In the wake of The Voice’s Season 25 finale Tuesday night, the cheers have died down, the auditorium has emptied and the confetti has been swept up. Heck, newly minted winner Asher HaVon has even done the obligatory Q&A session with TVLine. (You can read it here.) So now it’s time for us to look back — and, while we’re at it, ahead.
Aside from the usual grumbling about the questionable choices the coaches made and the undeserved grades that I assigned, what did we like and dislike about this cycle of NBC’s Energizer Bunny of a sing-off? What did we say to ourselves over the course of the last three months — and probably not for the first time, either — “Man, if only the show would change this, it would be great!”?
The comments section at the bottom of this article is already open and ready to act as your personal suggestion box. (Based on your remarks that followed each week’s recaps, I know you’ve got ideas aplenty.) But before you dive in with your fixes to help the show hit a new high note, why don’t you scroll through the below tweaks that you might also agree need to be implemented.
Instances in which the coaches admit that a performance could have gone better are few and far between — to the point that every time a panelist does point out a flaw or misstep, we sit up and take notice. Why not encourage them to be not meaner, certainly, but more constructively critical? It would be more helpful to the contestants and more rewarding for the audience. (How many times have we been left asking, “Are they hearing what we are?!?”)
We get that the gimmick, introduced back in Season 14, is designed to get the coaches squabbling and guessing who used their Block to keep an opponent from recruiting a singer with extra promise. And that’s fun and all, we’ll grant you. But it’s never sat well with us that the Block also has the potential to keep a contender from joining their first-choice team. If The Voice wants to mess with the coaches, fine. But the eager wannabes? Not so cool.
Since Season 23, this device has allowed the coaches to keep not one but both of their contestants during a Battle by advancing one of them to the Knockouts and the other directly to the Playoffs. It’s a lovely show of support and no doubt quite the high to its recipients. But is the Playoff Pass really a reward? The more airtime a singer gets, the more attached to them the audience is likely to get. So being benched for the Knockouts could actually worsen, not improve, their chances.
Look, we know that not a season will come when host Carson Daly doesn’t interrogate contestants waiting to learn their fate in the results shows. But does it have to be the same questions every… single… time? Come on. Since no one in the history of The Voice has ever replied, “Yeah, [bleep] off!” to Daly’s “If this is the end, is there anything you’d like to say to your coach?” could we maybe retire that one (and its ilk) permanently?
Remember when The Voice had its finalists perform songs that were not covers? The practice was abandoned after Season 20 and needs to be re-implemented. It gave a hint of what the artists might really be like once they were left to their own devices and, on top of that, served as a break from the nonstop barrage of familiar numbers. Plus, let’s be real: It’s hard to come off “karaoke-esque” on a bop that none of us have heard before.
There is no reason in the world why Season 12 victor Chris Blue isn’t a household name… why Season 14 champ Brynn Cartelli hasn’t already been hailed as the next Taylor Swift… why Season 16’s Maelyn Jarmon doesn’t even have an album out — except that The Voice doesn’t seem to actively work to keep a spotlight on the artists it introduces. Stick with them the way that their fans would like to, and we can stop grousing that the show has never produced a Kelly Clarkson or a Jennifer Hudson like American Idol has.
As spirited as Season 25’s coaches were, the panel suffered from a surplus of sameness. How often did we hear a coach say that they hadn’t turned their chair for a contestant that they wanted because they didn’t want to compete with a rival in the same lane? Season 26’s lineup is a step in the right direction. But down the line, how about branching out even further and offering a seat to a Broadway legend (like, say, Kristin Chenoweth, who was a wonderful, witty Season 21 Battles adviser to Ariana Grande)?
We know, we know — when the GOAT said that he was leaving behind his red swivel chair after 23 seasons, he meant it. But the coaching panel just hasn’t been the same since he exited stage left. Maybe if the OG isn’t willing to take a seat for an entire cycle, he could at least be enticed to serve as wife Gwen Stefani’s Season 26 Battles advisor?
