A New Star Emerges

Two hours before a pivotal live event in Netflix’s journey, the CBS Radford Studio Center in LA is alive with an eclectic mix of activity. As I stroll through one expansive soundstage on a Tuesday afternoon, I hear various voices warming up for performances. I spot a guy meticulously waving a hair dryer in front of a piano, while outside, a pair dressed in sleek black leather strolls by, identified as aerialists. Somewhere in this vast rehearsal area, there’s a 74-year-old aspiring standup comic, an 11-year-old gospel singer, and even a dancing border collie.

Welcome to the wonderfully bizarre world of Star Search, which is set to kick off a five-week live show run streamed to Netflix’s massive audience of over 300 million subscribers. This reboot of a classic talent show may not ring a bell for the average Stranger Things fan, but it marks one of Netflix’s boldest programming moves to date. The platform has spent years developing the tech to stream globally while experimenting with show formats and interactive features to adapt a competition show for a social media-driven world.

Netflix has hosted major one-off events, like high-profile boxing matches, and live shows featuring popular comedians. It has produced hit series and blockbuster films, showcasing its ability to transform a forgotten show into a top contender. However, the challenge remains: can Netflix engage its audience consistently, week after week, to turn a simple talent show into a genuine star-making phenomenon?

When talent shows succeed, they become cultural milestones. Think American Idol, The Voice, or any iteration of Got Talent — these franchises are among the most beloved and enduring in entertainment. “There are formats that are simply undeniable,” says the head of unscripted programming. He views American Idol as the gold standard of the genre. “We may never see another Idol, given the gap between it and the next best show, but we can certainly explore what the next evolution looks like.”

The next evolution is unfolding in the soundstage I cautiously enter, careful not to bump into a massive pallet filled with cacti. The Star Search studio is vast, adorned with bright screens and a towering star radiating a golden glow. Three stages occupy the space, along with a central platform where celebrity judges will observe the performances. The only clues about the night’s events are a lone chair on one stage and a tall platform on another, ominously suited for dramatic falls in front of millions.

With about 90 minutes until showtime, 450 eager audience members are finally allowed to leave the parking garage where they’ve been waiting and begin to filter into the studio. Most are uncertain of what to expect, aside from the chance to spot celebrities and possibly appear on Netflix themselves. Meanwhile, the Netflix team is about to discover if they can create a superstar.

Shortly after the audience settles in, the emcee explains the show’s format, leaving many in the crowd as puzzled as I am. To clarify: Star Search combines the talent showcase of America’s Got Talent with the structure of Jeopardy! It features eight categories, including dance, stand-up, music, and magic, with four showcased in each episode. Each category has a reigning champion and a challenger aiming to dethrone them. Contestants perform, judges score them from one to four, and the highest average score propels the winner to the next episode, with a grand champion earning $500,000 in the finale.

Much of this format is drawn from the original Star Search, which debuted in 1983, created by a legendary producer known for his work on various iconic shows. His vision was to present an amateur talent show with carefully selected acts, delivered with the utmost flair. “We provided the best lighting and audio… we created a Tiffany setting,” a producer recalled. “If they didn’t perform well, that was on them, but we gave them every advantage.”

The show ran until 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and featured a remarkable lineup of future stars. Young talents like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Beyoncé graced the stage, while comedians like Adam Sandler and Dave Chappelle also competed. The structure of Star Search feels surprisingly modern, even decades later. Watching old episodes reveals a brisk pace, with no lengthy introductions or emotional backstories — just one performer after another, with McMahon quickly moving the show along.

This format means Star Search relies solely on the quality of performances. Many involved in the show emphasize that casting is the most crucial aspect of development. Unlike shows that can thrive on format alone, Star Search’s success hinges on finding genuine talent. “We’re not booking bad acts for laughs,” says a co-showrunner. “We’re searching for stars.”

