Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Tanner Massey, RUDI, Chechi Sharai await the coaches’ feedback following their three-way knockout on The Voice Season 24. (NBC Photo)

The Voice seems intent on marching through the three-way knockouts at a glacial pace in Season 24.

Tuesday’s one-hour show featured just 13 minutes of performance footage as Tanner Massey and Nini Iris scored knockout wins and RUDI also earned a spot in the upcoming pre-recorded playoffs.

I guess there’s no reason for The Voice to hurry things along.

Season 24 will feature only three live shows, a major disappointment for those of us who would like to see the likes of Mara Justine, Huntley and Nini performing on our TV screens week after week after week.

Speaking of Mara, Tuesday’s episode began with the results of a cliffhanger from Monday night. John Legend had put her future on the show in jeopardy by not declaring her the knockout round winner.

No problem. Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan immediately decided to save her. On Tuesday’s show, we learn that she chose to join the already loaded Team Niall.

Meanwhile, is there something in the coaches’ contracts that dictates that they must be featured in several dozen close-ups per episode?

I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love the camera to focus on the artists for the entire performance.

I could care less about cut-aways to the coaches looking awed by whatever singer they’re watching at the moment.

I’d much rather be watching what they’re watching so I can be awed as well.

THE COACH GOT IT SORTA RIGHT

Team Gwen

The match: Tanner Massey vs. RUDI vs. Chechi Sarai
The background: Chechi, 32, of Pontiac, Mich., and RUDI, 28 of San Antonio, Texas, were four-chair turns during the blinds. Tanner, 19, of Choctaw, Okla., turned three. He is a steal from Team Niall.
The songs: Shawn Mendes’ “In My Blood” for Tanner; Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” for Chechi; and Silk Sonic’s “Smokin Out the Window” for RUDI.
The feedback: John Legend called Chechi “everything we could want in an artist.” He applauded RUDI’s “authentic and cool” stage demeanor. And he praised Tanner’s emotional connection, calling his performance his favorite of the three. Niall also gave the edge to Tanner.
The outcome: Gwen declared Tanner Massey the winner, praising the 19-year-old’s performance and potential. She then used her save on RUDI. But she had to convince her to stay on Team Gwen, because John and Reba pushed their steal buttons. Chechi was eliminated.
My take: Reba said she couldn’t understand Tanner’s lyrics at times, and enunciation was a problem for him. But only in spots, and he clearly conveyed an emotional connection to the song. Chechi brought a star look and attitude to the stage, but that song choice did her no favors and she seemed to be straining to do more with it than plausible. RUDI had the best song choice of the three and delivered tons of sass and stage presence to accompany a solid vocal. I might have switched the results, giving RUDI the win and Tanner the save. But I can understand Gwen’s rationale. The Voice is likely hoping Tanner will lend the show some teen heartthrob appeal.

THE COACH GOT IT RIGHT

Team Nail

The match: Nini Iris vs. AZAN vs. Olivia Minogue
The background: Nini, 27, of Brooklynn, N.Y., turned four chairs in the blinds. Olivia, 19, of Lockport, Ill., turned three. Azan turned two and is a steal from Team Legend.
The songs: Anita Baker’s “Caught up in the Rapture” for AZAN; Radiohead’s “Karma Police” for Nini; Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” for Olivia.
The feedback:
The outcome: Niall declared Nini the winner. AZAN and Olivia were eliminated.
My take: I wasn’t a huge fan of Nini’s song choice, but she’s a young lady who just oozes originality and charisma on stage. With a healthy dose of vocal firepower. I’ll be shocked it she doesn’t create some incredible moments on the show in coming rounds. I would have loved to see her sing Olivia’s song. Olivia’s shown lots of potential on the show, but couldn’t deliver the vocal firepower needed to make that cover special. AZAN brought John Legend to his feet with her performance, combining a strong vocal with oodles of stage presence. I’d be curious to know how many saves / steals were still in play when she performed. But of the three ladies, there’s no question: Nini needed to advance.