Todd Tilghman - (NBC - photo)

Mike Jerel - (NBC - photo)

Arei Moon - (NBC - photo)

Video Beat - THE VOICE 2 ADAPT 2 COVID-19 LIMITATIONS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

The most impressive performance of the four way knock out round was by Samantha Howell. Her song choice for her voice was the best of the competition and her strong performance was outstanding in her rendition of 'Always On My Mind'. Will the viewers vote her through? Stay tuned - Each coach has four of their team to be represented in the finals. It's strange how the results are a even number across the board. When you consider season 16's cutthroat battles led to the eventual departure of Adam Levine this is a result of program change from season 16

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Buddy Miles sang it best with 'Going Thru Some Changes' as will The Voice live shows. Due to the pandemic the Live shows of The Voice the three weeks of live shows will air as lives done at each contestant's and coach's homes. Overall the television industry has adapted in dealing with the world's COVID-19 problems.

For the first time there will be only three weeks of live shows. That translates into whacking off a number of contestants rapidly during the first two live shows. Usually there are four contestants in the final week. Currently there are 17 voices competing for the title including the winner of the 4-Way Knockout whose name will be announced in the first live show. Eight will be eliminated from the first live show. Five will be eliminated from the second live show.

Each coach has four contestants on their team to be represented in the finals. It's strange how the results are an even number across the board. When you consider season 16's cutthroat battles led to the eventual departure of Adam Levine this is a result of program changes from season 16. At that time a coach could choose to challenge their talent up against another coach's. The end result was Levine was without a contestant in the semifinal round. At that point he lost the plot and looked like a bump on a log. After losing his composure he quit the show.

The competition will continue to have four contestants in the finals. The voting public will eliminate the 13 vocalists on the road to the FINAL FOUR. The artists who receive the fewest votes will be eligible for the "Instant Save", performing a new song. America will then save their favorite performer by voting on "The Voice" app or NBC.com. The artists with the fewest number of votes will be sent home each week.

This season the competition is strong. Each coach has a student that is capable to win The Voice title. One of the best battles occurred this past week pitting Nick Jonas coached vocalists Arei Moon against Jon Mullins. Both had strong performances and song choices. It was, as we recall, the best, most eventually matched competition this season. Moon won BUT… later it was Mullins performance that was ringing in my head without me being able to recall who it was until we went into research mode.

Previously we highlighted three contestants from John Legend's team. All have been eliminated or have moved on. Zach Day was the first to be eliminated in the first Battle round. He has a great voice but the song choice by Legend didn't fit his style. Legend pitted him up against Mike Jerel who has been consistent from the start and is one of our choices to reach the finals.

Cedrice has survived two eliminations only to be stolen each time. She has been coached by every coach except Nick Jonas. Kelly Clarkson made the most recent steal of Cedrice after Blake Shelton chose to let her go. Cedrice is a victim of choosing a song that wasn't as suitable for her voice as were the stronger song choices by her competitors.

Legend also cut Thunderstorm Artis but he was immediately stolen by Nick Jonas. Artis also made a good song choice that optimized the strengths of his voice. The reality is that Legend saw it another way.

Todd Tilghman has gained strength during the competition. The 41-year-old's only experience is singing in church. His multi octave range and rich voice texture is capable of singing 'Go The Distance' made popular by Michael Bolton. He is the first competitor we recall that has the vocal quality to do that song justice. He also is highly emotional which his coach Blake Shelton is trying to reign in.

For certain this is the best group of talent ever on the show. When the replays are shown the strength of talent shines through is when the performance of a singer is so strong but forgotten due to the superb competition. This season will be a tough call to figure who will win. The difference is as the show goes deeper into the competition what stands out are the vocalists that gain strength and their performance continue to improve.

The most impressive performance of the four way knock out round was by Samantha Howell. Her song choice for her voice was the best of the competition and her strong performance was outstanding in her rendition of 'Always On My Mind'. Will the viewers vote her through? Stay tuned and tune in.

4 WAY KNOCKOUTS as we see it:

1. SAMANTHA HOWELL - KELLY CLARKSON - 'Always On My Mind' - 3 chair turn - superlative performance - great tone & power

2. TODD MICHAEL HALL - BLAKE SHELTON - Great performance & song - 50-years-old - 2 chair turn

3. NELSON CADE III - JOHN LEGEND - Played piano - OK song - 4 chair turn

4. MICHAEL WILLIAMS - NICK JONAS - 'You are The Reason' - song OK - 1 chair turn

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