by Gina Scarpa

With a full season for the first time and twelve super talented groups still in the running for the grand prize, season 3 of The Sing Off is looking to be its best yet. On tonight's episode, the six groups from the first round of performances will take the stage to perform two songs, a current hit as well as a memorable one from the 1960s. Today, we spent some time talking to judge Shawn Stockman to delve more into the new season of The Sing Off!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: One great thing about The Sing Off is that everyone who is on the show is talented. Is that something that initially appealed to you when you were asked to be a judge?
A. Shawn: Yeah, the cool thing about the show is exactly that. Unlike other vocal competitions, we don't have to necessarily do that audition process where you gotta weed through the garbage to get to people who are actually talented. It's like watching a football season that starts at the playoffs because everybody on this show is good and well respected. But again, it's a competition so the people who leave or get kicked off... it's not because they're not good. It's because maybe they weren't as good as the other performances. The margin of error for this show is even smaller. That's the cool thing about this show. You guys get to see a capella at its finest.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You've been with Ben Folds from the beginning and now, Sara Bareilles has joined the panel. What is your relationship like with them?
A. Shawn: I love them both. I just met Sara and we got to know each other through this season. She's a down chick, man! She's really cool and really sweet. She knows her stuff, she's established and well respected, and she knows what she's talking about. As far as Ben, I've known him for three seasons and he's become one of my good friends. He's a great guy, on and off the set. Quite funny, to be honest. I'm trying to pressure NBC to film some of the rehearsals and outtakes. It's a cool vibe, it's a good energy, no egos. And then obviously, Nick, who I've known for years... it's just all good energy. Everybody respects each other and loves each other.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When Ben and Sara talked to reporters before the season premiere, he mentioned about how this is the season of innovation. What do you notice about the groups this year that is different from what we've seen on the show in the past?
A. Shawn: It takes a capella and makes it into some other animal and in some other way that I never would've though a capella could go. You have a hip hop group, Urban Method from Denver. They're so off the chain. Then you have this group out of Arlington, TX that has this techno thing that I've never heard before. They are sick. There are so many great elements that people can instantly appreciate and enjoy. That's what real talent does. It instantly grabs a hold of you. This show is legitimate, it's real, and it's the best!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: On shows such as American Idol, the judges talk a lot about song choice. Is that a factor that is important to you or is it more about the arrangement and the execution of the song?
A. Shawn: Well, the arrangement determines if the song choice was a good one. There have been times where I thought hearing about what song a particular group was doing, I'm scratching my head but then when you hear it, you're like WOW! That's the cool thing about a capella. There's no rules. You don't have to go by the original. You can take pieces of the original and put your own spin on it.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Last year, we got to see Boyz II Men perform with Committed. Will we perhaps see you again on stage this season?
A. Shawn: You know what? We're gonna try and do something a little different. We're still in talks about it. You might see the group, you might not see the group, you might see them in a different way... because we've done it for two straight seasons, I don't know. I'm leaving it open for other ideas. We have done it before and it was great but because it's the third season, and we wanna do something that pushes the envelope.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Are there any predictions you want to make for season 3 of The Sing Off?
A. Shawn: Umm... I can't! I won't lie. I do have my predictions on who I think is going to win but I can't say. Let's put it this way. It becomes pretty obvious as the season goes on. How about this? Call me in a couple weeks and we'll talk about it then!

The Sing Off airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC.

(Image courtesy of NBC)

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