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2 TV ENCORE On the Cover Nick Lachey brings sweet sounds to the airwaves as host of 'The Sing-Off' By Kyla Brewer TV Media CARPET • CERAMIC • WOOD LAMINATE • VINYL • REMNANTS ALL ON SALE Limited Time Special Financing Available!! A Graybeals Carpet 2 x 3" & many remnants to choose from. Professional Installation Available 5th & Broadway, Logansport • (574)722-2215 • 1-800-886-2215 Mon-Thurs. 9AM-6PM; Fri. 9AM-7PM; Sat. 9AM-5PM s r MAROCCO-RANS FUNERAL CHAPEL Harrison- 119 E. Market St. | Logansport, IN • 574.753.6282 Merzger HARRISON-METZGER & RANS 2 x 2" FUNERAL HOMES 304 S. Chicago St. | Royal Center, IN • 574.643.2265 123 E. Main Street | Kewanna, IN • 574.653.2265 Funeral & Cremation Services • Preplanning Options • Monument Sales www.ransfuneralhomes.com Young's Culligan 3 x 3" r TM s December settles in and the holiday season swings into high gear, many people rejoice with music. What better way to lift people's spirits than with lovely voices and songs? Nick Lachey brings viewers a healthy dose of beautiful tunes as the host of NBC's "The SingOff," which airs Monday, Dec. 16. While there are lots of singing competition shows these days, most of them are more or less the same. NBC's latest offering differs in that it only features a cappella groups — that is, singers who perform without musical accompaniment. Without a band, or even a single instrument, to back them up, a cappella singers must truly be at the top of their game. There are no "safety nets" should they slide off key – they have only their voices to bring a piece of music to life. They often present familiar songs in ways listeners have never heard them before, and these new arrangements are just one of the reasons that fans of the genre can't seem to get enough. It seems TV viewers can't get enough of host Lachey, either. A talented singer himself, the multi-faceted performer rose to fame in the late '90s as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees, and later solidified his place in pop culture as the star of MTV's reality TV show "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" with his now ex-wife Jessica Simpson. He has since added actor, producer and TV show host to his resume, notably with a role on The WB's "Charmed" and, more recently, as the host of NBC's summer hit "The Winner Is." He's also helmed "The Sing-Off" since the show debuted in 2009, and producers couldn't be happier. "The musical credentials of Nick Lachey are extraordinary, and his continued contributions to the show as host remain a huge asset," said NBC executive Paul Telegdy recently. In "The Sing-Off," vocalists from all over the United States compete for a recording contract and a life-altering $100,000 cash prize, which will be awarded during the season finale on Dec. 23. Deciding who'll walk away with that prize is a heavy responsibility and producers have lined up an expert panel of judges for Season 4. Singer-songwriter Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five and Shawn Stockman of the R&B vocal group Boyz II Men return to the show once again to evaluate the singers, and they'll have a new colleague at the judges' table. In July, it was announced that four-time Grammy nominee Jewel had been added to the show's roster. Like Lachey, the entertainer has worn many hats, including singer-songwriter, rry ckbe er Bla 0 ml. Oliv 75 Wine 9 9 $11. Limited Edition n Jagermeister ster ter r Spice 750 m 0 ml. $19.99 9 Ben Folds, Jewel and Shawn Stockman as seen in "The Sing-Off" the Road" stayed at No. 1 on actress, poet, painter and phithe Billboard Hot 100 chart for lanthropist. She certainly knows 13 weeks in 1992. Stockman what it takes to make it in the and the Boyz are set to release music industry — over the a new studio album next year. years, she's sold more than 27 Although he's probably best million albums worldwide and known as the frontman of alterher 1995 debut album "Pieces native rock band Ben Folds Five, of You" was one of the bestselling debut albums of all time. pianist Folds is highly regarded in music circles. In addition to That's some serious cred. hits such as "Brick" and "Song "I am so thrilled to welcome for the Dumped" with the band, Jewel to our expert musical he's also contributed music to panel," said "The Sing-Off" the soundtracks of movies such executive producer and allas "Hoodwinked!" (2005) and around TV mogul Mark Burnett. "Over the Hedge" (2006). He "Jewel is one of America's owns and operates the historic greatest singer-songwriters and RCA Studio A and serves on the is an amazing storyteller. In company with the incredible tal- board of directors of the Nashville Symphony. As a proent of Ben Folds, Shawn fessional photographer, his work Stockman and Nick Lachey, this has appeared in galleries and on season of 'The Sing-Off' is sure the pages of "National to be its best yet." Geographic." If there's one judge who It all adds up to an exciting understands the challenges of a night of music competition for cappella singing, however, it's fans of the series, who've been Stockman. Boyz II Men won waiting for it to return following over millions of fans with their a brief hiatus in 2012. Enjoy the smooth vocal harmonies in the sweet sound of competition as 1990s, and even broke a record Nick Lachey hosts "The Singset by the late, great Elvis Off," Monday, Dec. 16, on NBC. Presley when their hit "End of Gift Giving Ideas... LARGE SELECTION D&J Liquors OF WINE3AND SPIRITS x 2" Assorted Gift Sets & 50 ml. Airplane Bottles and pci $5.99 E EAST - 3800 E. 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