Star Search
Encyclopedia
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon
, and created by Alfred Masini
. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre
at 6230 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and later at the Disney Hollywood Studios
in Orlando, Florida.
and 2929 Productions
versions of the show, contestants competed in several genres of entertainment. While categories varied slightly from season to season, the ten basic categories were:
Eight categories are contested per show. Potential contestants audition to be on the show. If selected, they will compete. In each category, two people compete, a champion and a challenger. Usually the challenger performs first, while the champion performs second. In later seasons, the champion performs first.
All acts are judged by a panel of four judges, each judge can award an act from one to four stars (later changed to five stars). Once both acts are complete, Ed reveals the scores, best average wins. If there is a tie, a studio audience vote breaks the tie in which the results are revealed at the end of the show.
Any performer must win at least several shows in a row, dependent on the number of shows left in the season, to earn an entry into the next round of the competition; usually this was three or four wins in a row. In later seasons, three match winners were automatically retired. In this case, two new performers compete in that category the following week.
In most seasons, two semifinal shows took place, one in the fall, the other in the spring, prior to the championship show. Each semifinal uses five judges. No scoring is used, and the judges' votes aren't revealed, but the acts that win their semifinals then compete in the championship show.
On the championship show, winners of Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Group, Comedy, and Dance, are awarded $100,000 but unlike American Idol, no record contract was guaranteed. Many Star Search winners from the early seasons secured recording contracts within a few weeks of the end of the competition - first season vocal group winner Sawyer Brown
, first season male vocalist champion Sam Harris
and second season male vocalist champion Durell Coleman were the first three, and were later followed by second season vocal group winner Limited Warranty, third season female vocalist champion Linda Eder
, second season junior male vocalist champion Jimmy Salvemini, whose album was produced by Luther Vandross
, fourth season male vocalist champion David Slater
, and first season (1988) junior female vocalist runner-up Tiffany
. Despite not winning her competition (she lost to Melissa Moultree), Tiffany, performing on Star Search as 'Tiffany Renee,' was the first Star Search alumna(-us) to land a #1 hit, with her cover of the Top 5 Tommy James & the Shondells hit "I Think We're Alone Now" — actually improving on the original single's chart performance. The winner of the Spokesmodel category is awarded $100,000 and a contract with a well-known modeling agency. The first Spokesmodel winner was Tracey Ross, who later became a leading actress on the soap opera Passions. Winners of Junior Vocalist, Junior Dance, Teen Vocalist, and Teen Dance win $10,000. The youngest person to ever win that category was 5-year-old Kata Hay
, then Kata Huddleston.
In early seasons, before the three match limit rule was adopted, the grand champions were determined by how long a champion held their title. While it is believed that Sam Harris
holds the record for longest championship, at 14 weeks in Season 1, Harris was actually defeated by singer Beau Williams on Harris' 14th attempt. This record is actually held by Singer Durell Coleman (1985) who won the $100,000 on Season 2 with 15 wins and no defeats.
s success, Arsenio Hall
hosted a new version of Star Search, which ran for two years: 2003 and 2004 on CBS, before ending up in reruns on cable channel GSN for one year from 2004 to 2005. This new version was judged by four panelists, including Ben Stein
, Naomi Judd
, Ahmet Zappa
and a rotating celebrity panelist (which in at least one case was McMahon himself). Among the winners were singer Tiffany Evans
, comedian John Roy and singer Mark Mejia.
The revival consisted of four series. For the first series, the categories were Adult and Junior Singer, Comedy, and Modeling. In series two and three, Modeling was replaced with Dance. In the final series, the Comedy category was scrapped altogether and only the singing and dancing categories remained.
For the first three series, two new competitors faced off. The three house judges, along with the one celebrity judge, gave each contestant a score on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, making a maximum studio score 20 stars. During each commercial break, the home audience went to www.cbs.com/star to rate the competitors who just performed. Each performer could earn up to another 20 stars from the home audience. In the climactic moment before the score from the home audience was revealed, Hall would often say, "Hit me with the digits!".
When the scores were tallied, the higher scoring performer won. If the score was tied, then Hall would read off each performer's score rounded to the nearest hundredth (the at home score was initially rounded down to the nearest star, unless there was a tie). That performer would then go on to the next round of competition. The only real exception to this format during the first three series was that three people competed in the semi-final rounds, not two. After the first two series, a special, "Battle of the Best" show took place, where the two Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Comedian Grand Champions (Modeling was only the first season, and Dance had only been around for one season) were brought back to face off for an additional $100,000.
