The Voice: Season 3 so far....

Some random thoughts about this season of The Voice, now that it's down to the final eight contestants, now that I've finally caught up with the series on DVR...

First the two eliminated finalists, who I feel were robbed by being sent home....

Sylvia Yacoub: had an amazing powerful voice that was spot on in diva moments like "My Heart Will Go On". Best song: "Girl On Fire"...

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Bryan Keith: like Yacoub, not one of my original favorites from the auditions, but his voice was muscular and pitch-perfect. I'm surprised his Sandy tie-in is the one that got him booted (though I hate that kind of crap). Best song: "Back To Black"...

..and for the rest, in increasing order of relative worthiness...

Terry McDermott: By far the weakest link, the Scottish rock band refugee seems like a capable cover-band lead singer, and nothing really more. Best song: "Maybe I'm Amazed"...

Nicholas David: I get it - he's the epitomy of what The Voice is supposed to be, a vocals contest that shuns the appearance standards set. But first, there is a little leeway between looking like a GQ model and looking homeless. And besides that, he's got the perfect voice....for a perennial Bill Withers impersonator. But he's a one trick pony that hasn't strayed not even one inch from that. Best song: "Power Of Love"...

Cody Belew: Cody's seemingly content on being the "Sanjaya" of Voice #3, where attitude and sassiness outshine his vocal abilities (which he does have). I think it's hilarious in a post-gay way that he basically is playing the "gay" card without even literally coming out, and carrying a lot of "Cody's Cougars" with him for his "Bam Bam". But Cody gets 100 extra points in my book for singing "Jolene" in his breaking moment on the show. Best song: "One More Try"...

Cassadee Pope: Saved herself with the ultra-emotional "Over You", which had more to do with the song than her initially faltering delivery. Not sure how many of those moments she has left. Best Song: "Over You"...

Dez Duron: Similarly had a real breakout moment last week with his knockout version of "Feeling Good", which built on what he has worked on in the last weeks - my "most improved" nominee. Best Song: "Feeling Good"...

Melanie Martinez: The "quirky one" of the season. Initially that was grating on me (the sideways "Berlin" did that), but her earnestness to tackle the material that wasn't intentionally offbeat gave me respect. Best Song: "Seven Nation Army"...

Trevin Hunte: My vote for the finalist I'd most like to cuddle with, Trevin's definitely got the best voice of the guys that are left, and though I'm glad to see him stray from the overtrod path of two weeks ago's "When A Man Loves A Woman", his apparent loss of breath during the bouncy "Scream" betrays his possible Achilles' heel. And will America vote the same type of singer two years in a row? We will see. Best Song: "Vision Of Love"...

Amanda Brown: and what I thought above was the so-far best non-solo moment on The Voice this season appropriately paired Hunte with his now-biggest competition. Stolen by Adam Levine's team, Brown has broken free of the standard "backup singer" ball and chain with smart and interesting song choices and chops to pull it off. Keep it going and it may be a neck and neck with Hunte. Best song: "Stars"...

As for the judges...

Adam Levine: as usual, the most thoughtful of the four, with a great ear for the relatively obscure songs ("Spectrum", "Stars"). And again the most honest in his critiques. His best chance: Amanda.

Cee-Lo Green: like usual, all over the map, and delightfully unafraid to let his team take the biggest chances and have the most over-the-top performances (see Belew, Cody). It's paying off - he's the only one with three team members in the top-8. His best chance: Trevin.

Christina Aguilera: She's sure solidified her position as the Paula Abdul of the show, but instead of a river of unintelligible pleasantries, it's a lava flow of snark. It's a shame Sylvia got voted off, leaving Xtina with her only chance, Dez. Though never underestimate a VERY pretty face with a good enough voice.

Blake Shelton: Last year's winning coach isn't lording it over the place since the auditions, and has been really good at not being biased toward the other teams' singers. However his two are the collective weakest of the four. His best chance: Cassadee.

and of course, there is Carson Daly, though his douchiness has been dialed back from 10 to at least a 7 and a half this season.

Any thoughts? I'll returns in a couple more weeks with another look back...