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Exclusive: Comedian Tom Papa has announced that his new Netflix special, Home Free, will premiere on the service on October 29.

Filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the special is Papa’s third for the streamer, following What a Day (2022) and You’re Doing Great! (2020). In it, he holds nothing back, as his kids are finally out of the house and it’s just him, his wife and a bunch of animals ready to return to their glory days. Tom has seen a lot over the years, from close calls with a pachinko ball to late night 7-Eleven runs, and he’s sharing all his thoughts as he parties on into the next stage of life.

Troy Miller directed the special, executive produced by Brian Volk-Weiss and Cisco Henson. Comedy Dynamics served as the production company.

One of the best-known comics in the States, who has been working...

Dan Wakefield, a prolific author and journalist who made television history when he created and wrote the controversial late-1970s drama James at 15 only to resign when NBC executives bristled over an episode’s depiction of teenage sexuality, died yesterday at a hospice facility in Miami. He was 91, and had been in declining health in recent months.

His death was announced by his attorney, Ken Bennett, to the Indianapolis Star. Wakefield was born and raised in Indianapolis.

In addition to James at 15 and various novels, Wakefield’s credits include the screenplay for the 1997 film Going All The Way, starring Ben Affleck and Jeremy Davies, based on his 1970 novel of the same name. The 1979 divorce drama Starting Over starring Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen, written by James L. Brooks and directed by Alan J. Pakula, was based on Wakefield’s 1973 novel.

Born May 21, 1932, in Indianapolis, Wakefield began...

Exclusive: LA’s Dances With Films celebrates 26 Years of storytelling June 22-July 2 at the Tcl Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

The festival will open with the World Premiere of Good Side of Bad, a powerful drama based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Beverly Olevin. Directed by Alethea Root and starring Jules Bruff (Zodiac), Lexi Simonsen (S.W.A.T.), Alex Quijano (High School Musical: The Series), Myles Grier (Lethal Weapon) and Academy Award Nominee Tess Harper, the film depicts a raw and intimate look into what it means to be a family navigating the waters of mental illness. Closing out the festival is Home Free by first time director Aaron Brown, and writer Lenny Barszap, a social impact Trojan horse disguised as a coming-of-age college comedy with a focus on homelessness.

Festival Founders Leslee Scallon, Michael Trent state “Looking toward our next quarter century,...

A few years ago, Fox had some of the top-rated TV shows on the air. Now, the network is struggling. Which series will be cancelled and which will be renewed? Stay tuned.

How do the execs decide what to cancel or keep? They look at a lot of different factors but the ratings play a very large role. The higher the ratings, the better chances a show has of surviving.

Fox shows this season (so far): American Idol, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Backstrom, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Boom!, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bullseye, Empire, Family Guy, The Following, Glee, Golan the Insatiable, Gotham, Gracepoint, Hell's Kitchen, Home Free, Knock Knock Live, The Last Man on Earth, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, The Mindy Project, Mulaney, New Girl, Red Band Society, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, So You Think You Can Dance, Utopia, Wayward Pines, and Weird Loners.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: America's Got Talent, The Carmichael Show, Last Comic Standing, America's Next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, MasterChef, Home Free, Big Brother, and Extant. Reruns: The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, Black-ish and Nashville.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

The CW’s America’s Next Top Model this Wednesday drew 1.4 million total viewers and a 0.6 demo rating, up 16 and 50 percent week-to-week to hit more than two-year highs (since Cycle 20’s August 2013 opener).

Leading out of that, A Wicked Offer (720K/0.2) was broadcast steady.

Elsewhere….

CBS | Big Brother (6.5 mil/2.1) was flat week-to-week. Extant’s two-hour finale (4.6 mil/0.7) ticked up a tenth yet was down 15 and 36 percent from its freshman closer.

RelatedExtant Season 2: Was That Finale Taalr-Made for a Follow-Up?

