Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spirited singing contest shows off power of the human voice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Former pop star Nick Lachey hosts reality competition THE SING-OFF, in which eight a capella groups from across the country compete for a $100,000 prize and a recording contract with Sony. Over the course of five nights, the groups are pared down by a panel of three judges (recording artists Ben Folds, Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men) until only three remain. At that point, the decision is turned over to the voters at home.
Is It Any Good?
For Glee fans who can't get enough of energetic vocal performances, The Sing-Off will satisfy your cravings for pop songs with a generally positive edge, presented by some truly talented people who love to perform. And for those who don't know much about a capella music, The Sing-Off is a fun introduction to the topic, and it might even inspire some younger performers in your family to give it a try with a school or community group.
It's also nice to see judges who don't shy away from real criticism -- if a group's pitch veers off key, even for a second, they aren't likely to get away with it -- and who are knowledgable enough about music that they can give honest and useful feedback regarding song choices, dynamics, and vocal arrangements. It's a show for music lovers, for sure. But whether there are enough viewers to support future incarnations of a show like The Sing-Off is less certain.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes a capella singing different from other types of music-making. How do different groups use the human voice to mimic the sound of musical instruments? Do you think it takes more talent to sing a capella, without the benefit of a backing track?
Do you think the show's creators are trying to take advantage of the success of other popular shows about singing, particularly Glee?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 14, 2009
- Cast : Ben Folds , Nick Lachey
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 16, 2020
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