Nick Lachey to host NBC a cappella TV contest

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Take "American Idol", throw in a touch of "Glee", add eight a cappella singing groups and pop singer Nick Lachey.

What have you got? "The Sing-Off" -- NBC's entry into the TV singing competition craze premiering on December 14 over four nights.

NBC said on Monday that Lachey, a former member of the boy band 98 Degrees and ex-husband of Jessica Simpson, will host the show that sees eight a cappella groups competing for a $100,000 prize and a contract with Sony Music Entertainment's Epic Records.

Ben Folds, former front man of Ben Folds Five, R&B singer Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, and an as yet unnamed rotating third judge will form a panel of judges, but viewers get the ultimate decision on who will win in the December 21 finale.

NBC said the groups would perform new arrangements of popular songs from various genres, and promised "There is no lip-syncing, back-up band, or safety net."

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)