Watch The Winner Is

The Winner Is was a singing competition reality show that aired on NBC from 2012 to 2013. The show was hosted by Nick Lachey, who is himself a singer and actor, and Samantha Schacher, a television host and reporter, while Joanna Jones served as the series' backstage correspondent.

The format of the show was a bit different than most singing competition shows, as contestants would perform in front of a panel of 101 music experts, rather than celebrity judges or coaches. These experts were drawn from various music-related fields, including vocal coaches, music critics, music producers, and industry executives.

After each performance, the panel would vote on which performer they thought was the strongest. However, rather than eliminating the weakest performers each round, the contestants would be judged on a point system. The winner of each round would receive a certain number of points, which would be added to any previous points they had earned, and the contestant with the most points at the end of the show would be declared the winner.

One unique aspect of The Winner Is was that at certain points in the competition, the contestants were given the option to leave the show with a cash prize rather than continue to perform. This added an interesting wrinkle to the competition, as some contestants might choose to take the money rather than risk losing in later rounds.

As the competition progressed, the stakes grew higher, with a grand prize of $1 million being awarded to the ultimate winner. Additionally, each episode featured a "Battle of the Ages" segment, where a young performer would face off against an older one. These segments added some variety to the show and showcased a wide range of talent.

One major aspect of The Winner Is that set it apart from other singing competitions was its use of "The Duel". In the final episode, the two remaining contestants each selected a different song to sing, and the winner was decided by the panel of experts. However, the twist was that the winner could choose to take the grand prize money and leave the competition, or they could choose to face off against the other contestant in a final "Duel", where they would sing the same song and be judged on their performance. If they won the Duel, they would receive double the grand prize money, but if they lost, they would leave with nothing. This added an element of risk and suspense to the finale that was unique among singing competition shows.

Overall, The Winner Is was an entertaining and unique addition to the crowded field of singing competition shows. Its use of a panel of experts rather than celebrity judges or coaches gave it a fresh angle, and the inclusion of the Duel in the finale was a clever twist. While it only aired for one season, it was a memorable and enjoyable show for fans of the genre.