Star Search

Contestants compete in several genres of entertainment. While categories varied slightly from season to season, the seven basic categories were:

Male Vocalist Female Vocalist Junior Vocalist (seasons vary, but has been part of the show since the beginning) Vocal Group Spokesmodel Comedy Dance 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.

The rules for the Quarter and Semi Final shows are the same as above, only random draw (or alphabetical order) determines who will perform first. Note that scores are never revealed in the Quarter or Semi Finals, and only the winners are announced.

Broadcast
Syndicated 1983-1995

CBS 2003-2004

Host
Ed McMahon 1983-1985

Arsenio Hall 2003-2004

Spin-Offs
Pet Star - Pet themed version ran on Animal Planet from 2003-2005