The Next

If there's a real competition here, it's among the coaches, to see who can withstand the humiliations longest.

The Next adds a door-knock component, providing a Publishers Clearing House-style surprise, and has the stars hang out with their proteges at home, which isn't really as entertaining as you'd think.

Frankly, the ability of these shows to keep proliferating--and still spawn the occasional success--remains something of a mystery, but The Next, however inoffensive, might more accurately be called simply "The Latest."