After the novelty of “American Idol” wore off, I promised myself: “No more reality television singing shows.”  The long, drawn-out episodes, superficiality and haughty judges did not appeal to me in the slightest. I wanted creativity, musicality and engaging performances, as opposed to over-the-top belting and forced catharsis.

It wasn’t until Season One of “The Sing-Off” that I was able to once again appreciate a good reality talent competition. Musician and judge Sara Bareilles has described many of the same sentiments.

“A lot of those shows are about dissonance and conflict and tension,” Bareilles said to The Huffington Post.  “But a cappella and ‘The Sing-Off’ as a whole [are] about harmony. It’s a feel-good show.”

With knowledgeable judges, including Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, Ben Folds and Bareilles, viewers can be sure to hear accurate evaluations of the groups, and learn a few new musical terms. As the newest addition to the show, Bareilles is delightful, spouting out one-liners left and right. In addition to selling more than one million records and being nominated for three Grammy awards, Bareillies was an a cappella singer in her college days, making her well-informed of the “ins and outs” of this musical genre.

Stockman might offer the least in terms of musical advice for the groups, but his personality and charm are undeniably appealing.

Finally,  audiences are left with Folds, the unabashedly proud self-proclaimed “music nerd.” He has been critiqued for his incredibly technical assessments of some of the performances, but I could not imagine this show without him. Even at his most critical, Folds offers some really sound musical advice for these performers — and always with a smile on his face.

In his “Sing-Off” blog, On Key with Ben Folds, he wisely said about a capella: “When done well, there are few forms of live music that are as uplifting. It’s a rare and pure example of people working together in harmony. That’s important stuff to cultivate in times like these.”

Viewing the competition as a friendly learning collaboration between judges and performers may be one reason the show is so incredibly likable. And, as one would hope, the competitors are equally as entertaining as the judges. “The Sing-Off” Season One began as a competition between eight a cappella groups, ranging from five member doo-wop groups to 16 member college ensembles. “The Sing-Off” has gained a wider fan base, allowing the show to run for a full season with 16 groups all contending for a recording contract and $200,000.

This year, the competition is fiercer than ever. Favorites include five member electro-dubstep group Pentatonix, Delilah, the only all-female group this season, and Vocal Point, an all-male ensemble from Brigham Young University. Urban Method, a group of struggling musicians with little a cappella experience, has impressed the judges with their collaboration of rap and a cappella, as well as a killer stage presence. Two other college groups, Afro-Blue and Dartmouth Aires, have done well with some stellar arrangements and song choices.

As much as I enjoy “The Sing-Off,” it may not be for everyone. The song arrangements are fantastic and innovative this year, but not everyone enjoys this vocal genre of music. If the slightly corny dance moves and a cappella stylings are not your thing, I can still guarantee the beat boxing will knock you away.