But the real “battle rounds” seem to be going on over at FOX with the American Idol judges. If you haven’t been paying attention, and it’s hard not to, Nicki Minaj has threatened to shoot Mariah Carey. On Friday I listened to some of the recorded cat fight between the two and I think Nicki Minaj was channeling a long-dead sailor, if I was deciphering the swear words correctly through the beep, bleep bleep, beep, bleeeeeeeeppppp.

What I found strange is the number of cameras recording this “cat fight” leading me to believe that this entire situation has been scripted.

From the Guardian Express Newspaper … “But no matter how it might appear producers are not happy about the disruption, you better believe that secretly they’re hoping it continues to get increasingly dramatic. Why? Because drama sells, period. A spokeswoman for FOX and Idol declined to comment on the reported dust-up between the two stars, but another source — close to fellow judge Keith Urban — said the country music mainstay was particularly unhappy about the tension. “Keith is such a wonderful, easygoing, lovely guy,” said the source. “This kind of drama was not the reason he signed on to be an Idol judge. … He hates nastiness in any form.”

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest said Wednesday (10/3) on his radio show that he loves the bickering. “Idol needs some passionate debate. It did get intense. We want that. … The feedback that they give is very good.”

Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com Staff wrote on Friday, Oct. 5 … the series (Idol) is dangerously close to losing what’s left of its identitly. “If this nonsense between the two diva judges continues, Idol may steer into becoming a documentary-style reality show parading as a talent competition – a fate it’s been teetering on since Season 9 when the celebrity judge trend had its first shaky start.”

In the video you can hear Minaj verbally jab at Carey “… if you say one more disrespectful thing to me – off with your head!” while Carey simply asked “Why?” and compares Minaj to a young child.

Barbara Walters revealed on The View that Mariah Carey shared some of the fight with her backstage including that multiple people heard Nicki say “If I had a gun I would shoot the bitch,” said Walters.

Nicki Minaj is on your left (with the cotton candy looking hair) and Mariah Carey is on the right. This picture was taken approximately 4-5 days ago.

So American Idol has produced some stars, and some who never won but went on to stardom – such as Jennifer Hudson, who came in 7th in the third season and then went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, an NAACP Image Award and a SAG Award.

I don’t think there’s a current American Idol winner with those credentials.

Which is why I watch The Voice.