Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The live playoffs will be held Monday and Tuesday nights on The Voice.

The 20 artists still alive will be joined by four comeback artists selected by the coaches in a competition for a spot in the Top 12.

Voting will take place live (UGH! More on that here) via Twitter and The Voice app, which the show is apparently desperate for folks to download.

The two top finishers from each team in fan voting will automatically advance. Then each coach will get to select one of his or her other singers to join them in the finals.

Here’s a team by team preview of how it might work out.

Members of Team Blake in the live playoffs include Aaliyah Rose, Casi Joy, TSoul, Lauren Duski and Aliyah Moulden. (NBC Photo)

Team Blake

Teenagers Aaliyah Rose and Aliyah Moulden have been impressive for their ages, but you have to think the edge rests with the more experienced members of Team Blake. County singer Lauren Duski has been in the Top 200 on iTunes all three rounds. TSoul the largest Twitter following among the Top 20. And county singer Casi Joy needs to be in the finals. She’s that good. If she isn’t voted in, it’s almost certain Blake would select her to advance, baring a stumble on her part and a remarkable performance by someone else.

Members of Team Gwen in the live playoffs include J Chosen, Quizz Swanigan, Brennley Brown, Hunter Plake and Troy Ramey. (NBC Photo)

Team Gwen

This might be the most intriguing team to watch. JChosen and Troy Ramey turned four chairs in the blinds. Hunter Plake has had more success on iTunes than any other contestant in Season 12 so far. So you’d think that trio would be locks for the finals, right? Well, young Brennley Brown, sensational in the knockout round, might have something to say about that. She sings country and brings back memories of Season 4 champ Danielle Bradbery, except with more personality. The other wildcard is Gwen. Don’t count on her to go with the most ready-for-prime-time singer when she makes her pick.

Members of Team Alicia in the live playoffs include Vanessa Ferguson, Anatalia Villaranda, Stephanie Rice, Ashley Levin and Chris Blue. (NBC Photo)

Team Alicia

Stephanie Rice might have been the smartest steal of the early rounds. Between her talent and her backstory, the finals would seem empty without her. Chris Blue has been the most impressive male R&B singer on the show to this point; same for Vanessa Ferguson on the female side. That leaves Anatalia Villaranda and Ashley Levin — the two members of Team Alicia who turned the most chairs during the blind auditions. But they were also two of only four artists who didn’t crack the iTunes charts during the knockout round.

Members of Team Adam in the live playoffs include Lilli Passero, Mark Isaiah, Hanna Eyre, Jesse Larson and Josh West. (NBC Photo)

Team Adam

I saved this team for last because it’s toughest to predict. Jesse Larson has been the most impressive performer to date, but doesn’t have the social media numbers to back that up. Lilli Passero has been quite impressive, but she’s based in Los Angeles and could be hurt by the live voting. Mark Isaiah was getting lots of praise for sounding like a current pop singer, then wound up being the only member of the Top 20 to be montaged in the knockout round. My prediction is he and Lilli make thee finals, one way or the other, with the third spot going to Jesse or young rocker Josh West.

See also …
Why West Coast viewers should boycott The Voice this week
Five artists who deserve comeback calls from The Voice
Social media leaders for Team Adam
Social media leaders for Team Alicia
Social media leaders for Team Blake
Social media leaders for Team Gwen