Carson Daly Reveals The Voice Tweaks For Season 3

By On 07/21/2012 · 23 Comments · In American Idol, The Voice

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Michael Slezak from TV Line interviewed The Voice host, Carson Daly on his reaction to the newbie show’s Emmy nod for Outstanding Competition Reality show, but he also teased a few spoilers on what we might expect from the new Season. The Voice 3 premiers on NBC September 10.

Read the entire interview at TVLine. Unlike his boss, Mark Burnett, Carson was diplomatic about Idol’s Emmy snub. “Idol is, come on, arguably the greatest, strongest show in the history of television. For The Voice to be mentioned in the same breath is really an honor.”

  • The Battle Rounds will be tweaked: “The best way to categorize the changes is that we’re playing with some potential interchangeability.”  When Michael suggested that he wished the mentors would be allowed to steal an eliminated battle round contestant from a competing judge, Carson answered “I will unofficially not comment on that, but I think that you in particular will enjoy this season of The Voice.”
  • There will be fewer people in the live rounds: “We had too many people in the live rounds, and it was hard to keep track of them, and it was hard to fall in love because there were so many.”  There won’t be 24 contestants for the live shows.
  • Bigger backstories, More performances: “When we get to the live shows, we want America to be a little more invested in fewer singers.” There will be an increased number of performances from each contestants by the time the confetti flies.
  • Even more Blind Auditions: There will be 3 hours worth a week, with The Voice now airing on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Carson took this little jab at Nigel Lythgoeand his sickness and mishap filled American Idol Hollywood rounds:

“You’ll never see on The Voice a promo with a flashing ambulance because somebody fell backstage. We don’t produce our show that way. We’re not trying to capitalize on any headlines of that nature, and we haven’t really needed to thus far.”

Carson also is not holding his breath waiting for The Voice to produce a huge star. Nor does he think it’s necessary:

“We’d like to have that Kelly Clarkson sort of moment, and it’s important to the longevity and stability of the brand of The Voice. At some point I think you have to have somebody pierce popular culture. But on the other hand, it’s not something we can control, and we don’t think the show’s success is predicated on that. We’re also only two seasons in. There’s a timeline, but it’s not anytime soon.”

I’m still not convinced the Battle Rounds can be improved short of totally re hauling that phase of the competition. Adding more gimmicks such as allowing coaches to steal fellow panelists’ contestants won’t do much to make the round less tedious, although it may save a contestant who was robbed.

Giving finalists more opportunities to sing in the live rounds is imperative to keeping viewers from losing interest. I still can’t tell you who half of Season 2′s contestants are, although I remember ALL of Idol’s Top 24.   Invested fans also buy post competition albums. So there’s that.

If the live round tweaks are executed successfully, maybe I won’t feel like tossing things at my TV half way through the live rounds this season.

ETA: Taking a cue from comments–making the live rounds LONGER to accommodate 1 elimination a week would be ideal. But the format as it stands, doesn’t allow that. Short live rounds will continue to contribute to the lack of viewer investment problem The Voice currently has.

 
  • http://profile.yahoo.com/XDQP2Y46M5B3OHOKALDDGDHQCM Leandro

    The biggest problem still the same. They can’t expect these people to have large fanbases, like contestants on Idol and X-Factor have, with few live shows. They HAVE TO follow X-Factor format, where you eliminate the less voted from ALL the teams, not from each team. With that, they could have like 12-16 live shows.

  • http://twitter.com/desireechick Kesia Monteith

    The one by one elimination process just makes more sense with these shows…

  • Anonymous

    I am not planning on watching the fall edition of the voice. The last is still fresh in my head. I will watch in the spring maybe. Glad they are realizing they need to make changes. Wish they would ditch the battle rounds completely.

  • escape

    The judges control the show.  Whereas even with all the bashing of Idol every season, it is ultimately the viewers who decide who stays and who goes.  Hollie would have long been gone if it were up to the judges.  But the viewers help her make Top 4.

  • Anonymous

     

    When Michael suggested that he wished the mentors would be allowed to steal an eliminated battle round contestant from a competing judge, Carson answered “I will unofficially not comment on that, but I think that you in particular will enjoy this season of The Voice.”

    This would be a very smart  change.  Of course, the whole thing is pretty scripted anyway, but it’s still a good move.

  • Anonymous

    My problem with the format is also the bulk eliminations. It allows for legitamately great people to slip through the cracks.

