Star Search is back! Twenty years after the iconic talent competition series went off air, Netflix is bringing it back for a whole new generation.
The streamer announced it will reboot the series with a “live, reimagined, and supercharged” version for today’s audience during its Upfront presentation on Wednesday. The remade series will feature a more interactive format focused on spotlighting “the best up-and-coming performers” across four categories – music, dance, variety/comedy, and kids.
A brand new batch of performers will compete for their shot at stardom throughout an arced competition structure with episodes that air twice weekly and include voting that will let the viewers determine which contestants move forward in weekly eliminations.
Dionne Harmon and Madison Merritt will executive produce with Elaine Metaxas and Jesse Collins for Jesse Collins Entertainment, which has been behind Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, the Primetime Emmys, American Music Awards, Super Bowl Halftime Show, and Hollywood Squares.
Jason Raff has been tapped as showrunner but the host, judges, and premiere date have yet to be announced.
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The original Star Search was created by Al Masini and aired from 1983 to 1995 with host Ed McMahon. The ultimate winners of the show were awarded $100,000, but unlike modern competition series, no record contract was guaranteed. The series helped launch the careers of global icons like Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Dave Chappelle, Christina Aguilera, Adam Sandler, and many others.
The show was revived for a brief one-year run from 2003 to 2004 with Arsenio Hall as the host on CBS.
Star Search joins Netflix’s growing slate of competition series including Building the Band, The Golden Ticket, Squid Game: The Challenge, Million Dollar Secret, Is It Cake?, The Circle and many more.
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