News broke Friday that NBC’s singing competition “The Voice” will have a new coach when the show returns in September for season 17. Adam Levine, who had already been announced as a returning coach for the upcoming season, is leaving the show.
Gwen Stefani has been named as Levine’s replacement. Stefani returns to “The Voice” after having been a coach on the show in seasons four and six.
“The Voice” host Carson Daly broke the news this morning on NBC’s “Today” show. Levine, the frontman of the rock band Maroon 5, is one of “The Voice’s” original cast members, having been on the show for all of its 16 seasons.
“The Voice” wrapped its 16th season earlier this week.
Here’s the announcement …
Not at all surprising. The show has jumped the shark. Every change the producers have made has served to increase the chances of the country singers on the show at the expense of all other genres. The most egregious is that West Coast voters cannot participate in any of the saves, giving country voters in the southeast control over the contestants (sort of like the electoral college in presidential elections). With the return of Gwen Stefani, the show is now truly Blake’s. It should be retitled Blake Shelton’s Grand Ol’ Opry. Hoping that “Songland”, which Adam executive produces, will pick up the slack.
Adam Levine left the show after the rules change on the “Voice”, with the cross battles round, that eliminated Adam Levine’s entire team in the semi-finals (along with all of Kelly Clarkson’s team–except for one team member, who was eliminated in the semi-final week), based on viewer votes. Blake still had four team members in the final week; to John Legend’s one team member (who won). This was also John Legend’s premiere season on the “Voice”>.
The VOICE should take a nod from Idol. Shorten the process. The program is just too long. Not only is the best voice not chosen due to the variety (a good thing) of genres it is just too many weeks of watching this “more about the host chat songfest” .Adam and his long stares will be missed as will his banter: on point and funny Blake. They have a great camaraderie. John Legend not so much. The ladies are fine but haven’t developed the chemistry that Blake and Adam have at this point.