Star Search Struggles to Gain Traction on Netflix
Netflix’s reboot of Star Search has faced a rocky start, failing to make a significant impact in its first week. The talent competition did not make it onto the platform’s global top 10 charts and garnered fewer than 2.3 million views for its initial episodes.
However, the show did manage to reach the top 10 in the United States, securing the fifth position, trailing behind His & Hers, Skyscraper Live, Free Bert, and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, while outpacing WWE’s Raw. It also made an appearance in South Africa’s top 10 at ninth place.
These results are likely disappointing for Netflix, which had high hopes that Star Search would mark its entry into the competitive realm of broadcast entertainment formats, standing alongside popular shows like NBC’s The Voice, Fox’s The Masked Singer, and ABC’s American Idol.
The series features notable personalities, hosted by Anthony Anderson, with a judging panel that includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chrissy Teigen, and Jelly Roll.
Launched on Tuesday, January 20, the show spans five weeks, with its second episode airing the following Wednesday.
The opening episode showcased four musical performances, with child artist Eric Adrien Williams singing The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.” He competed against Blair Kudelka, who performed “Blue,” famously covered by LeAnn Rimes. Additionally, boy band 2BYG covered *NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me,” while Australian girl group H3rizon took on Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” The French dance troupe Ladymetry also contributed a performance against Movement55.
In the second episode, Bear Bailey’s rendition of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll moved one of the judges to tears.
The show incorporated a live streaming element, allowing viewers to vote from home via remote controls or mobile devices.
Despite this interactive approach, ratings were lackluster. Netflix’s Skyscraper Live, featuring Alex Honnold’s climb of Taipei 101, secured third place on the streamer’s weekly charts with 6.2 million views.
The latest version of Star Search was initiated by actress Taraji P. Henson, who collaborated with Village Roadshow before its bankruptcy. Alongside former Village Roadshow executive Steve Mosko, Henson served as an executive producer for the project and was previously associated with an upcoming reboot of Candid Camera.
