'The Voice' Returns to NBC

Season 2 of "The Voice" premiered February 5 on NBC. The show could not have had a better time slot, as it came on immediately following the Super Bowl. Considering that the judges, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine were a part of the fantastic Super Bowl commercials, it was a great move to premiere the show right after the game.

A Singing Show with a Twist

If you have never seen "The Voice" on NBC, it is not set up like "American Idol", "The X Factor" or any of the other multitudes of talent shows that are on television. This show is comprised of four judges, but they do not get to see the contestants in the blind auditions. Each judge sits in a chair with their back to the contestant. The contestant has to impress them with their voice and singing ability alone.

Much like the "X Factor", each judge is attempting to build a team of their own to compete to be the winner. If the judges are impressed with the singer, they will hit a button and turn around. This means they would like to have the contestant on their team and mentor them to compete against the other teams. The twist is that if more then one judge turns around, then the contestant gets to choose which judge's team they would like to join. If none of the judges turn around, it is like getting a "No" from the "American Idol" judges.

Sometimes when the judges hit their button and turn around, the surprise on their faces is evident. They are not influences by looks, style of clothing or stage performance until they have turned and committed. They have to make their choice entirely by listening to the voice. Anticipation rises as the song nears the end, especially if only one or none of the judges turn around. If only one judge turns around, you can tell that the other judges are watching to see the reaction on their face.

The Judges "Sell" Their Self to the Contestant

It can be entertaining when all four judges have hit the button, hoping to have a talented singer for their own team. On last night's episode, 17-year-old Rae Lynn sang a Miranda Lambert song, "Hell on Wheels." She had all of the judges turning around by the time the song was over. She told them that Lambert's music had a big influence on her. Blake Shelton replied, "I just happen to know her," as his pitch to win the young country singer for his team.

The judges have to be careful in their selections because they each are searching for 12 members to be on their team. If they choose too quickly, they run the chance of missing out on a talented singer. Of course, they run that risk anyway when the contestant gets to choose. After last night's episode, Team Christina is leading with having 2 contestants choose her team. Teams Adam, Blake and Cee Lo each have one contestant. Who will build their team first?

The second part of the blind auditions will air tonight on NBC. Check your local listings for your time zone. You can also keep up with "The Voice" and watch the teams build on the official web site.