With only one more week left of the trainwreck that has been this season of American Idol, it’s clear that folks just don’t care anymore. Blame it on the fact that they might all be getting the axe in a minute. Aside from a few early interviews that went left and alleged threats of gun violence that Barbara Walters got in the middle of, the judges of the show have kept it pretty tame and professional in the media. But over the last few weeks, Mariah and Nicki have been going at it both on the show and on Twitter. Now the Nickster has spoken with Ryan Seacrest about why things went so sour between herself and Carey and why, despite all that, she would do it all again if given the chance.

“One of the reasons I did “Idol” was because, when there were rumors circulating about me doing Idol, my fans were like, ‘We’re going to get to see Nicki on TV every week???’ I wouldn’t be doing this without that kind of bond that I have with my fans.”

On how her relationship with Mariah turned negative:

“Imagine someone that you’ve loved your whole life. Imagine you meeting them and then all of a sudden feeling like you did something horrible to them but you just don’t know what you did. That’s what my relationship with Mariah is, and that’s what it’s been from the beginning.”

“I just really thought that we were friends, but that’s the other thing I learned that this industry is so fake. You walk away thinking people are your friends and they’re not. It’s a couple nice hi and byes and then really, you better not step on nobody’s toes, you know? And God forbid you get a little shine. And God forbid you’re maybe witty or quick on your toes or make someone laugh. Then maybe you’re making another person feel insecure. And you shouldn’t have to dim your light to let another person shine.”

“I came in to do ‘Idol’ really in my heart, thinking that we were going to be the most fun judges of all time. I was like, ‘I love Mariah.’ We’re gonna be so good together because we’re both funny, we’re crazy, we have a past relationship, and the only person I didn’t know if I would understand or get, or who would get me, was Keith.”

Of course, Nicki and Keith seem to have the closest connection of all the judges now. But is that friendship enough to get her to come back for another season (if she doesn’t get fired)?

“That’s the million dollar question. I want people to know it’s genuine from my heart. I love the people. If I had to do this all over again, I would do Idol. It’s fun. It’s laughs. It’s kind of sad what people read all the time is only when something is negative. They don’t realize we built a family. I feel happy here. I have to thank Idol for giving me this chance. They could have picked anyone, and they picked me.”

Interesting. The two did work together a few years ago on the remix of Mariah’s “Up Out My Face.” So maybe she thought because of that, they were going to get along swimmingly on the show. Guess not…

Check out her full sit-down with Seacrest on E! News on the next page:

Shutterstock

Were you waiting for  the Twitter Music app to arrive? Well, it is here… almost.

The app is currently available to recognizable names like Ryan Seacrest, Ne-Yo, Wiz Khalifa, and country music star/Voice coach Blake Shelton, but not all Twitter users. The plan is to give to “influencers” first and, AllThingsD says, it will be available to other Twitter users in a matter of days. Twitter has just set up a website that, at least for now, is blank except for the company’s silhouetted bird logo, “#music,” and a sign-in tab that, when clicked, sends you back to the blank homepage.

Here’s how the app works: It scans users’ Twitter feeds and use the listening habits of users’ friends and contacts to recommend music for them to listen to. According to Global Post, Twitter Music suggests artists and songs to listen to based on a variety of signals, and is personalized based on which accounts a user follows on Twitter. Songs are streamed to the app via SoundCloud. UltimateGuitar.com also has some detail about how the app works that it says it got fro a leak.

The app has some formidable competition already on the market, such as Spotify, which has 24 million monthly users and has integrated its services with Facebook, and Pandora, which has 69 million monthly active listeners. But as the Huffington Post  notes, Twitter certainly has some advantages: it already has over 200 million active users, who may be enticed by song suggestions based on the Twitter accounts they are following.

According to HuffPo, Twitter Music is based on We Are Hunted, a music recommendation service that Twitter purchased earlier this year. It has been reported that Twitter has also reached an agreement with Vevo, the music video service that has content deals with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and EMI, among others.

The streaming music app offerings will get even more crowded. According to Reuters, Apple, Amazon and Google all have plans to enter the streaming music business.

Source: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

The more we followed the Chrihanna scandal, post the beating in 2009, the more it became crystal clear that these two were destined to get back together…if they ever broke up in the first place. I mean, who lets their ex hop on a track talking about oral?! Then there was the Oprah interview. And after that, the ridiculous documentary of Chris detailing his love for two women. We all knew what was up. And we were right. Though we saw it coming, we certainly weren’t privy to how it all went down…until now.

In a recent interview with Ryan Seacrest on his radio show on KIIS-FM, Chris Brown opened up about winning Rihanna back.

“I just tried my best to be the best man I could be over the years and just show her how remorseful and sorry I was for the incident and the time was probably the worst part of my life. Being that she has [forgiven me] and she’s a wonderful person, I’m eternally grateful and thankful.”

