Praise your ‘Voice’
Coaches’ interview
The Voice’s coaches and host Carson Daly show a combative camaraderie as they tease one another during a break at a Season 6 “battle round” taping this month.
Usher draws “oohs” by mentioning Adam Levine’s status as People’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” When Daly jokes that nobody knew Blake Shelton before The Voice, Shelton shoots back, “Well, I was never on TRL,” referring to Daly’s MTV show. After Shelton makes a funny gesture, Levine says, “When somebody is less mature than me, it’s amazing.” Shakira, between compliments of her colleagues, says “Adam is, like, 12, and Blake is, like, 11.”
On camera, “the cordial, niceynice (of last season) is gone. It’s full-on, ‘ What’s your problem?’ ” Shelton says of this foursome’s second season together, which begins tonight (NBC, 8 p.m. ET/ PT).
That tenacity might apply to the singing competition’s rise against American Idol, which has seen another sharp ratings decline in its 13th season. Emmy winner The Voice beat Idol last spring among young adults and trailed by just 5% in total viewers.
“Idol has launched so many amazing careers. ... I believe that’s something we have to improve upon,” says Levine, adding that The Voice’s more supportive critical tone has rubbed off on Idol.
Daly defends The Voice’s ability to give hopefuls music careers. “We never got together and said, ‘We’re going to make stars’ ... Is ( Idol’s) Kelly Clarkson the only identifiable prism of success, or is Jamie Lono, who doesn’t have to make sandwiches anymore? That’s success.”