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On the Cover 2 CARPET • CERAMIC • WOOD LAMINATE • VINYL • REMNANTS ALL ON SALE Limited Time Special Financing Available!! All with EXPERT installation TV ENCORE Battle of the vocals: NBC's 'The Voice' kicks off music rivalry Tepid tunes, sultry songs, By Andrew Warren TV Media & 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 r TM shattered dreams and dreams come true. That's right, it's that time of year again: the season for musical competition. The talent searches are on across the nation, seeking out superstar wanna-bes and wanna-won'ts to belt out their tunes in front of televised audi- ences. said Aguilera while promoting "The Voice," referring to the time they spent together in Disney's "The Mickey Mouse Club." "I welcome her to this family." means nothing at this stage of the competition — it's all about the voice. Where once "American Idol" ruled the roost, there are now two more shows battling it out for the top spot amongst vocal talent searches. NBC is launch- ing the third season of "The Voice" on Monday, Sept. 10, fol- lowed closely by the second season premiere of rival series "The X Factor" (former "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell's baby), which debuts Wednesday, Sept. 12, on Fox. With the addition of Britney Spears to the judging panel on "The X Factor," and the return of Christina Aguilera for a third season as a coach on "The Voice," much is being made of the onetime pop princesses going head-to-head. It seems, though, that despite their respective shows being in competition, the performers remain supportive of each other. "I came up with Britney," With the field becoming more crowded, and with the rival shows all attracting top-tier tal- ent, "The Voice's" format is what helps it stand out. In a departure from the successful formula established by the com- petition, the celebrity coaches in "The Voice" don't just judge performances and offer off-the- cuff advice; they also act as coaches, assembling teams of talented hopefuls who they mentor in the hope that a mem- ber of their hand-picked team will go on to be named the winner. Competing against Aguilera are Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine, country superstar Blake Shelton and rapping sensation Cee Lo Green. And in what's become something of an anom- aly among talent-search shows, "The Voice's" slate of celebrity talent has remained consistent through all three seasons. The first phase of the compe- tition begins with blind audi- tions. It's from this auditioning process that the show takes its name; the four celebrity coach- es have their backs turned to the hopefuls who are trying out for a spot in the competition. The coaches are each assem- bling a team of 12 amateur artists, and the only criteria that they have from which to pick the members of their team is their vocal talents. Image Patron Silver $44.99 Hamm's 30 pack (warm) $10.99 3 Convenient locations for all your party needs! of 12, they work with their hand-picked teams as the field is whittled down to six before the live round begins. Over on Fox, "The X Factor" gets its start just a few days after "The Voice." The rival show was created by former "American Idol" judge Cowell, who was looking for more cre- ative control than the Idol fran- chise could allow. Unlike "The Voice," "The X Factor" is open to both individuals and groups, and the judging is based not only on the artists' voices, but also their overall style, stage presence and personality. Of course, the big news this season is the addition of Spears to the judging panel. Despite this being her first foray into reality television, Spears brings the kind of experience that can only be gained by achieving superstar status. Like Aguilera, she's been in the limelight that the aspiring artists are seeking, and that wealth of experience plus her outgoing personality may be a winning combination. But Spears isn't the only new Once each coach has a team Britney Spears joins Season 2 of "The X Factor" as a new judge face on "The X Factor." Joining her is another star who got a big boost from Disney. Demi Lovato got her big break in the Disney Channel's musical "Camp Rock" (2008), and despite being only 20 years old, she should bring far more expe- rience to the judge's role than her young age would suggest. The competitors find them- selves divided into four groups based on gender, age and whether they're a solo or group act, and the four judges are each paired with one of these teams as mentors and advisers. Season 1 saw Cowell's team emerge victorious from the competition, with Melanie Amaro taking the top spot, along with a $5-million record- ing contract. It was an especially sweet victory for a girl who'd had all the odds stacked against her. Not only had she been turned down for the show the first time she tried out, but she was also eliminated from the com- petition when the Top 32 were being whittled down to 16. Two weeks later, Cowell invited her to return to his team, a change of heart that definitely paid off. With "The Voice" gearing up for its third season, the judges will be looking to pick the per- fect voice that can deliver them their own victories. Meanwhile, "The X Factor's" Cowell will be defending his crown from a new assault by industry veteran Spears. That means for our customers GREATER SELECTION!! NOW PART OF THE LARGEST BUYING GROUP IN INDIANA D&J Liquors LOWER PRICES AND EAST - 3800 E. Market | WEST - U.S. 24 West | DOWNTOWN - 509 North St. Everyday! Prices Sale

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