Exciting Netflix “Star Search” Reboot Reveals Star‑Studded Additions: Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar & Chrissy Teigen
“Star Search,” the televised talent show featuring assorted singing, dancing, and comedic contestants, first captivated audiences in the 1980s and ’90s, when it was presented by the late Ed McMahon. The show had a brief reboot in the noughties, and now it’s getting another one courtesy of Netflix. The streaming service will air its first episode on Jan. 20; 12 days in advance of this premiere, it’s revealed the names of the three pop-culture icons who will comprise the show’s panel of judges.
A Diverse Trio and a Seasoned Host
One of the chosen figures for this incarnation of “Star Search” is singer-songwriter Jason Bradley DeFord, more memorably known by his professional name of Jelly Roll. Jelly Roll began his career in the early 2010s as a rapper (his first solo album, The Big Sal Story, was released in 2012), but after a decade, he shifted his output from hip-hop to country music (beginning with 2021’s Ballads of the Broken). He has released a total of ten studio albums and nine collaborative albums and received two Grammy nominations (both in 2024).
The second judge on the upcoming “Star Search” is Sarah Michelle Gellar, an actor who became an icon nearly 30 years ago for her titular role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003). Buffy Summers was one of the earliest onscreen examples of an iconic strong female protagonist; now, over five years after the show’s once-celebrated creator, Joss Whedon, was exposed for abusing her and multiple other actresses, Gellar’s importance in bringing this groundbreaking character to life has, if anything, garnered more appreciation than ever. She is also known for her roles in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997) and “Dexter: Original Sin” (2024-5).
Rounding out the trio is Chrissy Teigen, who has risen to prominence as a TV personality on “FABLife” (2015-16), “Lip Sync Battle” (2015-19), “Bring the Funny” (2019), and “Chrissy’s Court” (2020-22). The last of these may have primed her for “Star Search”: it was a comedic arbitration court show in which she played a presiding judge.
This time, the presenter of “Star Search” will be Anthony Anderson, an actor known for such films as “Kangaroo Jack” (2003) and “Hustle & Flow” (2005), and for the sitcom “All About the Andersons.” He’s also a veteran host, having held this job on multiple game shows, including “To Tell the Truth” (2016-22) and the ongoing “We Are Family,” as well as for 2024’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
A Brief Overview of What to Expect
An article from Jan. 8 on Tudum outlined what’s in store for viewers once “Star Search” premieres. Episodes will air biweekly: every Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:00 PM Pacific Time. Netflix will offer live voting, enabling real-time audience participation in the proceedings. Anderson was quoted as calling this feature “a total game-changer” that “adds a whole new layer of excitement and participation to the mix. It’s like we’re all part of the show and get to be one of the judges.”
The article also asserted that this relaunch will build on the legacy of previous “Star Search” iterations, with a broader mix of performers, including musicians, dancers, comedians, and kids’ acts, all competing on a live stage. What hasn’t changed is the emotional undercurrent that defined the show; what’s new is the immediacy… creating the kind of high-stakes momentum that can shift a performer’s career in seconds.”
Are Gellar, Teigen, and Jelly Roll prepared to handle such a fast-paced, high-pressure atmosphere? Then again, they’re not the ones with the most to win or lose from “Star Search.” This show has a history of showcasing nascent talents, from Britney Spears to Dave Chappelle. Who knows which unknown or up-and-coming stars may get their big breaks this Jan. 20 and beyond? If you learn how to vote on the show (in the article, Tudum promises that it will soon publish a guide on this process), you could become a factor in their ascension.