For the fourth and final series, three contestants in Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Dance were brought back to initially compete (Comedy was dropped, jokingly because Naomi gave many comics only one star). The three brought back in each category were not necessarily the Grand Champions of their series. The show scrapped the celebrity judge and had three house judges for the entire series: Naomi Judd
, MC Lyte
, and Matti Leshem
(who tried to berate contestants as if he were Simon Cowell).
As in past series, two new contestants competed. With only three judges, 15 stars was possible, and ties were broken by a majority vote between the three. This is where the former contestants came in. Initially, in each category, these three performers made up the "Winner's Circle". The winning challenger then had the chance to challenge one of the three performers in his or her respective winner's circle. The winner's circle performer then had to beat or tie the bar set by the challenger- ties were automatically given to the Winner's Circle performer. If they couldn't beat the score, they were out of the competition, and the challenger took his or her place in the Winner's Circle.
Halfway through the series, the three performers in each Winner's Circle competed against each other in a special show. The winner in each category not only received a trip home, but a free pass to the final show. From then on, there were only two people who could be challenged in each Winner's Circle. In the final show, the three people in each Winner's Circle competed against each other for $100,000. This, along with the Free Pass show, were the only two shows which re-adopted the at-home voting concept.
This remake lasted two years before its cancellation in April 2004.
At the same time, a spin-off
called Star Search – Das Duell der Stars von Morgen was produced and aired in Germany, but with less success than the more popular show Deutschland sucht den Superstar
, the German version of the Idol series
.
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
, and created by Alfred Masini
Alfred Masini
Alfred Michael "Al" Masini was an American television producer.Masini was born in in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was a three-sport star in college and an Air Force officer during the Korean War....
. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre
Earl Carroll Theatre
Earl Carroll Theatre was the name of two important theaters owned by Broadway impresario and showman Earl Carroll. One was located on Broadway in New York City and the other on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, California.-Broadway:...
at 6230 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and later at the Disney Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
in Orlando, Florida.
Rules of original Star Search
On both the T.P.E./Rysher EntertainmentRysher Entertainment
Rysher Entertainment is the owner of TV and film programming content, primarily distributed around the world by CBS Television Distribution and CBS/ Paramount Pictures...
and 2929 Productions
2929 Entertainment
2929 Entertainment is a media company with holdings in film and television production, film distribution, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, television, and syndication. Billionaires Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban founded and currently own the privately held company...
versions of the show, contestants competed in several genres of entertainment. While categories varied slightly from season to season, the ten basic categories were:
- Male vocalist
- Female vocalist
- Junior vocalist (Second half of the season)
- Teen vocalist (First half of the season)
- Junior dance (First half of the season)
- Teen dance (Second half of the season)
- Vocal group
- Spokesmodel
- Comedy
- Dance
Eight categories are contested per show. Potential contestants audition to be on the show. If selected, they will compete. In each category, two people compete, a champion and a challenger. Usually the challenger performs first, while the champion performs second. In later seasons, the champion performs first.
All acts are judged by a panel of four judges, each judge can award an act from one to four stars (later changed to five stars). Once both acts are complete, Ed reveals the scores, best average wins. If there is a tie, a studio audience vote breaks the tie in which the results are revealed at the end of the show.
Any performer must win at least several shows in a row, dependent on the number of shows left in the season, to earn an entry into the next round of the competition; usually this was three or four wins in a row. In later seasons, three match winners were automatically retired. In this case, two new performers compete in that category the following week.
In most seasons, two semifinal shows took place, one in the fall, the other in the spring, prior to the championship show. Each semifinal uses five judges. No scoring is used, and the judges' votes aren't revealed, but the acts that win their semifinals then compete in the championship show.
On the championship show, winners of Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Group, Comedy, and Dance, are awarded $100,000 but unlike American Idol, no record contract was guaranteed. Many Star Search winners from the early seasons secured recording contracts within a few weeks of the end of the competition - first season vocal group winner Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown
Sawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
, first season male vocalist champion Sam Harris
Sam Harris (singer)
Sam Harris is an American pop and musical theatre recording artist as well as a television, stage and film actor.-Singing:...
and second season male vocalist champion Durell Coleman were the first three, and were later followed by second season vocal group winner Limited Warranty, third season female vocalist champion Linda Eder
Linda Eder
Linda Eder is an American singer and actress. She made her Broadway debut in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which she received 1997 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nominations, as well as the Theatre World Award for Best Actress in a Musical...
, second season junior male vocalist champion Jimmy Salvemini, whose album was produced by Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, fourth season male vocalist champion David Slater
David Slater
David Slater is an American singer.-Career:He was the Male Vocalist champion on TV's Star Search in 1987. Slater then signed a recording contract with Capitol Records and launched a country music career. He released two critically acclaimed albums on Capitol in the late 1980s entitled and . Both...
