'The Voice' has more to offer than 'Idol'

"American Idol" and "The Voice" approach the singing contest in ways that are entertaining, but fundamentally different. Here's what NBC's "The Voice," which returns for its second season Sunday night following Super Bowl XLVI, does better:

1. The blind auditions. It's "The Voice" trademark, having the judges decide on singers without seeing them. While "Idol" judges like to say, "This is a singing competition," it's actually more and more about a contestant's likability. That's true of "The Voice," too, once voting starts, but not at the beginning, making the start of "The Voice" season so much more exciting than the "Idol" mixed-bag auditions.

2. They skip the bad singers. "The Voice" doesn't look for laughs from showing deluded singers embarrassed as their dreams are crushed. Instead, everyone who competes actually has talent -- what a concept!

3. More star power. Not only are all "The Voice" judges current hit-makers, so are their friends. This season's mentors will be: Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert on Blake Shelton's team, Alanis Morissette and Robin Thicke on Adam Levine's team, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Ne-Yo on the Cee Lo Green team, and Jewel and Lionel Richie with Christina Aguilera.

4. The mentors actually help. Unlike "The X Factor," where mentors seemed to delight in tearing other teams down, all the "Voice" mentors seem to genuinely want the best for everyone and get personally involved in week-to-week growth, something "Idol" mentors and judges don't do.

5. Head-to-head competition. On "Idol," wrenching eliminations don't usually start until the show's second half. On "The Voice," contestants compete one-on-one in the early rounds, making stunning upsets always possible.