The Voice Premieres On NBC

A new reality show is about to hit the airwaves tonight.  The Voice, a singing competition, looks promising ... and for all the right reasons.  It's based on talent.

Allow me to digress momentarily:  Most reality shows are dreadful.  Just as processed foods are food-like substances, a show such as Kate Plus 8 is a show-like substance.  I have zero interest in it, or in pseudo-celebrities like Kate Gosselin.  She seems perfectly nice, but I don't need to know about her life.  When I see her being interviewed on The Today Show, I use that time to blow-dry my hair.

I am amazed by how much time legitimate journalists spend on scandals and meaningless news.  Everyday a barely recognizable name is speaking out about fluff.  Fine.  But why are Meredith and Matt and Barbara interviewing them?

It's not like we're short of issues that could be examined on the air.  Aren't we wondering how to extricate ourselves from a war in Iraq?  What about the popular uprisings against tyranny in the Middle East?  What's going on with that oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?  Oh, and how are the Tea Partiers faring in Congress?  Has anybody on Capitol Hill solved our economic woes yet?

Now back to The Voice.  Of course, not everything on the small screen has to be hardcore.  There are times when we watch television for the pure joy of it.  Entertainment has its place, and we need it to unwind.  But please, no more banal show-like substances.  Personally, I'm a sucker for shows that provide spotlights for someone with a God-given talent to be discovered.  Even after years of hard work, it's an uphill battle for any singer to get a lucky break.  And it's exciting when a gorgeous, but totally unknown voice, steps up to a mike and SHINES!  That's the kind of reality show I want to watch.

On The Voice, the singers will do their auditions blind and be judged solely on their voice.  Nice.  The Voice will have four “coaches” all currently successful in the music industry, namely: Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton.  The music pros will mentor the amateurs through all the phases of the competition until America selects a winner.  If the show lives up to it's potential, everyone wins.  Viewers get a show featuring real talent and the best performance.  And the contestants will have a chance to gain experience and confidence in front of a national audience.  I like the concept.  Let's hope America, along with a few TV execs, take notice.  We need a reality with beautiful voices, genuine talent and a few goosebumps. Hosted by Carson Daily, tune in tonight at 9pm for the two-hour premiere.

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