FUSE TV - Original 'The Voice' Judges Open Up About Change and Controversy

We only found out that the original coach line-up for The Voice would be taking back their big-red swivel chairs for season five in May.

Since then the world has kept all its burning questions to itself, until yesterday.
Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and host/producer Carson Daly met up at the Television Critics Association press tour to answer away. 

Topics ranged from cast changes to Levine's controversial "I hate this country" moment to why the show has yet to launch a superstar.

The Voice made a unique decision in May to have the cast of judges rotate between veterans Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green and season 4 newcomers Shakira and Usher. (Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will stay put.)

 When asked about Aguilera and Green's decision to leave the show for a season, Aguilera said, "I needed a moment to step away. Thank god for Shakira. She did a beautiful job."

Cee Lo, on the other hand, was less effusive about Usher taking the baton. 
"It was awkward and intriguing at the same time," he said. "It was a bit of an out-of-body experience."

But the judges that stayed put had their share of "awkward" moments as well. Namely, Levine. The "Moves Like Jagger" singer found himself in hot water after he quipped "I hate this country" after two of his team members were eliminated on an episode that aired in May.

He since apologized, but, as is the way with controversy, the comment stuck. Levine appeared irritated when the topic was brought up yesterday and immediately replied:

"Ugh, really?"

"Everyone makes mistakes. If your intentions are good and someone misunderstands you, regardless of what the scenario is, I think people can see through stupid media hype. No offense," he said.

"I think that as long as you allow yourself to be who you are, you can't really defend every single thing you say and you can't worry about saying the wrong thing, you just have to say what you're going to say and stand behind it."

The other judges agreed with the sentiment and went on to explain why the hit show has yet to produce a bona fide superstar.

The overall opinion of the judges seemed to be that critics were missing the point of The Voice.

"I don't know if that's the overall mission statement of the show," Levine said.
Daly interrupted and confirmed: "It's not."

Levine continued and explained, "The fact that it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it's a shortcoming of the show. It just seems like something that hasn't happened yet."

Levine's comments seem to be right on the mark as The Voice is bulldozing over consistent fruitful-career launching veteran, American Idol, in ratings.

Could it be that for The Voice, the star is the show itself?