Netflix Star Search Reboot Launches With Live Voting

After more than two decades off the air, Star Search has returned to the national spotlight—this time, with a high-tech twist and a brand-new home on Netflix. The legendary talent competition, which once helped launch the careers of icons like LeAnn Rimes and Justin Timberlake, made its live-streaming debut on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Anthony Anderson and judged by an eclectic panel—country star Jelly Roll, pop-culture mainstay Sarah Michelle Gellar, and model-turned-television personality Chrissy Teigen—the reboot aims to blend nostalgia with the excitement of real-time audience participation.

This isn’t your parents’ Star Search. For the first time in the show’s history, viewers at home can cast their votes live, right from their TV remotes, as the action unfolds. Each week, a fresh roster of singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and variety acts take the stage in front of a buzzing studio audience, hoping to impress both the judges and the millions watching from their living rooms. The stakes? A shot at stardom—and, if the opening night is any indication, a chance to be part of a cultural phenomenon reborn for a new era.

According to Tudum, the premiere episode wasted no time getting down to business, featuring head-to-head face-offs in four categories: Junior Music, Dance, Variety, and Music Group. The format is simple but effective: two acts in each category go toe-to-toe, the judges and viewers score their performances, and only one act per category advances to the next round. The results, revealed live, add a palpable tension that’s hard to replicate in pre-taped reality competitions.

The Junior Music category set the tone for the night, pitting 11-year-old Broadway veteran Eric Adrien Williams against 10-year-old country prodigy Blair Kudelka. Williams, already a seasoned stage performer despite his age, wowed the judges with a soulful rendition of The Jackson 5’s "I’ll Be There." Jelly Roll was effusive, calling Eric “a straight-up gift from God.” Sarah Michelle Gellar, ever the perfectionist, noted that he started off a bit nervous but encouraged him to "fully let loose if the audience votes him through to the next round." The numbers told the story: Williams earned a judges’ average of 4.3 stars and a viewers’ score of 3.8, for a total of 4.08 stars. Blair Kudelka, who brought her own brand of country charm with a performance of "Blue" (famously covered by LeAnn Rimes), impressed with her mature vocal control, but nerves seemed to get the better of her at times. With a total score of 4.00, she narrowly missed out, sending Williams through to next week’s show (as reported by TVLine).

The Dance category followed, with Movement 55 and Ladymetry each bringing their unique flair to the stage. Movement 55, led by a world-record holder, unleashed a high-energy routine that had the judges—and the crowd—on their feet. Gellar, herself a dance mom (who knew?), praised their "magical synchronicity." Jelly Roll, ever self-deprecating, joked, "I just got skinny enough to kind of move myself, and I’m still fat!" Movement 55 took the win with a total score of 3.6 stars, edging out the Parisian group Ladymetry, whose hypnotic geometric choreography garnered a total of 3.4 stars. Chrissy Teigen summed up the audience’s awe, telling Ladymetry she was "blown away" and couldn’t imagine pulling off such precision herself.

The Variety showdown was a battle of wits and wonder between magicians TJ Salta and Fernando Velasco. Salta, a 24-year-old Las Vegas headliner, performed a complex routine involving audience participation, math, and a bit of mind reading. Gellar confessed, “I don’t understand anything that is happening!”—a sentiment likely shared by many at home. Salta’s blend of street charisma and sleight of hand earned him a total score of 4.1 stars, thanks in part to a strong 4.2 from viewers. Velasco, meanwhile, delivered a classic illusion with a dramatic 16-foot drop and a mysterious teleportation trick. Host Anthony Anderson, ever the comic, warned, "I’m from Compton!" after Velasco’s surprise appearance. Ultimately, Salta advanced, proving that a little razzle-dazzle still goes a long way.

The final face-off of the night, the Music Group category, showcased two vocal acts: the male R&B quartet 2BYG and the Filipina-Australian girl group H3rizon. 2BYG delivered an R&B take on *NSYNC’s "It’s Gonna Be Me," but despite tight harmonies in places, their choreography left something to be desired. H3rizon, on the other hand, took the stage with a polished, high-energy performance of Sabrina Carpenter’s "Espresso." Each member shone in her own right, and the group’s self-created choreography set them apart. The judges awarded H3rizon a 4.3, viewers gave them 3.6, and their total of 3.9 stars secured their spot in the next round. As TVLine put it, "Not only did H3rizon crush this first performance, but we expect big things out of them this season."

But the show isn’t just about competition; it’s also about personality. The chemistry among the new judging panel surprised many skeptics. Chrissy Teigen, known for her playful banter, brought unexpected insight. Gellar quickly established herself as the toughest to impress, offering pointed—but fair—critiques and "low-ish scores." Jelly Roll provided comic relief and authenticity, at one point admitting, "I’m so nervous right now, I think I gotta poop." (Thankfully, no follow-up was shown.)

Beyond the headline acts, the premiere also introduced a diverse slate of talent for future episodes. There’s the international dance collective Ladymetry, the daring aerial duo Duo Vespertilio, viral "gas station singer" Bear Bailey, junior dance troupe The Force, 14-year-old magician Harry Merlin Piper, musical comedian JR De Guzman, and the fearless comedian Susan Rice, whose "no filter" approach promises to shake things up. And let’s not forget the dog-dancing duo Macy and Tempo, who blend athletic tricks with sheer joy.

With live voting now a core feature, the power truly lies with the audience. Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, viewers can tune in, cast their votes, and help shape the next generation of stars. The season will build toward a grand finale on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, where the ultimate winners will be crowned.

As TVLine pointed out, Star Search faces stiff competition in a crowded field of talent shows, from American Idol and The Voice to America’s Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance. But with its live format, interactive voting, and mix of nostalgia and novelty, Netflix’s reboot just might carve out a new place in the pop culture landscape. Whether it can recapture the magic of its heyday is up to the viewers—and if night one is any indication, they’re more than ready to play their part.

With fresh faces, real-time drama, and a format built for the streaming age, Star Search is back, and it’s anyone’s game. Tune in, vote, and maybe—just maybe—witness the birth of the next big star.