NEW YORK (AP) — Feuding divas on "American Idol"? Ryan Seacrest says that's just great.
The show's host said Wednesday that things got intense between new judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey during a tryout taping the previous day in Charlotte, N.C.
Amid a dispute over a contestant, Minaj announced that she was no longer putting up with "her ... Highness," in a reference to Carey and with a few expletives added in.
Another new judge, Keith Urban, was in the unenviable position of sitting between the two of them.
On his radio show, Seacrest said "Idol" needs some passionate debate.
"It did get intense," he said. "We want that. We want them to be on this panel together. This is a good team, a great team, to go out and look for the next American Idol ... the feedback that they give is very good."
"American Idol" is still the nation's most popular show despite a dramatic fall-off in ratings last season that led to three new judges joining Randy Jackson. The show's new season premieres in January.
A Fox representative said Wednesday the network has no comment on its feuding judges.