, and first season (1988) junior female vocalist runner-up Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
. Despite not winning her competition (she lost to Melissa Moultree), Tiffany, performing on Star Search as 'Tiffany Renee,' was the first Star Search alumna(-us) to land a #1 hit, with her cover of the Top 5 Tommy James & the Shondells hit "I Think We're Alone Now" — actually improving on the original single's chart performance. The winner of the Spokesmodel category is awarded $100,000 and a contract with a well-known modeling agency. The first Spokesmodel winner was Tracey Ross, who later became a leading actress on the soap opera Passions. Winners of Junior Vocalist, Junior Dance, Teen Vocalist, and Teen Dance win $10,000. The youngest person to ever win that category was 5-year-old Kata Hay
Kata Hay
Kata Hay is an American singer, songwriter and musician who was the youngest person to ever win Ed McMahon's Star Search at age five. In recent years she has used the Internet to independently promote her own music...
, then Kata Huddleston.
In early seasons, before the three match limit rule was adopted, the grand champions were determined by how long a champion held their title. While it is believed that Sam Harris
Sam Harris (singer)
Sam Harris is an American pop and musical theatre recording artist as well as a television, stage and film actor.-Singing:...
holds the record for longest championship, at 14 weeks in Season 1, Harris was actually defeated by singer Beau Williams on Harris' 14th attempt. This record is actually held by Singer Durell Coleman (1985) who won the $100,000 on Season 2 with 15 wins and no defeats.
Remake
In the wake of American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
s success, Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
hosted a new version of Star Search, which ran for two years: 2003 and 2004 on CBS, before ending up in reruns on cable channel GSN for one year from 2004 to 2005. This new version was judged by four panelists, including Ben Stein
Ben Stein
Benjamin Jeremy "Ben" Stein is an American actor, writer, lawyer, and commentator on political and economic issues. He attained early success as a speechwriter for American presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.-Personal life:She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a...
, Ahmet Zappa
Ahmet Zappa
Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa is an American musician, actor and novelist.-Early life:Ahmet was born in Los Angeles, California, the third of four children born to businesswoman Adelaide Gail Sloatman and musician Frank Zappa. Ahmet's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French descent and his...
and a rotating celebrity panelist (which in at least one case was McMahon himself). Among the winners were singer Tiffany Evans
Tiffany Evans
Tiffany Evans is an American singer and occasional actress.-2003–2006: The Beginning:Evans was born in Bronx, New York and is the seventh of 10 children born to Carol and Lonnie Evans. Before she achieved success, she and her family were living in their van for years. She got her first break on...
, comedian John Roy and singer Mark Mejia.
The revival consisted of four series. For the first series, the categories were Adult and Junior Singer, Comedy, and Modeling. In series two and three, Modeling was replaced with Dance. In the final series, the Comedy category was scrapped altogether and only the singing and dancing categories remained.
For the first three series, two new competitors faced off. The three house judges, along with the one celebrity judge, gave each contestant a score on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, making a maximum studio score 20 stars. During each commercial break, the home audience went to www.cbs.com/star to rate the competitors who just performed. Each performer could earn up to another 20 stars from the home audience. In the climactic moment before the score from the home audience was revealed, Hall would often say, "Hit me with the digits!".
When the scores were tallied, the higher scoring performer won. If the score was tied, then Hall would read off each performer's score rounded to the nearest hundredth (the at home score was initially rounded down to the nearest star, unless there was a tie). That performer would then go on to the next round of competition. The only real exception to this format during the first three series was that three people competed in the semi-final rounds, not two. After the first two series, a special, "Battle of the Best" show took place, where the two Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Comedian Grand Champions (Modeling was only the first season, and Dance had only been around for one season) were brought back to face off for an additional $100,000.
For the fourth and final series, three contestants in Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Dance were brought back to initially compete (Comedy was dropped, jokingly because Naomi gave many comics only one star). The three brought back in each category were not necessarily the Grand Champions of their series. The show scrapped the celebrity judge and had three house judges for the entire series: Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.-Personal life:She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a...
, MC Lyte
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, and Matti Leshem
Matti Leshem
Matti Phillip Leshem is founder and CEO of Protagonist, a Brand Energy company.-Early life:Born in the Belgian Congo, Leshem was raised in Jerusalem, Copenhagen and New York...
(who tried to berate contestants as if he were Simon Cowell).
