The Voice Winner Chosen in Nailbiting Finale

The Voice finale went right down to the wire, as the winner prevailed by a narrow margin. Host Carson Daly said the winner only had a 2 percent margin of victory, according to TV Guide, which reflected how the finalists were truly bunched together. This was another coup for The Voice, which became the closest thing NBC had to a hit in years in its debut season. As such, a big Season 1 needed a big finale, and Javier Colon finally stood alone to top it all off.

Warning: Spoilers follow

After 10 weeks of a unique team format and some final duets with other established stars, the four finalists took the stage one last time Wednesday. Ultimately, the competition came down to Colon, the winner of Team Adam Levine, and Dia Frampton, who emerged from Team Blake Shelton.

But by one of the narrowest margins possible, Colon took the victory and the recording contract and $100,000 that goes along with it. Yet Colon, Frampton, Beverly McClellan, Vicci Martinez and the rest of the top eight will still go on The Voice summer tour starting July 27, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Once the show broke out, it was instantly compared to American Idol, for obvious reasons. At the least, the finale was as unpredictable as the last few on Idol, although Colon's victory wasn't an upset on the level of Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze.

Yet the real test on whether this is an Idol-like phenomenon depends on the aftermath. Idol's debut season yielded one of its biggest winners ever in Kelly Clarkson, so Colon has a high bar to go over. But the likes of Frampton, McClellan and Martinez can't be forgotten, since those who lose singing competitions are often more successful in the end -- a la Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken and Adam Lambert.

The contestants will have their share of chances to launch a career and carry on under The Voice banner. But the show itself is under an even greater spotlight and larger pressure to not be a one-hit wonder itself. NBC finally has a hit to cling to, and it can't afford to let it decline in a sophomore slump.

Fortunately for fans and the network, the finale won't trigger an exceedingly long wait for Season 2. Although Season 1 started in April, the show will return in January 2012, just like American Idol. By starting up during Idol season and going up against Dancing With the Stars on Monday night, NBC will see soon enough if The Voice has a long-term future.

Although Colon was the ultimate winner Wednesday, the likes of NBC, the other contestants, and the superstar judges already won big during the season. Now they have a few months to rest before they try to top themselves in Season 2 with new teams.

Sources

TV Guide- "The Voice Finale: And the Winner Is...."

Hollywood Reporter- "The Voice Tour Sets Summer Dates"