“American Idol” judge Nicki Minaj arrived 13 minutes late for the reality singing show’s first live episode of the season on Wednesday, reportedly due to the infamously bad Los Angeles area traffic.
“So this is where Nicki [is],” said host Ryan Seacrest from the empty judge’s chair at the start of last night’s broadcast. “I hear she is seven minutes out and there is some congestion on the 405 [Freeway], she should be here momentarily.”
“I heard it was the 101 [Freeway],” quipped co-judge Randy Jackson.
“Stuck in traffic, sighs,” Tweeted Minaj to her more than 16 million followers.
When all was said and done, Minaj showed up 13 minutes into the show, missing the first contestant’s performance.
Or did she?
According to the New York Daily News, Minaj was backstage during Curtis Finch, Jr.’s performance, telling him, “Good job today,” as he exited the stage.
Last night’s tardiness was not the first offense for Minaj; she was tardy for a Hollywood week episode, as well.
Personal Take
We’ve all been late to work, but with a multimillion-dollar paycheck on the line, we would probably find a way to get to work on time.
Yeah, L.A. traffic is pretty clogged most of the time, but you learn to make adjustments when you’re a regular there.
This being late business reeks more of “American Idol” execs’ doing than Minaj’s, though with the rapper’s bad girl persona, it could just be the way she rolls.
As we painfully continue on the show’s downward spiral, you can’t blame its producers for doing all they can to save the sinking ship—if they’re really behind the move.
Sure, “Idol” is still drawing huge audiences, but it’s just an eventuality before viewers catch on that the show is a shell of its former self and stop watching.
So go ahead, add high-profile judges, shake up the competition’s format, but those of us who can think objectively will still be able to tell that the show is on life support, begging for someone to pull the plug.
“American Idol” airs on Wednesday and Thursday nights on Fox 13 in Provo. Tonight’s results show begins at 7 p.m.
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