NEW YORK -- 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 in Charlotte, N.C., the day before.

In the midst of a dispute over a contestant, Minaj announced that she was no longer putting up with "her ... highness," a reference to Carey with a few expletives added in. Another new judge, Keith Urban, was in the unenviable position of sitting between them.

Seacrest says on his radio show that "Idol" needs some passionate debate.