The Voice

As viewership plummets, The Voice finally turns to the fans

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Michael Buble, explaining how the power shifts to fans of The Voice, after coaches and producers already eliminated 48 of the 56 singers on the show. (NBC Photo)

Michael Buble, explaining how the power shifts to fans of The Voice, after coaches and producers already eliminated 48 of the 56 singers on the show. (NBC Photo)

I had to shake my head when, near the end of last Tuesday’s episode of The Voice, Michael Buble, with complete sincerity, said these words.

“The power (now) shifts to where it should be. And that’s in your hands, America.”

Really? You think?

After the show cut a supremely talented cast of 56 down to eight singers, with every single decision along the way made by coaches and producers.

You think?

After the show whittled that supremely talented field down to eight semifinalists without any assist from fans for just the second time in the show’s history.

You think?

After the show dispatched Lauren-Michael Sellers, Austyns Stancil, Gabrielle Zabosky and Jose Luis in the playoffs in spite of live-show worthy performances.

You think?

After the show eliminated supremely talented young singers like Katie O, Jaukeem Fortson and Sloane Simon without giving fans even a tiny bit of say in the matter.

Gee, Michael. Gee, The Voice. Thanks for thinking of the fans.

Better late than never, right?

Honestly, in my mind, it’s too late. Season 26 has already gone down as the worst in The Voice’s history from a production and formatting standpoint.

Remember, up until Season 23, fans voted who advanced from the playoffs.

And in nearly every season, there’s been at least one other voting show between the playoffs and the semifinals.

Fans are registering their displeasure in the best way possible.

By not tuning in.

Last fall, part two of the playoffs attracted an estimated 6.49 million viewers. This fall: 5.5 million. That’s a 13 percent drop.

Last fall, part three of the playoffs drew an estimated 5.57 million viewers. This fall: 3.82 million. That’s a 31 percent drop.

In my mind, The Voice is getting exactly what it deserves this holiday season: plummeting viewership.

Editor’s Note: The semifinals begin Monday at 8 p.m. There will be overnight voting. Results will be announced Tuesday and the low vote-getters will compete for an instant save and the fifth and final spot in the finals at the end of that show.

2 Comments

  1. Music Lover December 1, 2024 at 2:50 pm -  Reply

    It doesn’t matter who picks the winner. He or she will not be promoted by the record label afterwards.

  2. TiredofTripe December 1, 2024 at 7:19 pm -  Reply

    This season has been so bad.

    Another “Voice” recapper become so dismayed after the last two shows, he stated “If you need me, I’ll be off in the corner cursing.”

    In my own opinion, nobody cares anymore–not the producers, not the coaches, and possibly not even NBC.

    Support your favorites after the seasons end.

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