When I heard The CW was hopping on the singing competition train, I wasn't surprised. With the success of shows like American Idol (FOX) and The Voice (NBC), it would be foolish not to, right? And while I wasn't a big fan of the name: "The Next," the concept seemed different enough. We get more background into the singers' pasts and we got to see the mentors in some really awkward situations.
|Related: Out interviews with mentors: Joe, Gloria, John and Nelly|
With former music exec Allison Hagendorf hosting, the show opens with each mentor singing one of their hit songs as part of a medley. Joe Jonas seems way off key while Gloria Estefan struts her stuff like the pro that she is. John Rich and Nelly are OK too, but the whole thing seems a little underwhelming. The producers chose to shoot in smaller, more intimate venues like the House of Blues in Orlando, so maybe that's what's throwing me off.
Speaking of Orlando, it's the first stop on this cross-country search to find the next big thing in music. Each mentor teams up with a local artist who already has a fairly big following in their hometowns. The premise is that the mentors spend 72 hours immersing themselves in the lives of these people to help groom them for a big performance. The audience then votes and the winner from each city moves on to the live shows in L.A. for a chance to win a recording contract with Atlanta Records.
So as the show progresses, we see Joe coach a Taylor Swift fan, John sing in the shower with his country guy, Gloria mow a lawn and Nelly spend time with his contestants' (really extended) family. The interactions between the mentors and contestants are definitely playful, but they also seem a little too forced. Although, I do love this Joe Jonas quote:
"It was cool to meet the parents. I kind of did feel like I was taking her on a date or something. I was trying to assure the parents, "This is not what this is. I hope you understand that."
The performances themselves are pretty decent, but I don't get goosebumps or think, "Wow, that person is amazing." I think I'm looking to see more power from the talent and more exciting or critical feedback from the mentors. Overall, The Next needs to find it's footing and I just didn't see it in the premiere episode.
SumOlogy: I had more fun on set than I did watching the show on television, but I'd watch again. The potential is there.
Grade: C+
What did you think of the premiere?
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