Season 4 of the Hit TV singing show The Voice premieres tonight night on NBC.  The first two seasons of the show have been a ratings hit and Season 4 hopes to do the same.  The judges on the first three seasons were country music star, Blake Shelton, pop singer, Christina Aguilera, pop singer, Ceelo Green, and Maroon 5 singer, Adam Levine. This season Ceelo Green and Christina Aguilera have stepped away to pursue their careers (however both said they will be back on the show in future seasons) and their replacements for Season 4 will be pop singers Usher and Shakira.   

Carson Daly was the host the first three seasons and will be back to host for Season 4. What made The Voice fresh in the world of singing competitions (American Idol, X Factor, The Sing Off) was the personal interaction between the judges themselves and the judges with the contestants.  They did this in two very innovative and fresh ways that the other shows hadn't thought of.  

First, they invented the spinning chairs for the judges.  This means that the judges would not see the contestant singing, but only be able to hear their voice, so it allowed the judges to pick based on true vocal talent.  If the judge liked what they heard, they pressed the button on their chair and their seat spun around so they could see who they had been hearing.  

Secondly, they added the element of judges to banter with each other and allowed the judges to be vulnerable with the contestants.  This is the FIRST show that puts any amount of control into the contestants hands as they get to pick which judge to work with if more then one judge turns around for them.  

Seeing the superstar judges actually beg for contestants to join their team is endearing and funny, also seeing them pick on each other through out the show. 

American Idol is now in its 12th Season and ratings are at an all time low.  With that said, they seem to have great talent this year, especially on the female side with Kree Harrison and Candice Glover.  The breakout star of the show though is Christian singer, Angie Miller.  Miller has the voice and the appeal to potentially be the next break out star to get on the level of previous female old winners, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.  Only time will tell to who these new contestants careers can out. 

Which do you prefer?  American Idol or The Voice?