“People are entitled to their opinions. I can’t go around blaming. Being at that young age, I can tell you I was arrogant and definitely hotheaded.”

Though it would seem Chris has calmed down some, his Twitter beefs and altercation with Frank Ocean would make it seem that he still has more work to do. But Chris claims he’s in a much better place.

“I’m cool. I’m happy. I’m focused. I’m a lot calmer. Everyone has anger issues and days they don’t feel like being bothered. Sometimes it comes off the wrong way. I’m learning how to deal with it and how to channel that into my music.”

I could shade this 24 year old and ya’ll might call me crazy for saying this–but I’ll be danged  if I don’t think he isn’t lying. Perhaps, it’s just me but this is probably the most heartfelt, genuine thing I’ve heard Chris say about the domestic violence incident. For so long, he was on the defensive, sounding angry and reinforcing what we already assumed about him. This is the first time I can recall him owning up to his foolishness. This was a pretty good way to come back to the interview circuit, on the humble. Homeboy still has work to do but I don’t believe he’s totally beyond reform.

What do you think about Chris’ statement? Does it sound sincere to you? Do you think he’s changed?

My father’s name is Edward. And if you should meet him, you’re to call him Edward. Not Eddie. Not Ed. Edward. He’s very particular about his name. Growing up his parents and family members referred to him by his middle name; but by the time he got to college and had an opportunity to “reinvent” himself, he insisted that he was no longer to be called DeWayne. He helped his family adjust to this change by simply refusing to answer them until they called him Edward. And it worked…for his family.

As a child, when my parents started allowing me and my sister to answer the phone, people who clearly didn’t know my dad would call, trying to perpetrate as his old college chums. This happens to everyone but we knew these people didn’t know my dad because they would say things like, “Is Ed there?” “May I speak to Ed, please?”  No you may not because there’s no Ed here. Most of the time we’d correct them, “Do you mean Edward?” People were often taken aback by the fact those close to him, his family members, referred to him as Edward. One time when someone called with the “Ed talk,” I gave the caller my typical, “Do you mean Edward?” response, and he said smugly, “Yeah, same thing.” Uhh, no it’s really not.  I told him that no Ed lived there and hung up.

But this, I’ve noticed is a thing with white people. Years later as an intern I was assigned the task of making a series of phone calls. And sure enough as my boss was telling me what to say and how to say it, she said “And if you notice that they have a name like William or Richard, you can say Will or Bill so you sound like someone they know.” I liked my boss but I couldn’t do that. Years living under my father’s roof had taught me that everyone doesn’t appreciate being called a nickname they never gave you permission to use.

I’ll never forget the time I saw President Obama called “Barry” in the newspaper. What the hell?! The man’s name is Barack. It’s a strong, African name yet this nationally recognized publication was whitewashing it, calling him Barry. For what?! When I expressed my disgust about the nickname, someone less ignorant told me that he’d been given that nickname very early in his life. Oh.

But he, like my father, decided to go by his formal name once he came back from college, feeling like he needed to connect to something bigger than himself. The name connects him to a history, whether he decides to run down his family tree or not. It demands respect. So yeah, I revert back to my original perturbance about the use of Barry. Why the publication would refer to the president by his first name, I don’t know; but if you must, call him Barack.

The latest person to undergo the nickname treatment is 9 year old Quvenzhané Wallis. During the Oscars’ red carpet, Ryan Seacrest announced that he and his E! coworkers had decided to call Quvenzhané “Little Q.” Oh ok. Did you ask Quvenzhané if she was cool with that? She’s a very outspoken little girl, I’m sure she would have been able to tell you if she approved or not.

And that’s the problem with these despicable nicknames, rarely is permission requested. They’re not given because the person has gotten to know the other and feel a pet name more appropriately suits his or her personality. The names are given because the person’s formal name, the names the parents decided upon, most times, before they were birthed into the world are “too hard to say.” Which is really a nice way of saying too “non-white” to be bothered with.  I don’t recall anybody coming up with a nickname for Arnold Schwarzenegger. We just learned to say his name. And it’s no more difficult than Quvenzhané. It’s just more European. Really, this nickname thing is just lazy and further perpetuates the “ignorant” American stereotype. We know the least about other countries and cultures because it’s hard to learn about other countries when you’re determined to call Ting Feng “Lisa.” If you won’t even attempt to pronounce her name, why would she feel comfortable sharing her culture with you? Americans just don’t care. When white folks hear those foreign sounds and their brain just shuts down temporarily and only reboots as it searches for a more appropriate, more westernized moniker. It’s not cool. So, white people, black people with white friends, or black people who’ve adopted the habit of giving out unapproved nicknames. Cut it out. These nicknames are more than just annoying they represent a lazy, insensitive culture and we have to do better.

