RECAP: Robin Thicke, Kelly Clarkson Star On 'Duets'

Duets, ABC's entry into the reality singing competition fray, premiered Thursday night, with judges Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke, John Legend and Jennifer Nettles. The show is similar to NBC's The Voice, in that the judges also serve as mentors who groom the contestants they pick, but there's a twist: each pop star performs a duet with his or her chosen amateur(s).

"It gives the kids an opportunity that I didn't have when I did Idol. Nobody really was guiding us or helping us. And I could have really used it," Clarkson, who won the first season of American Idol, told E! News. "So that kind of turned me on about this show. Also I love that we get to compete with them so we're not just watching. I have to be honest with you, it's way more challenging than I thought it was going to be!" She added, "It's a lot more work than people have to do on Idol or The Voice!"

Thicke, for his part, was happy for the opportunity to do what he loves best on the show — sing. "I wouldn't be comfortable just sitting there judging," he said. "It's not my bag, baby. But to have the opportunity to perform and sing and give my gift back, that's the joy for me."

For a detailed recap of Thursday's Duets premiere, head over to Zap2it.

Watch Robin Thicke and contestant Oliva Chisholm perform "Lost Without You" here:

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