‘The Voice’ Lifespan: Are Adam Levine, Blake Shelton tied to show’s long-term future?

This fall, NBC is premiering the 11th season of “The Voice,” otherwise known as a show that they would love to see go on forever. You can in many ways credit the singing competition as what them back from the ratings hole that they were in. Not only has it been an enormous success story, but at the same time it has boosted up other shows like “Chicago Fire,” “Blindspot,” and “The Blacklist.” Think of it this way: Without “The Voice” serving as a good lead-in to the “Chicago” franchise, would we have three of these series on the air right now? It’s hard to say. Its impact has been far-reaching.

What is interesting at present for “The Voice” is that may be at a crossroads. The ratings have declined, and for the first in two years, this fall we’re getting two new coaches turning up at the same time in Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys. Not only that, but this is the first time that we’ve had two female coaches on the show at the same time. This is a huge risk, mostly given how polarizing Miley is, and the fear from some more conservative viewers that she could come on here swearing and wearing little to no clothing. Rest assured: This will still be a show meant for the same audience as always.

We don’t see Miley and Alicia arriving so much as the linchpin for the show’s future; instead, it could be tied to the future of Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Neither have indicated that they are leaving anytime soon, but there could be trouble if they do. They’ve been the heart and soul of the show, and the rapport between the two of them has served as a huge asset. They’ve been incredibly reliable as not only coaches, but sources of humor. Carson Daly doesn’t really bring too much in that department as host, and with rotating coaches elsewhere, it’s possible this lightness would be lost without them.

Could “The Voice” survive without them? Maybe if you brought the right people in, but we do think that there’d always be a certain group of people who would miss them and reminisce about when they were on the panel. That is why if ratings drop and if Adam and Blake start to seem as though they don’t want to commit so much time to this every year, we’d consider making this into an annual show rather than something done twice a year. We think that this move could benefit the show in the same way it does “America’s Got Talent,” which people get excited for by the time it is back on the air.

Ultimately, we think there are at least a few more seasons left in the show. Beyond that, the fate of “The Voice” could rest in who is setting in those big red chairs.

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