As in past series, two new contestants competed. With only three judges, 15 stars was possible, and ties were broken by a majority vote between the three. This is where the former contestants came in. Initially, in each category, these three performers made up the "Winner's Circle". The winning challenger then had the chance to challenge one of the three performers in his or her respective winner's circle. The winner's circle performer then had to beat or tie the bar set by the challenger- ties were automatically given to the Winner's Circle performer. If they couldn't beat the score, they were out of the competition, and the challenger took his or her place in the Winner's Circle.
Halfway through the series, the three performers in each Winner's Circle competed against each other in a special show. The winner in each category not only received a trip home, but a free pass to the final show. From then on, there were only two people who could be challenged in each Winner's Circle. In the final show, the three people in each Winner's Circle competed against each other for $100,000. This, along with the Free Pass show, were the only two shows which re-adopted the at-home voting concept.
- The Adult Singer group was the only group to record a complete shutout. The three performers in the beginning were there in the end as well.
- The free pass was equally important in the other two groups as well. In both the Dance and Junior Singer categories, not only did the free pass save the winner from being challenged in an ever-changing Winner's Circle, but they ended up winning their group finals (Junior Singer Mark Mejia and Dancer Jon Cruz).
- Adult Singer and Series 1 champion Jake Simpson was challenged a record four times during his tenure in the Winner's Circle. He not only went a perfect 4-0, but he also won his group final. The only match he lost that entire season was the Winner's Circle Square-Off Special.
This remake lasted two years before its cancellation in April 2004.
At the same time, a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
called Star Search – Das Duell der Stars von Morgen was produced and aired in Germany, but with less success than the more popular show Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar is a German reality talent show, also commonly known by its initials DSDS. Part of the Idol franchise, it was created by English media mogul Simon Fuller as a spin-off from the British show Pop Idol, of which two series were broadcast between the years of 2001 and...
, the German version of the Idol series
Idol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
.
Notable competitors on Star Search
- AaliyahAaliyahAaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, 1989 (Singer, Actress) - Adam SandlerAdam SandlerAdam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
(Comedian) - Alanis MorissetteAlanis MorissetteAlanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, 1988 (Singer) - Alexie Agdeppa, 1991 (So you think you can dance contestant (season 7))
- Alisan PorterAlisan PorterAlisan Porter is an American actress, singer and dancer.-Life and career:Porter was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Porter is Jewish. Her maternal grandmother, whose father Joseph Klein was a prominent Worcester rabbi, ran the Charlotte Klein Dance Center in Worcester...
, 1987 (Junior Vocalist) - Anna Maria Perez de TagleAnna Maria Perez de TagleAnna Manria Francesca Enriquez Perez de Taglé is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Ashley Dewitt on Hannah Montana and Ella Pador on Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam...
- Ashley ArgotaAshley ArgotaAshley Spencer Argota is an American actress and singer. She is best known for role as Lulu in the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. She currently co-stars as Kelly Peckinpaw in Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures on Nickelodeon....
, 2003 - Beth HartBeth HartBeth Hart is an American singer who became famous with the hit , which aired during Episode 17 of the 10th and final season of Beverly Hills, 90210.Her musical influences include rock, blues and gospel.-Musical career:...
, 1993 (Female Vocalist winner) - Beyoncé 1993 (Female Singer)
- Bianca RyanBianca RyanBianca Taylor Ryan is an American singer and guitarist, who won the debut season of NBC's America's Got Talent at age 11....
, 2004 (Singer) - Bill EngvallBill EngvallWilliam Ray "Bill" Engvall, Jr. is an American comedian and actor best known for his work as a stand-up comic and as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group.-Early life:Bill Engvall was born in Galveston, Texas...
(Comedian) - Bill KaulitzBill KaulitzBill Kaulitz is a German singer, songwriter, voice actor, designer and model. He is best known for his work from 2001 to the present as the lead singer of the band Tokio Hotel....
, 2003 (lead singer of Tokio HotelTokio HotelTokio Hotel is a pop rock band from Germany, founded in 2001 by singer Bill Kaulitz, guitarist Tom Kaulitz, drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing...
; appeared on the German version of Star Search) - Billy DeanBilly DeanWilliam Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
- Billy Larson, 2004 (Young Dancer Winner)
- Bobbie BrownBobbie BrownBobbie Jean Brown, sometimes credited as Bobbie Brown-Lane, is an American actress, model, and former beauty pageant contestant...
, 1990 (Spokesmodel, 13-time winner) - Brad GarrettBrad GarrettBradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
1984 (Comedian) - Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, 1992 (Singer) - Carlos MenciaCarlos MenciaCarlos Mencia , born Ned Arnel Mencia, is a Honduran-born American comedian, writer, and actor. His style of comedy is often political and involves issues of race, culture, criminal justice, and social class...
