Idol Chatter & Voice Views

ABC  is ramping up publicity for Duets, the next singing show set to debut on network TV.

The cast, including Kelly Clarkson, turned out Tuesday night at an Entertainment Weekly and ABC Upfronts Party in New York.

And a new promo video for the show was just released.  You can check it out below.

Duets features Kelly, John Legend, Robin Thicke and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland traveling across the country looking for singers worthy of  a recording contract.

Once they’ve selected two apiece, the performances will begin before a live studio audience.

Singers will be eliminated as the season progresses until only one duet is left standing and singing.

The ABC blurb on the show says the winning “amateur” will receive a contract from Hollywood Records.

Interesting that they use the word “amateur” because that would rule out, for instance, the type of professional singers who show up on The Voice stage because they haven’t quite made it big yet.

The show launches next Thursday at 8 p.m.

Don’t fret, singing show fans.  That won’t conflict with the Idol finale because Idol is moving to Tuesday and Wednesday night next week.

Now, whether it’s wise to launch a new singing competition the day after Idol ends … well, we’ll find out when ratings for the Duets premiere come out.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m suffering from a bit of singing-show fatigue.  And wondering how in the world the music industry is going to accommodate — or brush aside — all these newly minted TV stars.