  • Karen C

    I think these can be good changes, because so many people I liked did go during the battle rounds, and I also think there wasn’t enough live shows to get people invested in the contestants.

    I also think it should be lowest votes, regardless of teams.

  • Kirsten

    This would be a very smart  change.  Of course, the whole thing is pretty scripted anyway, but it’s still a good move.

    Totally, because it will make it all about the judges too.

    Cee Lo makes some male hard rock singer and a Pop girl duet on the classic “Ma-nah-Ma-Nah” song. One of them randomly gets eliminated. Close up of Christina biting her lip as she thinks of stealing the contestant while Adam sees that she wants the contestant and swoops in with an offer. They bicker. Blakes call them a couple of self-involved jackalopes who are forgetting the reason for the competition and scoops up the contestant for himself.

    Mark Burnett cackles with glee and counts his money.

    Both contestants are quietly eliminated the next round.

  • Anonymous

    I’d get rid of the battle rounds entirely. But some of these tweaks could really help

  • Anonymous

    The priorities of The Voice seem to be, in order

    1. The judges’ careers.
    2. The judges’ careers.
    3. The judges’ careers.
    4. Gimmicks.
    5. Twitter
    .
    99. The contestants. 

    It doesn’t seem like changing this is one of the tweaks they have in mind.

  • Anonymous

    Seems strange that Carson thinks The Voice does not need to produce a star.  That seems to go against everything these shows are supposed to represent. 

  • OffLeash

    Ooooh! I like that! One of the biggest sources of frustration with the battle rounds for me was that they would have either two very good contestants or two mediocre ones competing against each other, which was really dumb. I really like the idea that the judges can steal somebody else’s contestants. Nice!

  • Anonymous

    Exactly. Will I give a crap by then? Nope. But this time you should be seeing every contestant weekly. If I don’t bond with anyone what’s the point?

  • Anonymous

    So with the judges and mentors, that approximately 12 (?) celebrities plus Carson trying to use the show for their own careers.  The contestants never had a chance and they will never have a chance in the future.

  • http://twitter.com/shoriagirl Shoriagirl

    As if Idol cares about the contestants, seriously. I may watch The Voice next season. Sounds like it is a fun show!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDYOWBIIPZU6PBRHGOPT2ZZJXQ sweetmm

    I’m looking forward to this new season; I enjoy its’ production and the songs are normally not as generic as most competition.  The Voice shows do introduce me to a few current songs that I would not normally listen to :)

  • DavieP

    Idol first 2 seasons..Kelly, Clay, Ruben even Justin..,Kimberly Locke & Caldwell and others who got more work than any Voicers

  • DavieP

    Yeah judges or coaches have way too much control on this show..and eliminating people on each team screws it up.

    For ex, Blake might have 3 of the strongest and Christina 3 of the weakest but this format will eliminate the stronger ones (even if they could be runnerup of the whole show)..and keep the weaker. Last season the judges had way too much power and once didnt they get rid of 2 on each team on one night???

    And WTF is going on with XF …No music from Melanie or Josh yet..and theyve been forgotten by most..What abt Drew, Astro??? RAchel is the winner with an EP & a Nick contract.

  • DavieP

    Battles are fake as judges aka producers choose pairs & winners. Same with finale judge vote and 50/50 copout..Only Adam affected result..but that overruled viwers choice, again giving the judges too much power. The Voice had like 20 judges saves

  • DavieP

    Its a tv show & producers care abt ratings esp if they and network make nothing off record sales.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SYFK77IYLRQIVATQ2MJKSW2J7Y Pam

    I’m also in favor of getting rid of the battle rounds.  These changes certainly won’t do any harm to the show but the in the end, yes, the show will be all about the careers of the judging panel and very little about the contestants.   

  • hcpoirot

    I agree with MJ here. 4 singers or even 8 singers eliminated in a week is just too many.

    Maybe after reaching top 8, they can eliminate only one singer each week. (No matter if the judge end up with zero singers in the finale)

    And I am against the judge can steal another judge singers. This show already had too many gimmick and thats what make the rating suffer. Adding this will make it even worse.

    And please in the battle round, try not to make all the singers yelling at each others.

    If there are not any BIG CHANGES in season 3, I will not watch season 4 anymore.

  • Anonymous

    Let’s try to remember that it is ENTERTAINMENT. Not everyone needs to connect.  Geez already.