NBC | America’s Got Talent (9.3 mil/1.8) ticked up. The Carmichael Show‘s final two episodes (4.7 mil/1.0, 3.9 mil/0.9) were down two tenths versus last week.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: America's Next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, Celebrity Wife Swap, MasterChef, Home Free, America's Got Talent, The Carmichael Show, Last Comic Standing, Big Brother, and Extant. Reruns: The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, Black-ish and Criminal Minds.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

NBC’s The Carmichael Show this Wednesday drew 4.8 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating, and then 4.0 mil and a 1.1, up 20 percent in the demo versus its premiere night double-pump.

Opening the Peacock’s night, America’s Got Talent (9.1 mil/1.7) ticked up. Come 10 pm, Last Comic Standing (4.2 mil/1.1) was flat.

RelatedAmerica’s Got Talent Renewed for Season 11

Elsewhere….

CBS | Big Brother (6.5 mil/2.0) dipped a tenth week-to-week yet led still the night in the demo. The penultimate Extant (4.8 mil/0.7) was also down a tenth.

Fox | MasterChef (4.6 mil/1.5) and Home Free (3.4 mil/1.0) were both up.

RelatedRenewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled?...

Net 8Pm 8:30Pm 9Pm 9:30Pm 10Pm 10:30Pm ABC The Middle (R) The Goldbergs (R) Modern Family (R) Blackish (R) Celebrity Wife Swap CBS Big Brother Exant Criminal Minds (R) CW America’s Next Top Model A Wicked Offer Fox MasterChef Home Free NBC America’s Got Talent The Carmichael Show Last Comic Standing Misc Young & Hungry/Kevin […]...

Wednesday, August 26, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: MasterChef, Home Free, America's Got Talent, The Carmichael Show, Last Comic Standing, America's Next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, Celebrity Wife Swap, Big Brother, and Extant. Reruns: Criminal Minds, The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and Black-ish.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

NBC’s The Carmichael Show premiered on Wednesday to 4.8 million total viewers — the most watched summer comedy debut since June 2007 — and a 1.1 rating, within a tenth in the demo of time slot predecessor Mr. Robinson‘s best-since-2009 summer comedy premiere number.

A second Carmichael episode retained 4.1 mil/0.9.

RelatedRatings: Mr. Robinson Finale Hits Lows

Bookending the freshman sitcom, America’s Got Talent (8.3 mil/1.6) and Last Comic Standing (4.3 mil/1.1) were both steady in the demo.

RelatedRenewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled?

Elsewhere….

CBS | Big Brother (6.4 mil/2.0) dipped week-to-week. Extant (4.9 mil/0.8) drew its largest audience since the season’s second episode,...

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: America's Next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, Celebrity Wife Swap, MasterChef, Home Free, America's Got Talent, Mr. Robinson, Last Comic Standing, Big Brother, and Extant. Reruns: Criminal Minds, The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and Black-ish.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

CBS and NBC tied for first place in the key 18-49 demographic on Wednesday night, while Fox’s “Home Free” and ABC’s “Celebrity Wife Swap” enjoyed solid gains, according to preliminary numbers. Both CBS and NBC averaged a 1.2 rating/4 share in the demo, with NBC taking top honors outright in total viewers with an average 5.6 million, compared to second-place CBS, which had 5.2 million total viewers for the night. NBC kicked off the night with “America’s Got Talent” at 8, which was even with last week to tie a season low of 1.6/6. “Talent” was the night’s most-watched program...

NBC’s Mr. Robinson this Wednesday drew 4.2 million total viewers and a 1.0 rating with its first half hour, then dipped to 3.4 mil and a 0.9 with its second episode (hitting series lows on both counts).

Leading out of that, Last Comic Standing (4.2 mil/1.1) ticked down to a season low in the demo.

RelatedLast Comic Standing Winner Scores NBC Comedy Pilot From Wanda Sykes

Opening the Peacock’s night, America’s Got Talent (9 mil/1.6) was steady, winning Wednesday in total audience.

RelatedFall TV: Your Handy Calendar of 120+ Desperately Needed Premiere Dates

Elsewhere….

CBS | Big Brother (6.5 mil/2.1) dipped a tenth in the...

Net 8Pm 8:30Pm 9Pm 9:30Pm 10Pm 10:30Pm ABC The Middle (R) The Goldbergs (R) Modern Family (R) Blackish (R) Celebrity Wife Swap CBS Big Brother Exant Criminal Minds (R) CW America’s Next Top Model A Wicked Offer Fox MasterChef Home Free NBC America’s Got Talent Mr. Robinson Last Comic Standing Misc Kevin From Work (ABC […]...

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: MasterChef, Home Free, America's Next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, America's Got Talent, Mr. Robinson, Last Comic Standing, Big Brother, and Extant. Reruns: Criminal Minds, The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, Black-ish, and Celebrity Wife Swap.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

NBC’s Mr. Robinson this Wednesday averaged 4 million viewers and a 1.0 rating, down just a tick from last week’s double pump while holding steady in the demo from half-hour to half-hour.

The freshman series’ 9 o’clock outing delivered broadcast TV’s most watched, and tied the highest rated, Week 2 episode of a new summer comedy in eight years.

RelatedRenewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled?

Opening the Peacock’s night, America’s Got Talent (8.3 mil/1.6) rose 19 percent and a tenth week-to-week. At 10 pm, Last Comic Standing (4.3 mil/1.2) slipped 9 percent and three tenths.

Elsewhere….

CBS | Big Brother...

Net 8Pm 8:30Pm 9Pm 9:30Pm 10Pm 10:30Pm ABC The Middle (R) The Goldbergs (R) Modern Family (R) Blackish (R) Celebrity Wife Swap CBS Big Brother Exant Criminal Minds (R) CW America’s Next Top Model A Wicked Offer Fox MasterChef Home Free NBC America’s Got Talent Mr. Robinson Last Comic Standing Misc Kevin From Work (ABC […]...

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: America's next Top Model, A Wicked Offer, Celebrity Wife Swap, Mr. Robinson, Last Comic Standing, MasterChef, Home Free, Big Brother, and Extant. Specials: America's Got Talent: 10 Year Anniversary. Reruns: The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and Black-ish.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | MTV | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

Net 8Pm 8:30Pm 9Pm 9:30Pm 10Pm 10:30Pm ABC The Middle (R) The Goldbergs (R) Modern Family (R) Blackish (R) Celebrity Wife Swap CBS Big Brother Exant CW America’s Next Top Model A Wicked Offer Fox MasterChef Home Free NBC America’s Got Talent Mr. Robinson Last Comic Standing Misc Melissa & Joey/Baby Daddy (ABC Family) The […]...

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: Celebrity Wife Swap, Last Comic Standing, MasterChef, Home Free, Big Brother, and Extant. Specials: America's Got Talent: 10 Year Anniversary. Reruns: The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, Black-ish, Supernatural, Arrow, and Criminal Minds.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

CBS’ Big Brother drew 5.7 million total viewers and a 1.8 rating on Wednesday, steady week-to-week and leading the night in the demo.

Leading out of that, Extant (4.3 mil/0.7) was also steady, holding at a tenth above its series low.

RelatedFall TV 2015: Your Handy Calendar of 90+ Premiere Dates

Elsewhere….

Fox | MasterChef (4.6 mil/1.4) dipped a tenth, while Home Free (3.1 mil/0.9) was flat.

NBC | America’s Got Talent‘s anniversary fete (7.7 mil/1.6) was up 33 percent vs. last week’s clip show and drew the night’s largest audience. Last Comic Standing (5.8 mil/1.4) dipped a tenth.

ABC | Celeb Wife Swap (3.1 mil/0.8) was flat.

Friday, July 24, 2015 ratings -- New episodes: The Messengers, Masters of Illusion, Dateline NBC, Primetme: What Would You Do? and 20/20. Reruns: America's Got Talent, Home Free, Knock Knock Live, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Shark Tank, Elementary, Hawaii Five-0, and Blue Bloods.

How are your shows doing? Check the current rankings:

ABC | CBS | The CW | Fox | NBC

ABC Family | AMC | FX | HBO | Showtime | Syfy | TNT | USARead More…...

The season premiere “Last Comic Standing” helped NBC drop the mic on its competition last night, despite the reality series dipping from last summer’s debut. That said, in 2014, the stand-up comedy contest premiered in mid-late May, as opposed to July. For Fox, the season premiere of “Home Free” was fine in the key 18-49 demographic, but struggled among total viewers. Fox tied for second-place in the main demo with CBS, but the latter topped the former among overall audience. Also Read: 'Sharknado 3' Sparks Twitter Tsunami as SyFy Leaves Tara Reid's Fate in Viewers' Hands for Next Sequel NBC was first in.

Now leading out of Big Brother, CBS’ Extant this Wednesday night drew 4.3 million total viewers and a 0.7 demo rating, dipping in audience yet up a tenth in the demo versus its previous, 10 o’clock outing, while shy of what a Criminal Minds rerun last did in the time slot (4.8 mil/0.8).

Opening the Eye’s night, Big Brother (5.8 mil/1.8) slipped 3 percent and two tenths week-to-week.

Elsewhere….

Fox | MasterChef (4.4 mil/1.4) dipped 10 percent and a tenth, while the premiere of Home Free (2.9 mil/0.9) improved slightly on Bullseye‘s most recent performance in the time slot.

NBC | Last Comic Standing opened Season 9 with 6.1 million total viewers and a 1.5 rating,...

Net 8Pm 8:30Pm 9Pm 9:30Pm 10Pm 10:30Pm ABC Blackish (R) Modern Family (R) CBS Big Brother Exant Criminal Minds (R) CW Arrow (R) Supernatural (R) Fox MasterChef Home Free NBC America’s Got Talent Last Comic Standing Misc Melissa & Joey/Baby Daddy (ABC Family) Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (Syfy)The Spoils Before Dying (IFC) Key & […]...

The first live show of So You Think You Can Dance‘s 12th season has me quoting the immortal words of Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean: “Someone please call 9-1-1. Tell them I’ve just been shot down. And the bullet’s in my heart. And it’s piercin through my soul. Feel my body gettin’ cold.”

VideosHome Free Video: Big Twist in Fox’s Home-Reno Series Revealed

Ok, so maybe “immortal” is a bit of a stretch for a song that barely cracked the Top 40 back in 2001 — I blame Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open...

To put a little twist on the immortal words of Oprah Winfrey: “You get a home! And you get a home! And you get a home!”

Fox’s upcoming competition series Home Free (premiering July 22 at 9/8c) isn’t just about seeing which couple can construct the best house for a deserving family.

RelatedUrban Cowboy Pilot Ordered at Fox

As you can see in TVLine’s exclusive sneak peek, each feel-good episode builds up to a huge surprise in which the eliminated pair discovers they’re still winners — of a brand new abode!

Press Play above to check out the twisty reveal,...

This week on Fox’s Wayward Pines — in the midseason thriller’s penultimate hour (airing Thursday at 9/8c) — the leaders of the First Generation seek out their new sheriff, demanding a reckoning. But will Ethan give the kids what they want?

RelatedWayward Pines Recap: Break on Through to the Other Side

As seen in the above featurette from the episode “A Reckoning,” members of the first class at Wayward Pines Academy are adamant about Sheriff Burke enforcing the town’s laws by executing those responsible for the “terrorist” attack on the perimeter fence. Of course, the increasingly agitated, unsure...

Believe it or not, the photos you’re about to see are from a show about robots.

HBO has released the first images from its upcoming Westworld, a sci-fi drama inspired by Michael Crichton’s 1973 movie of the same name about a Western-themed futuristic theme park where robots go nuts and attack the guests.

Related HBO’s Westworld Snags Miranda Otto

Flip through the shots and you’ll see Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs), who plays park boss Dr. Robert Ford, as well as Thandie Newton (Rogue), Jeffrey Wright (Boardwalk Empire), James Marsden (the X-Men films, 30 Rock), Evan Rachel Wood...

We now know when Fox is planning to bring FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully back to the small screen, as the network revealed that part one of The X-Files six-episode event series premiere will air on Sunday, January 24th.

In their 2015 - 2016 fall TV schedule announcement (which also includes information on Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens, slated to begin airing on Tuesdays this fall), Fox revealed that the return of The X-Files will take place on Sunday, January 24th, between 10:00pm - 11:00pm Est after the Nfc Championship game.

The second half of the two-part premiere will air at 8:00pm Est the following night on Monday, January 25th, with subsequent episodes also airing on Monday nights. Filming on the event series begins this June. For more information, see the official press release below (The X-Files details are highlighted in bold text). Also included in...

Mindy Project MD Ed Weeks is scrubbing into Royal Pains… minus the scrubs part.

RelatedUSA Sets Dates for Suits, Graceland, Jason O’Mara Drama, Mr. Robot and Others, Orders Chrisley Spinoff Pilots

Per EW.com, Weeks will guest-star in a Season 7 episode of the USA Network drama as Cole Chapman Smith, an intense method actor who recruits Hank to help him prepare for his next role.

Royal Pains‘ seventh season bows Tuesday, June 2, with Weeks’ episode set to air mid-June. He currently portrays Dr. Jeremy Reed on the yet-to-be-renewed Mindy.

Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…

* Dancing With the Stars...

Fox has placed an eight-episode order for a new reality competition series, “Home Free,” from Relativity Television and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” executive producer Tom Forman. The series, which will be hosted by “Holmes on Holmes” contractor Mike Holmes, will feature couples vying to win their dream home. On the series, which premieres July 22 at 9 p.m., nine couples are challenged to revive one run-down home every week. During each episode, Holmes will present the couples with tasks designed to test and challenge the skills of the do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Also Read: 'Empire's' Taraji P. Henson Is a Post-Mortem 'Person of Interest'.

Fox is giving couples the chance to win their dream house in Home Free, an eight-episode hourlong reality competition series set to premiere at 9 Pm July 22. Mike Holmes, a professional contractor who created the Hgtv series Holmes On Homes, will host Home Free from Relativity TV and executive producer Tom Forman (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition). On Home Free, nine couples are challenged to revive one run-down house every week. During each episode, Holmes will present the…...

At the start of NBC's "The Sing-Off," Nick Lachey called it "a very special edition" of the a capella singing competition, which had the subtitle "Holiday Special." Those were both very nice ways of saying that NBC cut the show: from the 11 hours, seven episodes, and 10 groups last year to two hours, one episode, and six groups this year. Also, the prize was cut in half to $50,000, and the show lost last year's fun face-off performances between the bottom two teams. Along with all that, it lost a lot of what made it such a terrific series. Most significantly, judge Ben Folds was gone, replaced by Patrick Stump because Ben Folds was on tour and apparently NBC couldn't figure out how to reschedule the show to film with its true star. Stump couldn't figure out how to judge, either. While returning judges Jewel and Shawn Stockman gave specific feedback, identifying individuals' strengths and sometimes weaknesses,...

The first time I heard that The Sing-Off was going to be limited to a one-night special this year, I went through some pretty serious turmoil. All five stages of grief passed through in a matter of minutes: Denial that the entirety of season 5 could potentially only include one Nick Lachey jewel tone button-down; Anger that NBC was doing this to us; Bargaining that we might somehow lure Ben Folds back in a judge's chair with a Warby Parker gift basket of sorts; Depression that Home Free would be unceremoniously replaced as the reigning champs in just two short hours; and finally,...

(Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you have not yet seen the two-hour “The Sing-Off” special on NBC.)

Fans of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” might have been a little confused when they tuned in to the a cappella singing competition Wednesday night. After all, at the end of the two-hour episode, Nick Lachey was already crowing a winner. What happened?

Unlike past seasons of “The Sing-Off,” which ran for a couple of weeks in December — save for one attempt at a fall run — NBC trimmed the veteran show to one two-hour blast for its fifth run.

Also Read: Nick Lachey...

If all you wanted for Christmas was NBC's “The Sing-Off,” then your wish has been granted. The a capella musical competition will return for a two-hour holiday special on Wednesday Dec. 17, when six groups will face off for a $50,000 first place prize. Jewel and Shawn Stockman are set to return as judges, where they will be joined by Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump. Nick Lachey is coming back to host. See photos: ‘American Idol’ & ‘Voice’ Winners: Who's Broken Out, Who's Just Broken (Photos) Last year's “Sing-Off” champions Home Free saw their recent album release “Crazy Life” go to No.

All-male a Capella group Home Free were declared the winners of NBC's "The Sing-Off" on Monday night.

The Minnesota-bred five piece -- Chris Rupp, Tim Foust, Austin Brown, Rob Lunquist and Adam Rupp -- will follow up their win by releasing their debut album, "Crazy Life," on Columbia Records.

The album will feature original music, as well as covers, including Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," which earned the group major praise from the judges -- Jewel, Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman -- on the NBC reality singing competition. Home Free's album will also include the medley of Hunter ...

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Aca-mazing! ‘The Sing-Off’ crowned its fourth winner during an epic Dec. 23 finale that was filled with holiday cheer, glitter, and ’80s icons. Find out who took home the top honors under the jump!

The Sing-Off‘s fourth season has been its best yet, so the final competition between country group Home Free, high schoolers Vocal Rush, and gospel collective Ten was intense. But who took home the $100,000 prize and a recording contract with Sony Music?

‘The Sing-Off’ Season 4 Finale: Home Free Wins Take Our Poll

Country crooners Home Free are definitely having themselves a Merry Little Christmas! The group performed “I Want Crazy” during the first round, then teamed up with judge Jewel for “Have a Merry Little Christmas” during the second.

In second place were Ten, who sang “Joyful Joyful” with Boyz II Men legend Shawn Stockman and then Beyonce‘s “Love On Top.” Vocal Rush came in third place,...

Holiday songs! Pentatonix! Benatar! Glitter Blazers! The Sing-Off finale was everything I needed it to be and, yes, I did need it to be something. I needed it to be something my whole family could watch together while I’m home for the holidays. I needed it to be fun and exciting enough to make me think thoughts worthy of writing down later for fellow a cappella knuckleheads to read (“worthy” might be an overstatement, but where better for hyperbole than The Sing-Off?). And I needed it to be, as I think Nick Lachey once said, some damn fine music.

In the Monday, Dec. 23, finale of the first season of NBC's a cappella vocal competition "The Sing-Off" under new executive producer Mark Burnett ("The Voice"), the Minnesota-based, all-male country group Home Free is just that, with a trophy in hand.

Despite the holiday theme of the two-hour finale, it was actually taped in mid-September. After being named the winners (and doing a bit of celebrating), the members of Home Free -- Matthew "Austin" Brown, Rob Lundquist, Chris Rupp, Tim Foust (he of the very deep voice) and Adam Rupp -- gathered backstage to talk to Zap2it.

"It's more than every dream I've ever had come true," Brown says. "My biggest fear coming here was that they would try to make us into something we're not. And while we have grown a great deal away from what we ever thought we were, I don't think we've ever lost our identity.

So, "The Sing-Off" wrapped up the way all these types of competition shows do -- lots of singing, some cutesy-poo skits, some guest performances (Pat Benatar! 98 Degrees!), and then roughly three minutes of actual results. In this case, the whole of the two-hour season ender was considerably more entertaining than most of these shows, simply because the level of talent on the show is so phenomenal, the judges are plenty impressive as performers, and hey, there were Christmas songs!  But in the midst of all the revelry and hoo-ha, the three finalists -- Vocal Rush, Home Free and Ten --...

Can you say aca-winner?! The fourth season of NBC's reality singing competition series The Sing-Off came to a close on Monday night, with one of the three final a cappella acts being crowned the winner. Country group Home Free, high schoolers Vocal Rush and gospel collective Ten were the finalists left to battle it out for the $100,000 prize, a recording contract with Sony Music and the prime spot on The Sing-Off's first-ever tour.  But only one act could be named the winner of the Nick Lachey-hosted competition, so which group reigned supreme?  Home Free! The group performed "I Want Crazy" during the first round, then teamed up with judge Jewel to give a rendition of...

After a whirlwind two weeks of competition, the resurrected fourth season of NBC's "The Sing-Off" has come to an end. The three a cappella groups left in the competition -- country boys Home Free, backup singers Ten, and high school students Vocal Rush -- are all incredibly talented. Which one won?

In the end, despite valiant efforts from the other two groups, it was the country stylings of Home Free that took home the title. Host Nick Lachey tells Zap2it the boys caught the judges' attention from the very beginning.

"They hit the ground running. They were one of the groups that stood out from Day 1," Lachey says. "They just had a great sound together. They certainly got better as the show went along, but really came into it with an already very polished stage presence and sound. I'm very, very proud of those guys. They worked really hard.

It’s been less than two weeks (and over 1,000 crescendos) since The Sing-Off special premiered, but next Monday, it’s already time for the season finale. And, of course, you can’t have a singing competition finale without special guest stars.

EW has learned exclusively that, in addition to season 3 winners and a cappella phenoms Pentatonix, Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo will also be taking The Sing-Off stage to belt out their 1984 chart-topping hit “We Belong.” Naturally, there will be the usual suspects performing as well: Jewel will duet with Home Free, Shawn Stockman with Ten, and Ben Folds with Vocal Rush.

I do enjoy these short episodes: just a quick hit of that hard a cappella stuff to get me to Friday. And it’s easy to be short and sweet when we’re down to just four groups in the semifinals. Hey, remember last week, when this show had just started? Me neither, that was 70,000 words ago!

Tonight we embark upon The Sing-Off’s penultimate episode and the judges are choosing the songs for The Filharmonic, Ten, Home Free, and Vocal Rush. I mention this so I’ll seem only slightly less creepy when I start gushing about the host.

We are down to the final four in The Sing-Off, and the opening numbers are better for it. There have been a lot of heavily populated vocal groups in this competition up to this point, and a lot of crowded-ass stages. The last few openers have had the feel of a massive Broadway musical where every cast member just got hired an hour ago. But tonight’s version of Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Off” is tight and breezy and doesn’t fill me with the combo platter of rage and ennui that they usually do. Plus, it’s a tiny bit lighter on the choreography, which is a thing we can all get behind.Also, now that there are fewer people to focus on, I can really devote some time to appreciating the Kristy McNichol hairstyle on Home Free’s bass guy. That shit is delicious. Tonight,...

Listen, I’ve seen a lot of magical things in my short time at the EW offices; it’s a cool place. David Blaine straight up proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a sorcerer by making a deck of cards disappear from my bare hands a few months ago. And I don’t want to get anyone worked up, but maybe the most magical thing I’ll ever see here, I saw today: Pentatonix came to our office and sang, amongst other things, their Beyoncé medley. I laughed; I cried; I wouldn’t blame them if...

The theme of Monday night’s episode of The Sing-Off is its most impressively vague yet: “My Generation.” Anyone who has never watched this show might think that means the teams will sing songs that they were raised on, or maybe even from the decade they were born, but to those people I would scream, “You’re so wrong!” and “Why aren’t you watching The Sing-Off, do you hate good-natured fun?!” Nick Lachey explains the theme as “the songs of yesterday and today,” which he doesn’t seem to understand means All Of The Days.

The songs that were...