, 1991 (Comedian) - Charles DivinsCharles DivinsCharles Divins is an American model-turned-actor who played the role of Chad Harris-Crane on the television soap opera Passions from 2002 to 2007, when he decided not to join some of the other cast members when Passions moves from NBC to DirecTV. Divins is a native of Dallas, Texas where he was...
(Male Spokesmodel winner) - Cherie Wimberly, 1993 (Spokesmodel)
- Christina AguileraChristina AguileraChristina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, 1990 (Singer) - Coors Light Twins (Diane Klimaszewski & Elaine Klimaszewski), 1987 (Teen Dance category)
- Countess VaughnCountess VaughnCountess Danielle Vaughn is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Kim Parker on the UPN television sitcom Moesha and its spin-off The Parkers.-Early life and career:...
, 1988 (Junior Vocalist Champion) - Cynthia GouwCynthia GouwCynthia Gouw is a American TV news anchor and host, an actress and model.-Television:As a TV journalist, Gouw is a 3-time Emmy Award winning reporter....
, 1988 (Spokesmodel Winner, 3 time Emmy award winning TV anchor/reporter) - Dana GouldDana GouldDana John Gould is an American comedian and comedy writer born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts. His upbringing and his extended family lent themselves to his stand-up routine, which has been seen on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central, among other places.-Career:After high school, he studied...
, 1987 (Comedian) - Dave ChappelleDave ChappelleDavid Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
(Comedian) - David ArchuletaDavid ArchuletaDavid Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
, 2003 (Junior Vocal Champion) - David RaleighDavid Raleigh-History:Born in Rochester New York, David Raleigh moved to Seattle at the age of four, and received a scholarship to attend Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. He recorded his first album in 1979 titled "Totally Psyched", a gospel release funded by an investor. The success of the album gave...
, 1990 (Singer, songwriter, piano player) - David SlaterDavid SlaterDavid Slater is an American singer.-Career:He was the Male Vocalist champion on TV's Star Search in 1987. Slater then signed a recording contract with Capitol Records and launched a country music career. He released two critically acclaimed albums on Capitol in the late 1980s entitled and . Both...
, 1987 (Male Vocalist Champion) - Dennis MillerDennis MillerDennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
(Comedian) - Destiny's ChildDestiny's ChildDestiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, 1991 (Singers as Girls Tyme) - Diana DeGarmoDiana DeGarmoDiana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
(Singer) - Drew CareyDrew CareyDrew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
1988 (Comedian) - Elisa FiorilloElisa FiorilloElisa Fiorillo is an American singer.-Career:Her father was a classical pianist, who was under the guidance of Vladimir Horowitz. Her ancestry is vast as it includes German, Italian, Irish and Cherokee...
, 1983 (Female Vocalist winner) - Garcelle BeauvaisGarcelle BeauvaisGarcelle Beauvais is a Haitian-American actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles as hotel employee Francesca "Fancy" Monroe on The WB television sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show which ran from 1996 to 2001, and as Valerie Heywood on the ABC crime drama, NYPD Blue.-Early...
1986 (Spokesmodel) - Ingo OschmannIngo OschmannIngo Oschmann is a German comedian, entertainer and stage magician who also works as a television presenter and actor...
, 2003 (Comedy champion) - J. D. Roth
- Jackie MartlingJackie MartlingJohn Coger "Jackie" Martling, Jr. is an American comedian, comedy writer and radio personality. He is best known for being a writer on The Howard Stern Show from 1983 to 2001.-Early life and career:...
(Comedian) - James BonamyJames BonamyJames Michael Bonamy is an American country music artist. He released two studio albums James Michael Bonamy (born April 29, 1972) is an American country music artist. He released two studio albums James Michael Bonamy (born April 29, 1972) is an American country music artist. He released two...
- Janel ParrishJanel ParrishJanel Meilani Parrish is an American actress, singer, Broadway performer, songwriter and pianist. She is best known for playing Jade in the 2007 film Bratz: The Movie and her recurring role as Mona Vanderwaal on the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars.-Career:Parrish first achieved fame in...
, 2003 (Singer) - Jeanie TracyJeanie TracyJeanie Tracy is a female African American R&B, Dance-pop, Hi-NRG and house singer-songwriter and actress, born in Houston, Texas and raised in Fresno, California.-Career:Growing up Tracy sang in a church choir in addition to studying opera and piano...
