‘The Voice’ Has Completely Forgotten About Being Fair
Editing a reality television show can be a daunting task. Not everything that’s filmed can make it to air. It’s especially true for a show that records 24/7. But when it comes to talent competitions, things are a tad different. The focus should be on the actual performances, right? While the celebrity coaches are the draw to the show, the aspiring singers that we’re there to follow are the central piece. Like any reality talent show, The Voice has a series of rounds featuring a large pool of talent. But when it comes to showcasing all the talent, fairness doesn’t quite exist.
Even with a two-hour episode, with the occasional hour-long thrown in, not every Battle or Knockout performance can be shared in full. We get it, but when it gets to the point where an entire contest is removed as if she doesn’t exist, what’s up with that? Page Mackenzie, a promising young singer on Kelsea Ballerini‘s team, had a series of heartbreaks in the realm of editing, and like the singer, we can’t quite figure out why she was done so dirty.
Page Mackenzie Was Montaged Twice on ‘The Voice’
Season 27 of The Voice has been incredibly exciting thus far. Between immense talent, the return of Adam Levine, and the exciting dynamic of the quartet of coaches, it has been running down the course as a top-tier season. But there have been some unfortunate bumps in the road. On the journey of Page Mackenzie, it all started with a nerve-racking Blind Audition where Ballerini and Michael Bublé waited until that last note to turn. Page, a formidable country voice, opted to join her fellow female country singer’s team. From there, one might think that Ballerini would foster a blossoming arc for Page, but we didn’t get to see that. The edit nearly eliminated her from our minds.
First, she was “montaged” in her Battle Round victory against Robert Hunter. With no mentor session present, she was heard singing “Lies, Lies, Lies” by Morgan Wallen for a mere moment before Ballerini crowned her the winner. Then, during the Knockouts, all that could be seen was her giving a hug to Alanna Lynise following her victory. Not even a note could be heard. While it’s hard to fit every single singer into the season through equal screen time, they should all have their journeys documented as if they existed on the show.
Noting she felt invisible, Page wrote an Instagram post following the episode, saying, “Heartbroken to have this performance montaged on The Voice — it’s hard to understand why, especially when so much heart and hard work went into it.” She continued to write, “I’m not angry — but I am disappointed. These artists deserved to be seen & heard.” Noting that she was not alone in this treatment, fans came to her support. Even her coach wrote a comment to quell the displeasure. Ballerini wrote, “I see you, sister. I’m so sorry that happened. I’m gutted for you too. I remember how incredible that performance was in the room and it deserves to be shown. Yes to wine and couch time when we’re both home in Nashville. Always on your team.” While we can’t blame the rookie coach for the treatment in the edit, her acknowledgment speaks volumes.
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‘The Voice’ Is About the Celebrities, Not the Contestants
It’s sometimes telling a singer’s fate based on how they’re edited during these rounds. During the Battles, Dan Kiernan‘s victory was minimized to a note and a line of feedback. We should have known then that the exceptional queer singer would lose maybe in the Playoffs, but the Knockout? That was a blindside to all. Page receiving a similar fate to Dan based on what was seen in the Battle might have made sense, but at least he was given a full segment of a final mentorship. Page received nothing. Fairness on reality television isn’t really a thing, but on a talent show, there should be some equal footing. Singers and their supportive fans deserve closure when their journey ends. American Idol gives those fallen hopefuls their moment to say goodbye. The singers on The Voice are merely pawns on a chessboard. Page deserved much better. Can we blame it on the edit, or is it simply just how reality TV is made? The Voice is a place to expand your platform and earn a following. When the edit determines who is shown, it sways the audience’s feelings. If a singer is erased from the show, like Page and Dan were, is that The Voice‘s way of saying they’re not worthy of stardom outside this game? If they’re not taking the chance on them, why should the audience? And that is not fair to any participant who signs up for this type of experience.
But there’s also something Page Mackenzie’s statement addressed that gets to the root of The Voice‘s main issue as a talent show. She wrote, “It’s clear the show is centered around other things. But for us it was always about music, connection & the courage it takes to show up.” The Voice is not about the singers but the coaches. It’s about the mentors who swoop in. Morgan Wallen aside, there’s a reason why The Voice hasn’t created a megastar like American Idol has. Part of what sets The Voice apart is the time we spend seeing the coaches develop a bond and chemistry. It’s why the biggest bromance on reality television between Adam Levin and Blake Shelton stood the test of time. But let’s not pretend that The Voice is a celebration of its artists at the forefront. They are the secondary storyline.
It’s okay to make the show different. The ratings don’t lie. Viewers come in droves to see the coaches work their magic, but it’s something that’s always been an elephant in the room. The Voice centers around the coaches as they play to win. It’s like fantasy football for music. They’re drafting their roster. They’re stealing. They’re saving. The Voice is not about the contestants because it’s about the celebrities. There’s a reason why Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé offered their personal phone numbers to their eliminated contestants. They didn’t get a fair shake, and they wanted to give them a lifeline when the dust settles. They’re there to make television, not a recording artist. Life isn’t fair, so reality television can’t be fair. Part of what talent competition shows do is allow individuals to pursue their dreams. It’s understandably hard to have your dream cut short. It’s even harder when it’s erased completely, all so Adam Levine can showcase the various items he can balance on his face.
The Voice airs Mondays at 8:00pm on NBC. All episodes are available to stream on Peacock.