I’ve proposed this for all of the singing competitions, but I think one thing that could help make the shows must-see each week AND build the artists careers after it is over would be to add weekly “prizes”.
Whoever gets the most votes in Week 1 gets their cover played across all iHeart Radio stations at 12 PM the next day. Whoever wins Week 2 gets an original song written by a top writer in the industry. Week 3 gets a duet with a popular artist. You can make them better or worse than this, but help the artists get set up for a career beyond the show, while trying to promote The Voice in the mainstream while the season is going on.
Those are excellent incentives. The other thing is only do one season a year. Doing so many seasons a year has made it overkill. Start focusing on the contestants themselves not their coaches.
Besides Blake, also bring back fan favorites like Niall Horan. People who have those great personalities. They give the show energy and want a person to watch. Keith Urban would be great too! The expertise and differences in the type of music even if it may be the same genre is what’s going to bring more people back after losing Blake. Darius Rucker, Scotty McCreery, Lady Gaga, people who have great personalities and have eclectic tastes in music and also have a huge group of different age ranges that listen to them.
You are focusing on the judges the focus should be 100% on the contestants
I’ve never liked the battle rounds. They tend to result in contestants oversinging in an attempt to outshine the other person, and those with more gentle or subtle voices are more likely to lose. Let someone win or lose on the basis of their own voice, not how they directly compare to one other person in the same performance.
This was probably the most disappointing season ever
It’s crazy when Christina Aguilera was called out for being mean because she was critical. I really miss her on the show and honestly I have not watched since she left.
COACHES: STOP pairing contestants very similar contestants for the BATTLES; I’m sick to death of always hearing, “now why did I put these 2 together, I don’t know how I’m gonna choose, I shouldn’t of put these 2 together/etc”……And all of the “saves/blocks/playoff passes/etc” are great, but by the time the last contestant performs in the BLINDS, their left with ONLY 1 coach to choose/not choose; their given whatever coach is left!! And I’d loveeeee to see some previous winners of The Voice, come back to sing with the Too 9 🤩
We used to be able to vote for more than one contestant and now are reduced to just one choice. I think voting for more than one should be brought back. And, yes, I know Blake probably won’t be back as coach and that said, I really miss him and the show just hasn’t been the same. He is greatly missed. I also totally agree with the comment about Carson’s questions, they are the same and if I was a contestant I would answer one of his inane questions with “How the blank do you think I feel”?
I also question the “happy faces” of contestants being told they are in fifth place or whatever, and have absolutely no chance of winning. This does not seem authentic to me as I am sure some are devastated at not winning and not happy at all. Make it real.
Never liked the show. I guess the judges not seeing the singers was OK, but running off high level singers? C’mon now.
How about leaving the Voting to a panel of judges. As in the case of Dancing with the Stars, it’s still a popularity vote, not the ability of the dancers themselves and the same goes here for the on the voice. It is still a popularity contest when you have the audience vote. Audiences are only picking those performers dancers, whatever as to their popularity not really how well they sing or dance. Is with dancing with the stars some really really good people that danced were voted off because they weren’t quite as popular as some of the other dancers that were chosen. That is Wrong and should be changed, which I feel the same as in the Voice.
#9 Have TV Line writers refrain from speculative pieces about the the “clearcut” winner
I am tired of the winners never being heard from again. You are right, Chris Blue just be a household name. He was fantastic. Why doesn’t NBC invest in the winners like American Got Talent does. Also why don’t they give the three or four finalist a reward. They use to give out cars. Get an automobile sponsor. Why is NBC so cheap. NBC has the money to reward the Final three or four contestants. POMOTE THE WINNERS BETTER!!!!!
Because the show is really a promotion piece for the judges.
The reality is that AGT successful acts tend to have a lot of people (around America, not just Vegas) pay to see them – it’s not that either show spends more money to “promote” acts after they finish. It’s just the way audiences react. I think perhaps it’s because AGT tends to appeal to entire families, so they can go to the shows together, maybe? I don’t know. But I know Voice contestants have said they have struggled to sell tickets etc in general – perhaps because AGT acts don’t need “hit singles” to get attention maybe? And voice people are expected to?
