‘The Voice’ Adds New Rule For Blind Auditions

The Voice adds a new rule for blind auditions, which might be one of the craziest changes yet. The premiere of Season 26 aired last night, Monday, September 23 and it was an episode to remember.

The Voice Takes The Stage

Season 26 of The Voice aired last night on NBC and there is lots to discuss. The singing competition is a hit series known for its unique judging. This is because the judges choose based on the voice of the performer, rather than the appearance.

The coaches all face away from the performer and towards the audience. Additionally, they only get to turn around when they decide they want to add the singer to their team. However, it seems this might not be the case in all instances this season.

Season 26 shows two new judges along with two returners. Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire are returning and have only been judges on the same season once before. Additionally, Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg, the bromance everyone has been waiting for, are first-time coaches.
Michael Bublé | YouTube
Since the series is in its 26th season, the show has added certain twists to keep the show from seeming boring to fans and performers. In a previous season, a block was introduced. When a coach pressed to block a coach, the performer would be unable to choose that coach for a team.

Coaches can use this block along with other tricks to help them secure a win. They are also allowed to use steals and saves. Thus, hoping the tools help their team to survive the battle rounds, knockouts, playoffs, and live performances.

Is There A New Rule In-Play?

A new trick has been added for the coaches this season, but does this trick take away from the appeal of the show? During the season premiere of The Voice last night, the host, Carson Daly told the coaches, “When the Audition is over, you have a second chance to go back and get that Aritist by pressing your button.”

This new trick for the coaches is called the “Replay Button.” Furthermore, this means that even if the coach did not turn their chair during the performance, even if other coaches did, they still have a chance.
Snoop Dogg | YouTube
NBC shared exactly how this will work in a few points. They began by saying “An Artist performs their Blind Audition, and a Coach doesn’t turn for them.”

Additionally, the explanation states, “All chairs turn to meet the Artist. The Artist shares a little of their story. If a Coach who didn’t originally turn feels compelled by the Artist after meeting them, they can use their Coach Replay button to try and get them.”

This power can not be used over and over again. The coaches must be very careful about when they press their Replay button because they “only have one Replay button each during the Blinds.”

Furthermore, “unless surprises are in store later this season, the Coach Replay button seems to only be available during Blind Auditions and not later stages of the competition.”
Gwen Stefani | YouTube

Reactions To New-Rule

Moreover, Daly told the coaches to “Use it carefully!” Snoop Dogg seemed to be the most excited about the button. He expressed how he is “a real Coach in real life, so I like to replay and see what I’ve done right or wrong.”

Snoop then added, “So the replay makes a lot of sense!” However, does the replay make a lot of sense? It is very good for the coaches and potentially good for some players, but does it go against the purpose of The Voice?

The most the button can be used is four times in total with four coaches, so it is unable to cause too much harm. Moreover, the point of the singing competition is to judge solely on the voice of the performer and not the appearance. When this replay button is used, it can arguably take away that aspect.

This is a way for a hopeful to get back in, but a coach might save it because the singer is not the right look they want to add to their team. This button doesn’t seem to be about the voice anymore. Additionally, it seems to be about the story and appearance which can be a positive as well as a negative.

Fans can catch the first episode on Peacock if they missed the premiere. They can also catch the next episode on NBC next Monday, September 30th at 8 pm EST.

Do you think this button is a good or a bad addition? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more at TVShowsAce.