'Sing-Off's' differences make it better than the competition - TODAY.com: Most underrated judges
In Ben Folds, Jewel and Shawn Stockman, “The Sing-Off” has a trio of judges who treat contestants seriously but don’t make this out to be the Ultimate A Cappella Battle of Doom.
Folds is made of awesome, looks like a professor and has both the specific advice and the arcane slang to match that image. (Here’s hoping that “loosey goosey” takes wider hold and replaces “pitchy” on all shows where vocals are critiqued.) Stockman’s his usual mix of praise and hard-nosed realism, while Jewel’s a great addition who adds both warmth and realism to the proceedings.
All three judges add value — and more to the point, criticism. They’re not Pollyannas who tell everyone they’re awesome, and they’re not sarcastic jerks who are out to make themselves look entertaining by cutting down unknowns. They’re teaching people how to sing better ... a revolutionary concept.