Sing-off for a grand prize
T HE third season of the colourful reality series,
is scheduled to start at 8pm today on SABC3 and will be seen in that time slot for the next 23 weeks.
The Sing-Off turns the spotlight on the best a cappella groups from around the US, who compete to win a Sony Music recording contract.
The series features contestants performing popular, contemporary songs without backing tracks or a band.
The Sing-Off is hosted by multiplatinum recording artist Nick Lachey, who is known for his band 98 Degrees, made up of him, his brother Drew, friend Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons.
Lachey is also known for the reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife Jessica Simpson.
The Sing-Off scours the US in search of the best a cappella groups, in various sizes and ages.
This year, the competition has expanded to the 10 very best groups, who will perform popular songs in weekly competitions, which will culminate with a live finale revealing the winner.
The groups will be competing for America’s vote and a chance to walk away with the recording contract and $200 000 (R1.66 million).
“There’s no lip-syncing, a back-up band or safety net. One group will be eliminated every week during this one-of-a-kind battle of voices that will lead up to a live finale, where viewers will decide the winner,” says a spokesman for SABC3.
“Celebrity guest judges, who will critique the groups, are Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men) and Sara Bareilles (who had hits with Love Song and King of Anything).”
Sticking with reality shows, note that a new local cooking contest series, is lined up to start on SABC2 at 8.30am on Saturday.
This series has 12 bloggers facing the ultimate cooking challenge.
Hosted by Michéle Coleman, editor of recipe website I Love Cooking, (ilovecooking.co.za), the 13-part series features bloggers being put through elimination heats.
The bloggers use their own recipes to face each other, in the first blogger cook-off on television.
The “divas” were selected after a 10-day online call-to-action in June.
In each episode of the show, the contestants will cook for judges. The panel of expert foodies and online marketing maestros will evaluate the cooking and food presentation as well as the contestants overall blogging skills.