Report Card: What NBC’s ‘The Voice’ should fix before season 9

“The Voice” has been off the air now for a little bit over a week, and we hope that you at least remember its winner this time in Sawyer Fredericks. This is a strange show in some ways to analyze. When it comes to supporting its alumni and building stars, it’s a definite failure. While Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery have at least had a certain amount of success, they’ve yet to find a superstar.

Yet, we don’t think the show is designed for that. It is more about entertainment, the gimmick of the spinning chairs, and watching the banter between the coaches. This is both a good thing and a bad thing, but we have to stop looking at the show regardless as some sort of star generator. Instead, it’s just another television show meant to entertain, and maybe the stars after the fact have a little more success than they did beforehand.

What worked this past season – The show does some very smart things. It’s social-media platform is second to none, and we love the music videos that all of the final four receive. This is the closest thing that the show has done to providing a launching pad. Also, they continue to find the right people to serve as coaches, and have managed to convince Blake Shelton and Adam Levine to stick around for so long that there is consistency.

Also, let’s talk contestants: People like Kimberly Nichole, Koryn Hawthorne, Matt McAndrew, Craig Wayne Boyd, Chris Jamison, Sawyer Fredericks, and the gone-too-soon Mia Z make you want to keep watching week after week.

What didn’t work – We still hate the Battle Rounds, since they progress incredibly slowly and it feels like all of the buildup with the advisers is as redundant as redundant can possibly be. We’d also like to see the show drift somewhat from the decision to force covers on the singers. Why not give them the option to perform originals, and if they fail to sell, it is the fault of the artist? Allow some more risk-taking during the live rounds.

Also, let’s get rid of the coach performing with the artist in the finale unless it actually makes sense. Most of them are horrible. Instead, why not bring in a similar talent to perform with them?

Overall – “The Voice” is a show that already knows for the most part what it is doing right, so it really does need a whole lot of advice. It’s formulaic, and it will probably continue to be until it is canceled. It’s not perfect, but it does a pretty good job at delivering a solid show. Grade: B+.

What did you think about “The Voice” this past year? Share below, and head over here to see our other recent TV report cards! Also, you can sign up here to get some further TV news on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: NBC.)