Ian Wilson/WENN.com

Most celebs are some good-looking folks. And while we enjoy their brand of attractive for as long as they’re in the spotlight, who is going to carry on that beautiful tradition in the years to come? Babies, babies and more babies. With news of some of Hollywood’s most attractive people hopping on the baby train in 2013, we decided to take a look at 15 wildly pretty couples who we can’t wait to bring a little one into the world. And no we’re not trying to perpetuate the whole baby mama/baby daddy phenomenon that’s going on, we’re just saying these folks will have some cute babes worth talking about whether they decide to put marriage before the carriage or not.

Source: WENN

Terrence is on his cool J after leaving BET’s “106 & Park.” After snagging a few movie roles and taking his hosting talents over to E!, Mr. Jenkins is feeling extra ambitious these days. In an interview with Ebony.com, the aspiring actor/media-mogul spelled out his ultimate career goal: to be a Will Smith-Ryan Seacrest hybrid. Check out a few snippets.

Why he took the E! gig right after the height of “Think Like a Man”

I think that Hollywood is this sort of hybrid now. You have incredible broadcasters like Oprah Winfrey who are now doing movies like The Butler. You have people that are building careers that don’t just have to fit in one lane. I want to be a trendsetter in that space. I look at a mentor of mine like Ryan Seacrest and the incredible amount of equity he’s been able to bring to the broadcasting arena, and the branding and the world that he’s been able to build around himself. I look at another mentor of mine, Will Smith – I call him the greatest actor alive right now – and I’m trying to merge the two. I have a long way to go, obviously. Those are some very big ambitions. But I’m shooting Think Like a Man 2 next year and I have two more film projects that’ll be coming out relatively soon. And I’ll be every day onE! News. Hopefully people just won’t get sick of me!

Why E! was a good move

They’re at the pulse of pop culture, and that’s where I’m at. I think that they’re excellent at what they do. They have a very great staff and amazing people that I get to work with. I think Giuliana Rancic is amazing, and they just get it. They’re a show on the rise and I’m happy to be a part of the program.

Whether he thinks America is starting to embrace diversity more on-air

I would hope so. And I just hope it leads to more. I called Michael and congratulated him, and obviously I’m very close with Steve. I hope it leads to more and more opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds – not just African-Americans, but Latinos and Asians. I hope that these new hires open up more and more opportunities so that TV looks more like America.

What motivates him

My mother. She and my stepfather moved from New York at a young age to build a more safe life for me in North Carolina. And I just watched them grow and work – they had five jobs – and just their drive and their hustle is what fuels me to this day. I come from humble starts. I went to an historically Black college where we’re always told that there’s limitation. And so I’m happy to represent for Black colleges. I’m happy to represent for my fraternity. We work hard, man. And we don’t stop, man, we don’t let up. As soon as I get in one door, I’m simultaneously working to be the best person in that door, open up doors for other people to walk in and opening up the next door for myself to walk through.

Are you excited to see what’s next for Terrence J?

Source: Ryan Seacrest Instagram

I would just like to go on record as saying this is the weirdest “American Idol” lineup ever in life.

Over the weekend, news broke that Black Barbz herself is officially a new judge on “American Idol,” joining Mariah Carey as the second female on the panel and, oddly, country music star Keith Urban.

We knew Nicki Minaj was in talks to join the Fox reality singing competition but there were a few chinks in the chain along the way that were slowing things down, like Mariah Carey’s obvious disapproval of the choice and questions over how Nicki’s endorsement deal with Pepsi would affect this contract. The final answer seems to be not at all, as Business Week reports Nicki is getting $12 million for a one-year deal to judge other people’s talent. No, that’s not a joke.

At Jazz at Lincoln Center where “Idol” auditions were taking place yesterday, Mariah Carey was asked whether she was anxious about who would be joining her on the judging panel. She semi-joked with the crowd saying no, “because all I really care about is me,” then quickly added, “Only kidding.” As far as what type of judge she’ll be, she hasn’t decided yet, saying:

“Am I the mean one? Am I the nice one? … It’s not about me, me, me, it’s about them (the contestants) and what I can bring to them to help guide them in the right direction.”

Being the Mimi stan that I am, I’m going to go out not so far on a limb and say she’ll be the real one (i.e. mean), Nicki will be the odd one, and Keith will be the nice one. Randy Jackson seems to be pumped about Nicki Minaj coming to the show, saying she “brings a whole other cool vibe we’ve never had on the show.” I’m just curious which of her many personalities will actually be on the set on any given day. Stay tuned if you dare.

Does Nicki Minaj have you sold on the next season of “American Idol” or turned off?