Hell no to no 1!
No more Blake or Gwen, jeez enough is enough. There are 100’s of awesome singers who can coach, 4 new ones every new season would be nice.
That is an interesting idea I never thought of before. I like it.
Please stop asking what each judge means to the contestant…10 times per show
Broadway /opera judges/contestants
SUPPORT WINNERS after season is over. Pay more than $100k. Aggressive PR after win. Follow thru with aggressive record deal action.
I agree with everything except #1. Blake Shelton was a thoroughly negative part of The Voice that mainly kept me away. I’d replace that “Fix” with making the show primarily about the contestants, not the coaches. Coaches have already got theirs. It’s time for contestants to start getting the lion’s share of attention.
THANK YOU I’ve been saying that for years now.
Go back to more singing less showing sad life of contestants.
Coaches used to perform more.
Blake Shelton made the Voice enjoyable. Without him I have lost interest. Don’t plan to watch next season at all. Didn’t even watch the finale.
# 8 yes, #7 NO, #6 NO, #5 yes, #4 yes, #3 yes, #2 doesn’t matter to me, #1 OH HECK YES, BETTER YET BRING BLAKIE POOH BACK, then I’ll be watching again on a regular basis.
Again the FOCUS should be on the contestant’s NOT the judges.
It’s about the contestants NOT THE JUDGES!!!
I think you are watching the wrong show. Their is this other singing contest on air that might suit you better…
I agree with all that was written, especially the part about doing more for the winners at least a contract.
Also I think it’s a disgrace that with the millions spent on judges at least 50 million the least they can do for the contestants in the lives they can provide the outfits and let them keep them what are we talking under 500,000.
I agree with getting rid of the block and playoff pass. Didn’t like Dan and Shay or Chance. D & S liked everyone, and Chance didn’t seem to be all there sometimes. Not the same without the Cowboy and Kelly. Reba is one lane, only, and plays up “the Queen”. Less spotlight on judgers and more on performance.
If Reba were one lane, then she never would have won with Asher.
Reba is one lane, only? Asher is the farthest from country anyone could have been.
Yes, I’ve already been thinking that way about the block, play-off pass, and more support post-show. I have to say, though, that Chris Blue is starting to make waves in the gospel community. Not huge, but I’ve enjoyed some of his videos on YouTube, and was so glad to see that he’s thriving.
Get rid of the Block and Payoff Pass.
1. Every judge should have one contestant in the final with one judge having two. Each judge needs to be represented in the finals.
2. I don’t like the question what do you want to say to your judge? Instead, what have you gained/learned from this experience.
Everyone has favorite hosts and the originals especially. I like the idea of their own song after winning to sign off the program. How about an hour+ to look back the series of winners, their best song of the season and an update on what they are doing now. How about a look back in each new show to see how and what past winners are doing now….the way that “Shark Tank” does? Within a 2 hour show it would be great to have them sing the song they liked best from their season and finish out the show with their newest song. TNX for the input opportunity!
I don’t care for the only 1 vote total per email. I like to vote for, let’s say each of the 10 or 8 etc I feel should move forward. those I feel are the best in my humble opinion That is one thing I would change back to. It just took something away from the fun of it for me. Also I do have to say another big part of the draw of the show for me and my husband was the silliness/playful interaction between Blake and Adam or Kelly as my example. That was a great part of it also. We really didn’t have that between the coaches that I could really see this season… Try to get them back!!
I don’t care for the only 1 vote total per email. I like to vote for, let’s say each of the 10 or 8 etc I feel should move forward. those I feel are the best in my humble opinion That is one thing I would change back to. It just took something away from the fun of it for me. Also I do have to say another big part of the draw of the show for me and my husband was the silliness/playful interaction between Blake and Adam or Kelly as my example. That was a great part of it also. We really didn’t have that between the coaches that I could see this season.
Blake and Kelly are surely missed. They have done more than their share…. But the spark and rivalry isn’t there any more,