, 1984 (Female Vocalist Semi-Finalist) - Jenny JonesJenny Jones (presenter)Jenny Jones is a former Canadian American stand-up comedian and talk show host. She hosted The Jenny Jones Show from 1991 to 2003.-Life and career:...
(Comedian) - Jessica SierraJessica SierraJessica Ann Sierra is an American singer and was the tenth-place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol. She was the third finalist eliminated, on March 30, 2005...
(Singer) - Jessica SimpsonJessica SimpsonJessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
(Singer) - Jeremy Hudson (Dancer, Most notable as Lady GaGa's Dancer
- Joey PearsonJoey PearsonJoey Pearson is an American pop and R&B singer and actor from Hinesville, Georgia, currently lives in San Diego, California...
(Singer) - John MinnisJohn MinnisJohn Minnis is a former Republican legislator and police officer in the U.S. state of Oregon. He was a member of both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, representing eastern Multnomah County...
1992 (Singer)Longest running champion 1993 hit song "Diamond Girl" vocals - Johnnie HarrisJohnnie HarrisJohnnie Harris is an Arena Football League defensive specialist with the Philadelphia Soul. He has previously played for the Tampa Bay Storm , the Orlando Predators , and the Grand Rapids Rampage...
1993 (Singer) - Jordis UngaJordis UngaJordis Unga is an American rock singer, songwriter and performer from St. Paul, Minnesota. After years of building a cult following in Minneapolis, Unga reached international fame for her outstanding performances on the first season of the CBS television reality show Rock Star: INXS where 15...
, 2004 (Singer) - Joseph Williams (TotoToto (band)Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
lead singer from 1986 - 1988) - Josephine 'Banig' Roberto, 1989 (Singer)
- Josh StricklandJosh StricklandJoshua Strickland is an American singer and actor from Charleston, South Carolina. He attended high school at the Charleston County School of the Arts and graduated from Middleton High School in Charleston. He attended the College of Charleston, where he studied voice with Deanna McBroom...
, 2004 (Singer) - Julie McCulloughJulie McCulloughJulie Michelle McCullough is an American model, actress and stand-up comedian. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for February 1986, and played "Julie Costello" on Growing Pains until she was fired on series regular Kirk Cameron's insistence, for having posed nude in Playboy...
, 1987 (Spokesmodel) - Justin TimberlakeJustin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, 1993 (Singer, as Justin Randall) - Karen ThomasKaren ThomasKaren Thomas co-hosted The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime from the second season onwards and filled in as a guest dealer on the Bob Eubanks version of Card Sharks for a week in late 1988 while regular dealer Lacey Pemberton was on maternity leave.-External links:...
, 1986 (Spokesmodel) - Karina PasianKarina PasianKarina Pasian is an American Grammy Award nominated singer and pianist. She is currently signed to Def Jam.-Life and career:...
- Kata HayKata HayKata Hay is an American singer, songwriter and musician who was the youngest person to ever win Ed McMahon's Star Search at age five. In recent years she has used the Internet to independently promote her own music...
, 1993 (Singer, as Kata Huddleston) - Ken OberKen OberKen Ober was an American game show host, comedian, and actor.- Early life and career :Born Kenneth Oberding in Brookline, Massachusetts, he was raised in Hartford, Connecticut. Ober hosted four game shows over the course of his career. He received his break after appearing as a contestant on Star...
- Kent JamesKent JamesKent Bradley James is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and activist. He is also known as Nick Name.- 1990s :...
, 1993 (as a part of the music group Kent & the Kommotion) - Kevin James (Comedian)
- Kimberly CaldwellKimberly CaldwellKimberly Ann Caldwell is an American singer, actress, and television hostess, from Katy, Texas who was the seventh place finalist on the second season of American Idol. She used to work as an entertainment correspondent and hosted various shows on the TV Guide Network...
(5-time Junior Vocalist winner) - Lauren Ambrose, 1990
- LeAnn RimesLeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
- Lisa TuckerLisa Tucker (singer)Lisa Gabrielle Tucker is an American singer, musical theater and television actress who was the tenth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol.-Early life and career beginnings:...
, 2003 (Singer) - Lizette SantanaLizette SantanaLizette Santana , also known as Lizé, is an American recording artist, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actress.-Biography:...
(a.k.a Lizé), 1994 (Singer) - Machel MontanoMachel MontanoMachel Montano is a soca singer, record producer and songwriter based in the Trinidad and Tobago....
, 1987 (International performing and recording artist) - Marc SummersMarc SummersMarc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
- Marne Patterson, 1989 (Junior Vocalist)
- Martin LawrenceMartin LawrenceMartin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
(Comedian) - Nadia TurnerNadia TurnerNadia Turner Nadia Turner Nadia Turner (born January 11, 1977 is an American singer, songwriter, actress and radio/television personality, best known as the 8th place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol.-Before Idol:...
