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| Second-chance round brings contestants back from the dead as favorites emerge. |
With NBC’s premiere of The Voice delivering more than 12 million viewers over two nights last week, the expectations were high going into its second round to see how -- and if -- the singing competition could top itself.
And now that America is familiar with the blind audition process, where Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton select team members based on their voice alone, the time had come for the celebrity coaches to complete their eight-person squads. Next week, they'll cut their teams in half as they pair two members performing the same song head-to-head in a battle round. Ultimately, someone will be asked to leave.
So how did the teams shake out and who are the ones to watch? THR takes a look.
Team Christina
Already on: Tarralyn Ramsey, Frenchie Davis and Beverly McClellan.
Additions: Aguilera’s team failed to add much in Week 2 as the overall field was considerably weaker than those featured in the premiere. Her newest members include former Carrie Underwood background singer Cherie Oakley; the low-key Julia Easton; second-chance match Lily Elise; and Aguilera’s lone male singer Justin Grennan, all of whom delivered instantly disposable performances. Only teen dynamo (and Ben Affleck’s Jersey Girl co-star) Raquel Castro seemed to improve Team Christina as the “small package” turned in a solid cover of Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.”
One to watch: Still McClellan.
Team Adam
Already on: Jeff Jenkins, Rebecca Loebe and Javier Colon.
Additions: Levine, who was the last of the coaches to round out his team, genuinely seemed unimpressed by most of the night’s offerings, adding med student Devon Barley; glam rocker Casey Desmond; second-chance match Angela Wolff, who bested a few other contestants who landed homes early in their performances; and Casey Weston, a young country singer who seems to be among the group’s most humble. But it’s industry veteran and sultry Blues performer Tim Mahoney, whose voice Levine first thought belonged to a woman, that stands out among Levine’s Week 2 pack.
One to watch: Colon is still leaps and bounds above the rest.
Team Blake
Already on: Patrick Thomas, duo Elenowen and Xenia.
Additions: Shelton’s group is reflective of what you’d expect of the country star, but his additions are the blandest of the contest, with Sara Oromchi, the older -- and less talented version of Glee’s Darren Criss -- Tyler Robinson; “Son of a Preacher Man” singer Serabee; and Week 1 second-chance fit Jared Blake, who won over the crowd with a strong male take on the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Children’s book author Dia Frampton’s “earthy” take on Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly” sold Shelton immediately.
One to watch: Xenia is still the head of this class.
Team Cee Lo
Already on: Vicci Martinez, Kelsey Rey and Tje Austin.
Additions: Green continued to add to his hodgepodge group with the tattooed Emily Valentine -- whose cover of Pink’s “Sober” prompted Aguilera to mutter a word (“pitchy”) best associated with American Idol; blink-and-you-missed-it “Teenage Dream” performer Niki Dawson; country singer Curtis Grimes; and sister act Tori and Taylor Thompson (who were featured on American Juniors in 2003). Nakia, meanwhile, became the only contestant to cover a coach’s song and land on that coach’s team after an impassioned, soulful take on Green’s hit “Forget You.”
One to watch: Hopefully more guts will mean more glory for Nakia.
New episodes return Tuesday at 10 p.m. on NBC.
