Move over Nicki and Mariah, a new feud is brewing on the set of Fox's American Idol. Thursday night's results show, which saw the departure of Paul Jolley, featured harsh words from Interscope Records chairman and mentor Jimmy Iovine, who called out the judges for being too complimentary and confusing in their critiques. Those words did not sit well with the judges, who challenged Iovine directly when TV Guide Magazine caught up with them backstage just moments after the show wrapped.
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The field of finalists was narrowed to eight on American Idol Thursday, but before any of the results were read, mentor Jimmy Iovine had some feedback of his own for the judges, whom he essentially said were being way too soft on the contestants at this stage in the competition.
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Wednesday was Lennon/McCartney night on American Idol, with the Top 9 hopefuls choosing songs from the Beatles' songbook to perform. Aside from making us feel like dinosaurs because several of the singers had never heard the songs they were performing before (Kids these days!!), the theme night gave the contestants the difficult task of putting their own spin on songs many viewers (of a certain age) hold near and dear to their hearts.
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Anyone who tunes into American Idol regularly knows that this season sometimes feels like The Nicki Minaj Show. Among the new blood that's been injected into the judges panel this season, Minaj is hands down the most polarizing. Keith Urban is the surprisingly astute critic, Mariah Carey is the softie who finds something positive to say about even the most dismal performances, and Nicki is ... well, Nicki. She's unprofessional (showing up late to a job that requires about five hours of her time every week), overdramatic (threatening to walk off the show after Curtis Finch, Jr. was eliminated last week), and often inappropriate in her comments to the singers (too many examples to pick just one).
She also may be the best thing that's happened to the contestants in years.
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Our top moments of the week:
15. Oddest Return: Jerry Seinfeld has kept plenty busy since the end of his TV show in 1998. However, it's still a little odd to see him return to stand-up on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno basically doing the same comedy he's been doing his whole career with some minor chronologically required updates (America's obesity problem! Push-up bras!). Aren't there struggling up-and-coming stand-up comics who need his coveted spot more? Also, isn't this precisely why the...
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