Home Television Television-related Interviews USTownhall RealStories presents NICK LACHEY of The Winner Is
USTownhall RealStories presents NICK LACHEY of The Winner Is
Written by Scott Katz   

NUP_156380_0001-resizeThis summer, NBC premieres The Winner Is – a new kind of singing competition.  The series, hosted by singer Nick Lachey, marries the talent search of traditional shows of this type with the fast pace and drama of a game show.  In each episode, six contestants will be paired off to sing against each other.  A panel of 101 music experts will judge the performances and decides who advances to the next round.  Before the results are announced, the contestants are given a choice: leave the game immediately and take home a cash prize ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 or opt to stay in the game in the hope of advancing.  If the contestant turns down the cash and the judges do not pick him or her to advance, the contestant goes home with nothing.

The contestant who survives the entire seven week competition will win the grand prize of one million dollars!  Episodes begin airing June 10 and 17 before moving into its regular timeslot on July 11.

 

 

 

 

USTownhall RealStories speaks with Nick Lachey of The Winner Is:

USTH: Can you just talk a little bit about the process by which the show found these contestants? Was there some kind of audition process?

NICK LACHEY: We had a great scouting department that really searched the country for great talent. I can't emphasize enough that these are talented people from every walk of life. I mean, everything from an emergency room nurse to a chicken farmer to a 10-year-old 6th grader. I think we've really captured talent form all across the country.
And so there were four or five different cities you could go and actually audition in. But in addition to that, we took submissions online. And again, the scouting department did a great job of finding truly the most talented people in the country and bringing them to LA for the show. So I really commend them for doing a great job.

 

NUP_155421_0136_crUSTH: If you were a contestant on the show, how much of a risk taker would you be? Would you try to go all the way or would there be a point where you would say you'll just take the money and leave the show?

NICK LACHEY: Well, I think that's the real captivating thing about this show. I think any performer who comes into this, they're coming in with the intention of going all the way and winning the $1 million. I mean, that's the goal.

But when you get in the heat of the battle and you just give them your performance and your opponent's giving a great performance, it's really tough to reason how the judges in the audience have voted the thing.

So, it becomes this really walking the fine line between being confident in your performance and in yourself and also trying to take yourself out of the situation enough to be objective and say, "All right, should I take the money? It'd be a shame to walk home with nothing right now. Should I take the money and leave with something in my pocket?"

So that's where the real drama comes into this whole thing. So it's tough to know. I mean, you like to think you'd go in and make the rational, smart decision but when you're in the heat of the battle – I think you can ask any performer. We have a great amount of pride in what we do. And it's tough to admit that you've been beaten, so to speak.

So, it becomes a real mental challenge to balance those things and make the right decisions so fast.

 

USTH: For this first season, do you know how many episodes it's going to run?

NICK LACHEY: Yes. For this first one I believe we have seven, which includes the $1 million finale. Or is that wrong, maybe six. I can't remember now offhand.

NIKKI LICHTERMAN (from NBC publicity): Seven.

NICK LACHEY: Seven, yeah. So there is seven. So there's six preliminary episodes and then the 7th one is the $1 million finale where we take the winner of the previous six and then they all compete for the chance at the $1 million. So that's what kind of makes up the first season.

 

USTH: As far as things are concerned right now, is the show just scheduled to be on  just this one summer season or do you see it basically continuing as an ongoing series?

NICK LACHEY: Well, I love the show. I can speak honestly that in filming it we would all sit backstage and literally we'd have wagers going on as to whether people are going to take the money, not take the money. I think it's a really, really intriguing, captivating show that I think is really going to catch on, which would suggest that we come back for many more seasons. I think that's the hope.

 

USTH: And as you look back on these past seven episodes that you've filmed, what are your thoughts that you're left with about how this experience was for you?

NICK LACHEY: I had a blast shooting this show. I mean, that's what I really took away from it. Got to meet some very, very talented people, meet some great young singers and old singers for that matter. But more than anything, what I loved about doing this show was the ability for me to really be myself. I mean, I think more than you saw maybe on The Sing-Off in the past.
In this show, I was able to really loosen up and be me and interject a little more and it was a looser kind of environment – just a different kind of show.
So, I think each and every show you host – they're all different and they all kind of tap into a different part of your personality. And this one certainly did for me, but it was a lot of fun to be a part of and a lot of fun to do and certainly hope we get to do a lot more of them.


Our thanks to Nick Lachey for taking the time to speak with us.  The Winner Is has two sneak peek episodes on Monday, June 10 and Monday, June 17 – both following NBC's hit series, The VoiceThe Winner Is then returns for the remainder of its run on Thursday, July 11 at 9pm.

 

 

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