(Singer) - Natalie HorlerNatalie HorlerNatalie Christine Horler is an English-German singer and television presenter born in Bonn, Germany. She is known internationally as the lead singer of Eurodance/Eurotrance group Cascada. She is popular in Europe and America, as well as in several Asian countries. Cascada consists of Horler and...
, 2004 (lead singer of CascadaCascadaCascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
; appeared on the German version of Star Search) - Nick LazzariniNick LazzariniNick Lazzarini , an American dancer. He is best known as the first season winner on the Fox reality show So You Think You Can Dance. He is a trained dancer in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballet and modern dance styles.-Early life:...
, 2003 (as a part of the dance group Hot Under the Collar) - Norm MacdonaldNorm MacDonaldNorman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
(Comedian) - Pat McCurdyPat McCurdyPat McCurdy is a cabaret singer/songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He regularly tours the upper midwestern part of the United States with regular stops in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Green Bay, and Minneapolis. His shows usually consist of just him and his guitar and include improvised...
(Singer) - Phil VassarPhil VassarPhil Vassar is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw , Jo Dee Messina , Collin Raye , and Alan Jackson Phil Vassar (born May 28, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an...
, 1987 (Singer) - Q'Orianka KilcherQ'Orianka KilcherQ'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher is a U.S. actress, singer and activist. She is best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World, directed by Terrence Malick. Her second memorable film role is Princess Kaiulani in Princess Kaiulani.-Early life:Kilcher was born in Schweigmatt,...
, 2002 (Singer) - Rashaan Patterson (Singer)
- Ray RomanoRay RomanoRaymond Albert "Ray" Romano is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian, best known for his roles on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond and in the Ice Age film series. He recently starred in the TNT comedy-drama Men of a Certain Age.-Early life:Romano was born in Queens, New York to Italian...
(Comedian) - Reva RiceReva RiceReva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
(Singer) - Rissi PalmerRissi PalmerRissi Palmer is an American country music artist. Palmer debuted in 2007 with the single "Country Girl", which made her the first African-American woman to chart a country song since Dona Mason in 1987...
(Singer) - Rosie O'DonnellRosie O'DonnellRoseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
, 1984 (Comedian) - Ruben Gomez, 1986 (Junior Male Vocalist), lead singer for MenudoMenudo (band)Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
1987-1990 - Sawyer BrownSawyer BrownSawyer Brown is an American country music band founded in 1981 in Apopka, Florida, by five members of country pop singer Don King's road band: Bobby Randall and Jim Scholten , both from Midland, Michigan; Joe Smyth , Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard , and Mark Miller...
, 1983 (Vocal Group Champion) - Shanice Wilson (Singer)
- Sharon StoneSharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
, 1984 (Spokesmodel) - Shayna SteeleShayna SteeleShayna Steele is an American singer and songwriter and a Broadway stage actress. Her Broadway credits include Rent at the Nederlander Theatre, the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Foxwoods Theatre , and the original Broadway cast of Hairspray, in which she played a member of the girl group...
, 1992 (teen vocalist) - SinbadSinbad (entertainer)David Adkins better known by his professional name of Sinbad, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became well known in the 1990s from being featured on his own HBO specials, appearing on several television series, and starring in the films Necessary Roughness, Houseguest, First Kid,...
(Comedian) - Sophie Tamiko OdaSophie Tamiko OdaSophie Tamiko Oda is an American actress.-Personal life:Oda, a Japanese American, was born in San Francisco, California. She is also a professional singer and performs frequently in concerts and benefits...
(Singer) - Spensha BakerSpensha BakerSpensha Baker is an American singer from Killeen, Texas who recently released her album "Out Loud".She began her singing career as a contestant on Star Search in 2004, in a competition...
2004 (Junior Singer Finalist) - Steve OedekerkSteve OedekerkStephen Brenton "Steve" Oedekerk is an American comedian, director, editor, producer, screenwriter and actor. Oedekerk is best known for his collaborations with actor Jim Carrey and director Tom Shadyac , his series of "Thumbmation" shorts and his film Kung Pow: Enter the Fist .-Life and...
(Comedian) - Sugarcreek 1985 (Vocal Group Semi-Finalist)
- Jon "Do-Knock" CruzSuper Cr3wSuper Cr3w is a breakdance crew from Las Vegas, Nevada who won the 2nd season of America's Best Dance Crew.-Early history:Before their popularity on ABDC, Super Cr3w was formed from three different b-boy dance crews and formed a "Super Crew" of their own.-Connection with...
