Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey Are All Aboard The American Idol Train

The new season of American Idol should be quite interesting considering the partnership of Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, balanced by mainstay Randy Jackson and newcomer Keith Urban who are clearly the stabilizers.

The abrupt departure of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez seemed to spell doom for the longstanding show, but who knew there was a secret brew boiling behind closed doors. Now that the first course has been served, we can only try to calm our appetites long enough to tolerate the endless platters filled with drama and high doses of competitiveness, on both sides of the fence.

There is no question that Mariah Carey is the Queen Bee, and by right she has earned that title. But the thought of having my pipes thoroughly inspected by a legendary songbird would probably leave me hopelessly paralyzed. Perhaps Nicki Minaj will provide that level of balance needed to diffuse the tension that will inevitably arise when Carey wonders why none of the contestants comes close to her magnificence.

Australian country crooner, Keith Urban and veteran Randy Jackson are both armed with experience and a level of familiarity that will help keep the show from straying too far off course.

All we can say is: Let The Games Begin!