The Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj feud might not be enough to save American Idol‘s ratings.
American Idol first aired in June 2002, and continues to air on Fox Network over 10 years later. However, ratings have decreased during season 12. This is the first season since season nine to feature four judges: Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban.
Despite the fights between judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, which are a lot louder than the old feuds between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, ratings have decreased.
Months before the show was set to air, TMZ leaked a video of Minaj and Carey fighting on set. The video was believed to be an attempt to get the hype of the audience and increase ratings for when the show aired.
Farrah Ng, freshman psychology major, said, “I believe the fight between Mariah (Carey) and Nicki Minaj is just a big publicity stunt to get more ratings.”
An average of 17.8 million viewers tuned in to the two-hour premiere, a 19 percent decrease from last season. The argument between Carey and Minaj aired during the second week of American Idol auditions, which, according to the Los Angeles Times, was down more than 10 percent from the season premiere.
“I don’t think many people really care anymore,” Kate Cozens, freshman pre-nursing major said. “The judges are not that great this year. Honestly, I think Nicki Minaj is rude to the contestants and it makes me want to watch less of the show. American Idol has been on too long and it’s time for it to be the last season.”
Megan Shoemaker, freshman pre-nursing major, also thinks the show has gone downhill.
“Nicki Minaj does not make the show better, she makes it worse because she is annoying and her fighting with Mariah Carey does not make me want to watch it more. It’s all just for ratings,” Shoemaker said.
American Idol‘s ratings are now behind shows such as X Factor and The Voice, and some California Baptist University students believe that these shows are better than American Idol.
“The Voice, and even X Factor are better shows to watch because they are non-judgmental and are solely based on the voice,” Ng said. “It is more creative and more advanced than American Idol.”
Cozens, Shoemaker and Ng all believe that The Voice is a better singing competition.
“The Voice has better judges and is more reasonable than American Idol,” Cozens said.
American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on Fox at 8 p.m.
