LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - If there was any doubt whether the new show "The Voice" on U.S. network NBC and "American Idol" would be at each other's proverbial throats, "Voice" coach Adam Levine made sure of it on this week's episode.
That's when the Maroon 5 frontman remarked, "The people that we're not turning our chairs around for could win 'American Idol,'" after he and fellow celebrities Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton opted not to press the buttons on their Trek-like chairs, clearly unimpressed with the talent roll-out. It was the dis heard around the singing competition world.
So far, the stars and executives of "Idol" have been fairly low-key about "The Voice's" entry into the talent show sphere, where it racked up impressive ratings over a two-week span, to the tune of some 12.4 million viewers, but judge Randy Jackson has a thing to say about Levine's comments.
"It's a great thing when talent can be simple, honest and revered as opposed to spinning around with gimmicky chairs," Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter. "Maybe Simon Cowell should have people opening doors. Like, 'Knock, knock; Who's singing? I can't see you!'"
Jackson jabbed, but it was (mostly) in good fun. "Look, none of these other shows could exist without somebody forging the path before them," he said. "I'm happy to say that 'Idol' did that and paved the way."
Still, Jackson, like many others who have a vested interest in the success - both on air and off - of contestants that comes out of these shows (which include Cowell's "The X-Factor," premiering in September) is concerned about a glut.
"My only fear is that with all these shows coming is that people don't tire of the format," he added. "I don't know how much singing at you the public can take."