NBC’s ‘The Voice’ season 7: Show boss on Cee Lo Green’s exit

A new season of “The Voice” is premiering on NBC Monday night, but we also know that for a good many out there, the primary subject of conversation is still the surprising departure of Cee Lo Green from the panel. This is a guy who was extremely popular during much of his tenure, and really only started to become a target of controversy over the course of the fall. He announced his exit on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this past week, and really puts the show in a pretty awkward position when it comes to figuring out how they are going to chart the future of the series.

Show boss Mark Burnett admitted to reporters today at a screening for the premiere that there has not been much thought put into either Green’s exit or Christina Aguilera’s recent pregnancy announcement; however, he did say (via The Hollywood Reporter) that this is a show that is ultimately about way more than just one person:

“We knew from the beginning — if you want to have a show with the biggest superstars in music in those red chairs, they have day jobs … the hardest part is the jigsaw puzzle of schedules. This is not like we got four people in chairs who used to be in the music business! … There are massive opportunities, and they’re global stars. That’s the truth. We’re always really — especially me, I’m always direct on these questions about anything on my shows — this is very complicated.”

If the show lasts long enough, it is possible that almost every original coach could leave. Cee Lo is the first to step down permanently, but one other thing that may have to be considered in here eventually is cost. Aguilera in particular does not come cheap, and ratings for reality shows are on the decline.

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Photo: NBC