Star Search (U.S. Syndicated Series)

Star Search is an American television show that was produced T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced by 2929 Productions from 2003 to 2004. On both versions of the show, contestants competed in several genres of entertainment. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre (now known as Nickelodeon on Sunset), at 6230 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and later at the Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. In 2014, it was announced that Star Search would return with the 1983-95 rules. Frankie Grande was named host of the series. The current version is a Lady Luck Production, in association with 2929 Productions and CBS Productions. The series is distributed by the DuMont Syndication Wing.

Format
The 9 basic categories are: 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.
 * 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
 * Comedy
 * Dance

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, Frankie 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, depending 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.

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 no record contract was guaranteed.