December 8, 2013 by The Sumter Item

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013

THE ITEM

‘Sing Off’ Returns returns with diverse mix Lachey With 'The Sing Off' of vocalists, a cappella groups Sunday, December 8 - 14, 2013

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Nick Lachey hosts NBC’s NickSing Lachey returns as the “The Off,” returning host of at NBC's "The Sing Off," 9 p.m. Monday. premiering its fourth season on Monday at 9 p.m.

By Candace Havens © 2013 FYI Television, Inc. After a year off the air, "The Sing Off" is back for a fourth season with host Nick Lachey and judges Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), Jewel and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men), premiering Monday at 9 p.m. on NBC. The competition among the a cappella groups (which sing without musical accompaniment) is tough this season, and the vocalists are as diverse as they come. And they are all fighting for the chance to win a recording contract and $100,000 cash. A cappella is a style of singing that comes quite naturally to Lachey, who has been doing it since he was in high school. "A cappella singing has meant a great deal to me throughout my life and career," Lachey says. "It's why this show is so special to me. I first started singing a cappella in high school. I went to a performing arts school and spent my summers working in an amusement park called Kings Island. I was in a barbershop quartet. We walked around the park and sang to guests and whatnot. Then I sang with different groups, ultimately with 98 Degrees. We put our demo together with two different a cappella songs on it. In our audition for Motown, they asked us to sing a cappella. We sang a Boyz II Men melody. And he signed us on the spot. "The subplot to that, to be on a show with Shawn from Boyz II Men, is kind of a surreal moment. It's given a lot to me and for me this is a way of giving back to the genre of a cappella. It takes incredible talent to do. Oftentimes I think people take it

for granted and don't realize how hard it is to do, which is why a show like 'The Sing Off' is so special. There are so many people out there who are responding to it. A cappella is going through a renaissance with all the attention that our show has brought to it. And the success of (season three winners) Pentatonix they just debuted in the Top 10 on the Top 200 - and movies like 'Pitch Perfect,' there's such a passion for the music. I'm very proud to be a part of this. And proud to announce Pentatonix will be performing on the finale of the show on Dec. 23." The show didn't air in 2012, and Lachey says it's thanks to the fans that it has returned. "We were cautiously optimistic that it would come back in some form - it was put on the back burner there for a moment," he explains. "I have to give a lot of credit to the very passionate fans for petitioning and clamoring for it to come back. When we all got the call that it was coming back, we were ecstatic. We all do the show because we love the genre and believe in it. For Ben, Shawn and I, who had been with the show from the beginning, it was a very welcome call." As in years past, there were will be theme nights for some of the shows, and there will be performances with those involved with the show. "For the most part, there are songs that everyone will know from this year, and years past," Lachey says. "We do have some really creative themes. There are chart-toppers and a movie theme night. Some of the shows have a theme that gives them a great kind of arc. There are some holiday songs, it is the season, but it is not all holiday music. It's such a

feel-good show it sort of lends itself to that. And, as in years past, the judges will be performing. "One of the great things about 'The Sing Off' is the exposure the singers get," Lachey continues. "They are singing in front of millions of people, and it gives them sort of an instant platform and fan base. There is a responsibility to build on that once the show is done. Pentatonix has done a great job with that. They won season three and now they've turned that into millions of YouTube hits, and their song a few weeks ago debuted in the top 10 on Billboard. For an a cappella group, or for any group, that's a huge accomplishment, but especially for an a cappella group. I give a lot of credit to those guys for their outstanding work ethic. No matter what you do in life, you have to be willing to work hard at it." Last summer, Lachey went back on tour with 98 Degrees, so those a cappella skills came in handy. "It was a lot of fun to get back together with those guys, after more than a decade off," Lachey says. "We were out there with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, and to be a part of a sold-out arena tour like that was very special. It was just performing with them. "Shawn and I finished our last concert in Indianapolis on Aug. 4th, and started 'The Sing Off' on Aug. 5th. We went right from one into the other. When you're doing something that you're passionate about, it's easy to rally and summon the energy to move from one to the other. I feel very honored and blessed to do both. Shawn would say the same thing. It's been an exciting year."

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