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TV Tonight: The Voice

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Tonight, NBC debuts The Voice, the American Idol knockoff from Mark Burnett. (Not to be confused with Burnett’s American Idol knockoff Rock Star.) The Voice, from the previews, is a singing competition, but it differs in its hook: the panel (Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton) first rate singers with their backs turned. They assess them not by appearance, but by The Voice. (I would presume, then, that the only fair way to watch is with your eyes closed.) Also, the show seems to emulate the nice-and-nurturing vibe of the relaunched American idol, in that it emphasizes that it has “mentors,” not “judges.” Boo, judgment! Judgment mean!

I don’t know that I have a hole in my heart that needs to be filled by another singing competition (and at first blush, Bravo’s songwriting contest, Platinum Hit, debuting next month, looks more interesting). But I will say, from NBC’s earlier preview, that I would watch a TV show consisting of nothing but celebrities covering Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”:*

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5K7HGxVRcs]

* If, of course, Cee Lo can be said to be covering his own song.