This approach offers two key advantages for Netflix. First, it has broad appeal: while humor and cultural references vary widely, great singing resonates universally. “And if you’re not into singing,” the co-showrunner adds, “just wait a few minutes. We’ll have a magician for you.”

Second, Star Search operates much like a TikTok feed. “Look, a dancer! Ooh, magic! Here’s a stand-up routine! Time for a cover of your favorite song!” One of the executive producers acknowledges this parallel, noting that social media has primed audiences for this format. “You can discover someone amazing on TikTok, whether they’re a magician, comedian, or singer.”

The goal for Netflix, according to the executive producer, is to elevate the experience. They aim to draw people out of their homes and back into a vibrant setting. Many contestants already boast significant social media followings, which challenges the traditional definition of an amateur talent show. Yet, there’s still something uniquely star-making about Netflix.

The vice president of unscripted series felt confident about the show as soon as he saw the pitch. A team led by a well-known actress had been working on a reboot, and he believed it could thrive on Netflix. He proposed a twist: what if the audience could vote? In the original format, the in-studio audience occasionally helped break ties, but he envisioned the audience acting as a fourth judge, voting in real-time from home. They developed a voting system for mobile devices and various streaming platforms, testing it in other live shows. The results were promising, so during Star Search, viewers receive a prompt after each performance to rate it from one to five stars, contributing to the contestant’s overall score. Ironically, the studio audience isn’t allowed to vote; we’re instructed to keep our phones away.

As the evening unfolds, I anticipated that the live voting feature would be a hot topic. However, the cast and crew seemed more concerned about a distinctly Netflix aspect: this version of Star Search has no commercial breaks. Breaks are crucial for the cast and crew, providing time to regroup and adjust. “That’s when you figure out what’s next,” the co-showrunner explains. Without breaks, “there’s no natural rhythm anymore; it just has to keep going.”

Before the first show, the co-showrunner has been in touch with the new host, a familiar face from a popular series. “I’m in his ear, telling him, ‘You’re on live TV with no commercials. If something goes awry, own it,’” he says. “Viewers appreciate being part of the experience.” Embracing the chaos is part of live TV.

On this Tuesday evening, however, things run surprisingly smoothly. With an hour to go before the 6 PM live start, the emcee announces they’ll pre-tape the magic segment for reasons that remain unclear. (This leads to some conspiracy theories when viewers notice clues suggesting they’re seeing old footage.) Both magic acts go off without a hitch, and the host returns to practice his introduction. Then, with just three and a half minutes to air, he’s sent backstage, leaving us to wait.

At precisely 6 PM, Netflix’s iconic sound echoes through the studio, the host steps out, and the live show begins. He explains the format, engages the audience in a fun voting exercise, and kicks off the performances. The show quickly becomes a whirlwind of singers, dancers, magicians, and musical acts.

Of course, there are areas for improvement. The celebrity judges were overly kind, even when giving low scores, and they tended to talk too much. The sound mixing, especially for group performances, was inconsistent. At one point, the host appeared confused by the teleprompter, which instructed him to look in multiple directions for scoring numbers. While there were some solid performances, no clear stars emerged, and a few acts fell flat. Overall, the show ran longer than intended, stretching a supposed 60-minute runtime to 90. Still, the voting functioned well, the stream remained stable, and the audience collectively sighed in relief as confetti fell and the lights dimmed.

This was just the beginning. Seven more shows are scheduled over the next four weeks, culminating in a grand finale. Early reactions suggest Star Search hasn’t yet become a cultural sensation, but the co-showrunner understands that even Netflix can’t create a hit overnight. “We’ll run this for five weeks, build excitement, and hopefully discover the next big star,” he says. Everyone is cautious about predicting future seasons, given Netflix’s reputation for canceling projects that don’t perform. However, it’s clear the company hopes this marks the start of something special in this studio.

As we exit into the mild LA evening, the emcee’s voice booms over the crowd, instructing everyone to take their seats again. “Alright!” he announces. “We’re going to do the show again in Spanish, and then we’ll get you out of here.”