still watching the voice ...

... Or, I should say, more accurately, once again tuning in. I got really bored over the past few runs. The Blake/Adam bro-love was piling on bit thick. The only thing that made me want to check it out again was the presence of wunderkind Pharrell, and some curiosity about how Gwen Stefani might stack up as a coach.

It's only a few episodes in, but it is clear that both new coaches are more than just a needed breath of fresh air. Both musician's more down-to-earth attitudes are having an effect on the contestants and the Blake & Adam show. It is fun to see Blake and Adam watch aspiring singer after aspiring singer responding so positively to the newcomers. The good ol' boys are going to have to ramp up their routines, or maybe, get re-invested in the show.

Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams

In the meantime, it's just fun to watch the positivity shooting back and forth between former (and current) collaborators Pharrell and Gwen, and their refreshing honesty. Gwen said on camera that if the show had been around when she was starting out she never would have been selected, and Pharrell agreed with her. They both seem to be taking their potential star-making roles very seriously, and are even sharing advice and encouragement with contestants they don't select or who don't choose them. Viewers the season may find themselves as invested in the two coaches as they are all the aspiring hopefuls.

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pharrell takes over the world

In case you missed it, Pharrell Williams got something in his eye when he sat down to talk to Oprah the other day. It is pretty amazing how infectious his song "Happy" is. It is definitely striking a chord with people all over the world.

" ... people are putting up their own videos. It was, like, no longer my song."

And if having such a huge smash song wasn't enough, Pharrell is set to join the music competition show The Voice next year as a judge. Sounds like a reason to tune in again. Keep surfing this wave Pharrell, and making folks happy.

the voice

The kid's new favorite show (and mine, too) is The Voice. It has so much more personality than juggernaut American Idol. It had me at Cee Lo, but I like rest of the celebrity mix. They seem a lot more invested in the singers' success, and seem to like each other more than the Idol judges, who only seem there to hawk their latest album or book deal. Not that I don't enjoy Steven Tyler, I do, but he is entertaining just standing still. If he ever does that.

I think the main reason that singing shows do so well is that almost anyone can sing  — along to a song on the radio or in the shower — not necessarily well, but the majority of the audience can at least relate to singing in some way, as opposed to the dancing shows, which requires a lot more physical skill and training.

I'm not sure where The Voice will go after it's opening "blind taste test" gimmick. The "deathmatch" preview seems even wackier than the celebrity spinning chairs, but I'm interested and willing to find out.

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