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Source: biography.com

TMZ was the first news outlet to confirm that TV personality, producer, “American Bandstand” and “Rockin New Year’s Eve” host, Richard Wagstaff Clark, died today. He was 82 years old.

Clark’s agent Paul Shefrin released a statement saying that the TV maven suffered a massive heart attack this morning.

Working in media from the time he was in high school, Clark had been dealing with health issues since 2004 when he suffered a stroke. Despite the minor setback, Clark went on to host the New Year’s Eve Countdown alongside Ryan Seacrest up until this year.

This is a great loss in American culture, considering Clark has helped many Americans welcome in the New Year for the past three decades.

Rest in Peace.

Source: kplr11.com

I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that Steve Harvey is the black version of Ryan Seacrest…or better yet, the black male version of Ellen. These are people who a lot of other people seem to like, and therefore, they get asked to hold like every job available in entertainment. Already  the host of a highly popular radio show, an author, and the host of “Family Feud,” Steve Harvey is now set to host a syndicated talk show in Chicago that will be ready in the fall. According to a statement given to the Chicago Sun-Times, Harvey’s show will bring a “funny, fresh, insightful and common sense approach to life’s everyday moments.”On top of that, he’ll be covering everything from family issues, to parenting and you guessed it–dating and marriage. Sounds like we will have a TV-version of Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man on our hands. The 55-year-old TV and radio personality will definitely be trying to save some relationships and doing so in a comedic manner. Sounds like a pretty good idea and not too many people are doing it anymore…but I’m just saying, can he share some of the many forms of employments he’s got? Next thing you know, he’ll be trying to be a judge on American Idol…

Will you be watching Steve’s new talk show?

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I came to Kardashian hatred late. Actually, I don’t hate the girls, I’m just oversaturated and amazed by the fact that their empire seems to be growing exponentially with the disgust many people claim to have for them.

I remember the moment it hit me. I was in Sephora and two pre-teens came next to the Makeup Forever section where I was standing. One of the girls picked up a shade and said, “this is the one Kim Kardashian wears;” her words were like nails on a chalkboard. I literally wanted to take her in the corner and give her a book or something but then I remembered just because I’d never been the type to search out celebrity makeup trends didn’t mean the girl was in trouble, but I did have to ask myself why do we care about these girls so much?

If you’re wondering who “we” is, I am too. I know that there are young girls like the ones I encountered in Sephora who want to be beautiful like Kim and I know that Ryan Seacrest is going to ride the Kardashian train until every last replacement wheel falls off, but who is this we that makes these women marketable and profitable? Pre-teens and teens only have so much money, who’s paying for this?

As if they didn’t already have their hands in some of everything already, this week, two huge expansions to their reality TV takeover were announced. The first is a magazine that will be all about them, because c’mon, who else really matters? And the second is a deal with Matell to develop a line of Barbies. Now there has already been enough problems with Barbie and her effect on young girl’s self esteem that this should scream “bad idea” but everyone wants a shameless piece of the Kardashian pie. I don’t even want to think about how they’re going to design Kim’s body.

What’s scary is that you can almost imagine the girl’s adapting their lives to extend their “relevancy.” Kim gets a divorce, now we have to know what life’s like after. Kourtney is pregnant again, now we have to know how she handles being a mommy of two. My guess would be the same way 70 million other women do. I was feeling pretty good about the fact that the girls are approaching their mid-30s and Hollywood doesn’t care too much about women past that point, so I figured the reign was almost over. But now with the stepsisters getting older and becoming more front and center I feel like their 15 minutes is getting stretched to a good 30-45.

Just once I wish someone in their camp would speak up and say, “hey let’s try the Beyonce way of doing things.” And then they could disappear, actually do something, and then reemerge with a product, idea, anything that actually makes people respect the hustle.

Part of me feels bad because I don’t exactly know what it is that bothers me so much. I don’t look at Kim and automatically think Ray J sex tape, although occasionally my mind does recall that sordid fact and then I think of Montana Fishburne saying she is her role model, and then I think we’re all screwed. But it’s more so the fact that I look at her and I don’t see anything—anything by way of talent, I mean. Kris seems to be carefully orchestrating these girls’ lives and “careers” if you want to call it that. Every deal they make she seems to be there, which just makes them look like puppets. Yes, Kim’s raking in more money than imaginable off solely being nice to look at, but when it comes down to the bottom line I think it’s hard for a lot of people to respect that. You can say she’s genius for this whole wedding scam but some things like credibility and integrity just don’t have a price.

If these girls want to have their lane and be great at something so be it, but all they’re doing is dibbling their fingers in a whole lot of everything and doing a whole lot of nothing—but slapping their names on it and making us watch. I’ve seen that show before and I think I’m pretty much over it. What about you?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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