(Member of Super Cr3wSuper Cr3wSuper Cr3w is a breakdance crew from Las Vegas, Nevada who won the 2nd season of America's Best Dance Crew.-Early history:Before their popularity on ABDC, Super Cr3w was formed from three different b-boy dance crews and formed a "Super Crew" of their own.-Connection with...
, champions of America's Best Dance Crew Season 2) - Sutton FosterSutton FosterSutton Lenore Foster is an American actress, singer and dancer. Foster has received two Tony Awards, in 2002 for her role of Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie and in 2011 for her role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes...
, 1990 (Singer) - Symba Smith, 1991 (Spokesmodel, winner)
- Tim ChristoforeTake 5 (band)Take 5 was an American boy band from Orlando, Florida. Take 5 was one of the many groups whose formulation and promotion were due to the machinations of promoter Lou Pearlman, and all of the members had had prior experience in the entertainment industries....
(1995 Winner) - TámarTámarTámar is an American R&B singer who came to prominence through the artist, Prince. She sang the co-lead vocals on his Grammy-nominated song "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" from his 2006 album, 3121 and on backup vocals throughout the album...
, 2004 (Singer) - Tamara WalkerTamara WalkerTamara Walker is a female singer-songwriter. Walker began here career in 1999 when she signed with Curb Records. Initially, Walker recorded country music, but her due to the failure of her first singles, her album went unreleased...
, 1991 (Spokesmodel) - Tatyana AliTatyana AliTatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and R&B singer, best known for her childhood role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air...
(Singer; actress on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Taylor MasonTaylor Mason-Early life and career:The son of a radio farm broadcaster and a homemaker mother, Mason was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, and grew up in suburban Chicago. His father, Bill Mason, worked at WGN Radio and Television, a local Chicago station that featured farm news in the early mornings and every day...
(Comedian, winner) - Terri Lynn Doss (Spokesmodel)
- The BoysThe Boys (band)The Boys is an American R&B quartet composed of the four Abdulsamad brothers, Khiry , Hakeem , Tajh , and Bilal . The group started out singing in Carson, California. The group had three #1 singles on the R&B charts but never had a mainstream pop #1.-Early years:The Boys were encouraged by their...
, 1986 (Vocal Group) - The Kingpins, 1987 (Vocal Group Champion)
- TiffanyTiffany (singer)Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
, 1985 (Singer, second place finalist) - Timiney Figueroa 1990 (singer, semi-finalist)
- Todd BerryTodd Berry-External links:*...
, 1991 (Singer) - Tommy GardnerTommy GardnerThomas "Tommy" Gardner was an English professional association footballer who played as a wing half. He won two caps for the England national football team.-External links:* at the Aston Villa player database...
, 1991 (Junior Vocalist Grand Champion) - Tori Kelly (Singer)
- Tracey RossTracey RossLinda Tracey Ross , best known as Tracey Ross, is an NAACP Image Award winning actress, best known for roles on the soap operas Ryan's Hope and Passions...
, 1984 (Spokesmodel winner) - Tracie SpencerTracie SpencerTracie Monique Spencer is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, actress, and model.-Biography:She began singing by the age of three and modeling in pageant competitions at age five. Tracie performed, produced and directed her first music videos before she was ten years of age...
, 1987 (Female Vocalist Champion) - Ty HerndonTy HerndonBoyd Tyrone "Ty" Herndon is an American country music and Christian singer. Signed to Epic Records in 1995, Herndon made his debut that year with the Number One single "What Mattered Most", followed by the release of his first album, also entitled What Mattered Most...
- Tyce DiorioTyce DiorioKeith "Tyce" Diorio is an American dancer and choreographer. He is best known for his work as a choreographer and guest judge on the Fox television series So You Think You Can Dance. He has choreographed and performed with Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin...
(So You Think You Can Dance choreographer) - UsherUsher (entertainer)Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
(Singer) - Vic MignognaVic MignognaVictor Joseph "Vic" Mignogna is an American Anime Award winning voice actor and musician who has done voice work for many anime series, movies, and video games...
, 1993 (Singer) - Vickie NataleVickie NataleVickie Lynn Natale was a winner on the CBS's version of the Star Search television programme in 2003....
, 2003 (Female Vocalist winner) - The Chavan, 2003 (Male Modeling winner)
- Loni LoveLoni LoveLoni Love is an American comedian and actress. After quitting her job as an electrical engineer in 2003, Love began to pursue a career in stand up comedy...
, 2003 (Comedian, second place finalist)