Can't get enough of NBC's breakout hit reality competition The Voice? Well,
The Hollywood Reporter has gathered plenty of fun facts about the show,
including details about top judge Christina Aguilera's hefty paycheck and the
show's connection to John Mayer. The highlights:
Salaries: Top dog Aguilera is ahead of the pack with a $225,000 per episode
paycheck. The guys -- Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton -- make
significantly less: $75,000 per ep.
Birthing The Voice: NBC exec Paul Telegdy turned to Mark Burnett (Survivor)
to produce a show that felt "like an arena experience for a music fan."
The Dutch connection: The blind auditions, where the judges have their backs
turned while a contestant sings, was based on something Telegdy had seen on
Dutch media innovator John de Mol's The Voice of Holland. "'Oh my God, how
could we be so stupid not to think of this ourselves?," he recalls himself
saying in a development meeting.
Room for John?: Host Carson Daly was the first person onboard, but casting
the coaches was a little more difficult. Among the contenders on the list,
the outspoken John Mayer.
What's next?: Aguilera, Green, Levine and Shelton are all expected to return
for Season 2, but some structural changes will include more audition shows,
more contestant backstory development and a possible tour and album,
featuring coaches and contestants.