The Voice returns: impression

A FOUR-CHAIR TURN: Settling into their previously defined personas, judges Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton effortlessly showed that their interaction is the key to the success of The Voice during its season three premiere last night. The initial blind audition phase is essentially a competition among the judges, with its button-pushing, chair-turning, “I WANT YOU”-flashing dynamic. For the initial episode, the producers trotted out, among others, a transgender teen, and a soulful nebbish returning to the show after failing to get any of the judges to turn their chairs around last season. There was plenty of hugging between judges and their chosen contestants, as always, along with shots of Carson Daly watching the performances backstage with family members. All in all, they’ve got it down to a science, meaning Simon Cowell has his work cut out for him. (9/11a)