Jamar RogersViewers of "The Voice" this week were no doubt moved by Team Cee Lo auditioner Jamar Rogers, not only because of his brilliant cover of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," but because of his harrowing backstory: After battling meth addiction, he got clean and sober six years ago, but now he is living with HIV as a result of his drug use. What made Jamar's story even more interesting, however, was the fact that it was not told when he appeared on "The Voice's" more conservative rival show, "American Idol," three years ago. Diehard singing competition fans probably remember Jamar from "Idol" Season 8, when he auditioned with his best friend, future third-place finalist Danny Gokey, and back then, Danny's sad story of young widower-hood received a huge amount of screentime. But "Idol" viewers oddly learned nothing of Jamar's own equally serious troubles.

Last night, "The Voice" Season 2 premiered after the Super Bowl, to huge ratings that totally dwarfed the Nielsen numbers for "American Idol"s Season 11 premiere last month. And so today, my "Day After" co-host Matt Whitfield and I have many burning questions. Will "The Voice" be able to sustain such stellar ratings, as it settles into its regular Monday timeslot tonight? Will "The Voice" kick "Idol's" butt this year? Which show has the superior talent--and does it matter if "The Voice's" cast is packed with so many experienced singers (including one of Christina Aguilera's former "Mickey Mouse Club" cronies)? And finally, just to compare "The Voice" to another singing show...can "The X Factor" learn a thing or two about friendly judge rivalry from Adam, Xtina, Cee Lo, and Blake?

photo: Ezra Shaw/ Getty ImagesLast year at the Super Bowl, Christina Aguilera's national anthem performance was a disaster on an international scale. And this year, Xtina's new "The Voice" castmate Kelly Clarkson admitted on Twitter that she was nervous about her own big Super Bowl debut. "Just finished rehearsing the anthem in Indy…wow, I'm actually really nervous about singing at the Super Bowl ha! Here's hoping I nail it and don't screw it up!" she tweeted Friday.

Then, on the day of the game, Kelly anxiously tweeted: "Literally left my wardrobe at the hotel in Louisiana and my tour manager had to run back and get it. Now we're on the plane headed for the Super Bowl but that was a close one! I'm not sure if I could have pulled off spanx and heels while singing the anthem :)"

These were surprising confessions of nerves from a woman who came to fame singing in front of millions of viewers (and Simon Cowell) week after week. But of course, Kelly never faltered on "Idol," and suffice to say she absolutely did not screw it up when she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLVI. The American Idol did America proud. (And she looked great, too--it was a good thing her "wardrobe malfunction" crisis was averted!)

"The Voice" premieres tonight after the Super Bowl--arguably THE best television timeslot of the year--and the new action-flick-style "Voice" commercial that will air on NBC this afternoon is sure to make many armchair athletes, who normally sit out singing shows, put that remote aside and tune in after the big game.

Oh heck, as far as I'm concerned, this "Vocal Kombat" commercial IS the big game: It's got Kill Bill/Crouching Dragon-esque aerial stunts, a Blake Shelton-vs.-Adam Levine fistfight, Cee Lo Green doing karate kicks, and, just for another kind of kicks, a Betty White cameo (watch till the end). Try to top that at half-time, Madonna!