WILL NICKI MINAJ SHAKE THINGS UP ON AMERICAN IDOL?

Add yet another name to the list of celebrities who could replace Jennifer Lopez as a judge on American Idol: Nicki Minaj. Us Weekly on Monday cited several sources as indicating that it was a virtual done deal, with one say that she is “100 percent confirmed to judge American Idol.” Another source commented, “I’m not sure the deal is completely done yet, but yes, she is definitely doing it.” Similar reports have appeared suggesting that the producers are also considering former teen idol Nick Jonas, producer/performer P. Diddy,and singer Enrique Iglesias. However, the gossip site TMZ said today (Tuesday) that adding Minaj is “by no means … a done deal” and that Mariah Carey, who recently replaced Steven Tyler on the panel, is furious about the reports of Minaj being added. Moreover, TMZ added, there’s the question of how “middle America” might react to a judging panel where all three judges are African-American. But Washington Post TV writer Lisa de Moraes commented that the ever-controversial and outlandish Minaj seems “made to order” for the primary task facing the producers of Idol: “To make noise and bag bigger ratings.”