separate ways, Minaj told one camera following her: “I had to strangle one of the divas on the panel but I won’t tell you who.” – Daily Mail.
Online Reporter