The Voice being tinkered with

VOICE LESSONS: Speaking of the WSJ, the paper takes a look at The Voice, which is undergoing some “tinkering” as it begins its crucial fifth season. In the piece, Melissa Marr notes the importance of the show to long-struggling NBC, having “single-handedly pulled the network's prime-time schedule out of the ratings basement.” Executive producer Mark Burnett speculates that the show “could easily go a decade.” And that’s a big deal indeed, because, as Marr puts it, “With their celebrity judges, soap opera-like drama and flashes of genuine talent, the singing shows have proved reliable catnip for audiences and one of the few types of shows that can rival live sports in attracting millions of regular viewers.” (9/20a)