Star Search Is Back on Netflix With a Major Interactive Twist
Netflix has revived the iconic talent competition Star Search with a bold new format: a live five-week event where audiences actively participate in determining winners through real-time voting. The reimagined show, which premiered on January 20, 2026, marks the return of the legendary program that originally launched the careers of superstars like Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah, and Britney Spears.
Format and Hosting
The revived Star Search is hosted by Anthony Anderson and features an all-star judging panel composed of Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen. Each episode showcases emerging performers competing across diverse categories including music, dance, variety, comedy, magic, and a junior category.
The most significant innovation in this edition is the interactive voting system. Rather than judges alone determining outcomes, Netflix members can vote in real-time during each live episode using their remotes or smartphones, directly influencing which contestants advance and which are eliminated.
How to Vote
Voting during Star Search live episodes is available on compatible devices including Smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku boxes, and the Netflix mobile app for iOS and Android. Important considerations for participants include:
- Viewers must watch the episode live; pausing, rewinding, or joining late may result in missing voting windows
- Votes are submitted on a 1-5 star scale for each performance
- Only one vote per Netflix profile per performance is allowed
- Votes are final and cannot be changed once submitted
- Multiple voting phases occur throughout each broadcast
Why This Format Matters
The new emphasis on audience participation elevates the stakes compared to traditional talent competitions, creating a more democratic approach to talent discovery. This approach aligns with Netflix’s broader strategy of producing interactive live content that engages subscribers in real-time decision-making, differentiating the platform in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape.