With the overwhelming success of “American Idol,” it’s no surprise that Americans penchant for singing out loud is at an all-time high. It’s also no shock that other networks have rolled out game shows where singing takes center stage. The difference is that “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” and “The Singing Bee” aren’t searching for a singer who will break through the Top 20 Billboards. They’re simply giving homegrown singers the chance to win money by knowing the lyrics to songs. As the tagline for “The Singing Bee” says, “You don’t have to sing well – you just have to sing it right!”
Contestants on NBC’s “The Singing Bee” must sing the lyrics to songs once the band stops playing the music. There’s no middle ground – either the contestant gets the lyrics exactly right or they’re out of the competition. Those competing on FOX’s “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” can win $1 million if they can precisely fill in the missing words to ten different song lyrics. A live band and words projected on the screen act as a kind of...