Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Don’t look now, American Idol, but here comes The Voice.

If it seems like just yesterday that Cassadee Pope had confetti falling all around her … well, that was three months ago.

The Voice is actually getting a late spring start this year. Season 2 started right after the Super Bowl.

Guess it took a while to hammer those new judges — Shakira and Usher — into shape.

Season 4 begins Monday with a two-hour show and continues Tuesday with another set of those blind auditions.

The finale is set for June 18, which means this year’s singing show fun will continue a month after Idol ends.

During a Season 3 in which it pushed all the right buttons, The Voice annihilated The X Factor in the ratings battle last fall.

This spring, folks will be watching to see if The Voice whizzes by Idol and its plummeting ratings as America’s favorite singing show.

It could happen. Here’s why:

1. The Voice has retained its two most entertaining judges, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Usher might be an upgrade over Cee Lo Green, who seemed to check out in Season 3. Shakira might dress less outlandishly than Christina Aguilera, but she’s also likely to be less self-absorbed (read more bearable and we won’t have to watch her wear a flying saucer on her head for an entire month).

2. The Voice made some wonderful format changes in Season 3, like adding the save to the previously sleepy and still hokey battle rounds (sorry, Voice, I’ll never like the boxing ring). Most importantly, the show switched to more Idol-like eliminations as the finals approached, giving us a chance to get to know the contestants and hear them sing week after week. Cassadee performed 10 times to win The Voice; her predecessor (Jermaine Paul) took the stage just six times.

3. Based on what we’ve seen from Season 12 of American Idol, The Voice is likely to offer up far better talent. The Voice doesn’t shy away from more seasoned or experienced singers. The first three winners had already released an album. And Season 3 of The Voice was truly an embarrassment of riches with the show also featuring entertaining teens like Trevin Hunte, Michaela Paige and Melanie Martinez — the type of singers we’re used to seeing on Idol.

Check back Monday for a live blog as The Voice begins to unveil its Season 4 talent.

The blog may be called Idol Chatter, but I’ll be providing coverage of The Voice throughout the upcoming season.