What a pleasant surprise!

Once upon a time I used to really enjoy American Idol. I loved to see the contestants get up there and perform every week and often times I'd get goose bumps with a particularly good song. Like Fantasia and Summertime, Melinda Dolittle with My Funny Valentine or Bo Bice singing Spinning Wheel. So many talented people. I hated the audition phase, although I never missed it, and a lot of the times there was always one or two contestants I loathed. But it was a good time and I watched it religiously every week and even would vote on occasion. For the last three years though I have given the show a pass. It just seemed to lose something and became boring and stale. Now with the addition of J-Lo who I can't stand as an actress, singer or person and Steven Tyler who I just can't look at, the show is unwatchable. Still I missed it. I like shows that feature real talent, that is why I love So You Think You Can Dance. When I saw advertisements for The Voice, I was like, oh here we go. This will be just another American Idol knock off and I did not think it was going to be any good. I figured I would just wait to get my singing competition fix when The X-Factor finally made it to the TV. I took a chance though and programed my DVR to record it and would just watch a little bit until it got too bad and I would delete it half watched. But to my great surprise, I loved it. The judges were fun and actually relevant and the talent, OMG! So good! I already have a few favorites (I'm looking at you Xenia) and am looking forward to watching next week. The concept is so much better then I thought it would be. There is a whole lot of spinning in these big chairs that keep the judges from seeing the contestants before they choose them just on their voice, get it? Each judge has a big shiny red button that they get to hit when they have decided they want to work with that person. There were times when I was telling the judges to hit that damn button already, this person is really good. I know a show is for me when I talk at the TV. It is just all around very enjoyable. I think Simon Cowell should be worried. This show just might be the one that can finally topple his empire. I'll still watch The X-Factor but I am not near as excited about it as I was.  This really was a pleasant surprise.