Star Search (Singaporean TV series)

Star Search 才华横溢出新秀
Theme music composer	Chen Jia Ming and Iskandar Ismail
Country of origin	Singapore
No. of seasons	10
Release
Original network	MediaCorp Channel 8
Original release	1988 – 2010

Star Search (Chinese: 才华横溢出新秀; pinyin: Cai Hua Heng Yi Chu Xing Xiu) was a television show from 1988 to 2010 organised by MediaCorp TV Channel 8 to scout for Chinese language-speaking talent.

Star Search started out as a Singapore local talent show, restricted to residents of Singapore. After the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation discontinued its drama training courses in the early 1990s, Star Search became one of Channel 8's main sources to scout for talent. In 1999, the show expanded to include regions such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guangzhou (China). From 1999 to 2003, the show took the format of a knockout competition where the male and female champions and first runners-up from each country will go to Singapore compete for the overall champion prize in their respective genders.

Back after a four-year hiatus and into its 9th installment, Star Search 2007 marks the return of the mother of talent search programs in Singapore. Many of its "alumni" have gone on to have successful careers in showbiz with MediaCorp and elsewhere.

Star Search returned for its 10th installment in 2010.

Auditions typically take place several months beforehand. The chosen contestants are sent for training and begin rehearsing. Finalists are usually mentored by veteran MediaCorp artistes. There are different segments to test the contestant in several areas. In the acting segment the contestant acts out a skit prepared beforehand, which often features a current MediaCorp artiste. While it is scripted, the artiste may ad lib to test the contestant's ability to make-do. In the Q & A segment, contestants are tested on their oratorical skills by answering a randomly chosen question on the spot. In the performance segment, each contestant is to perform a special item and are judged on their charisma, confidence and ability to perform under pressure.

They are judged a professional panel consisting of both local and foreign celebrities. Past judges have included Anita Mui, Chow Yun-fat, Alfred Cheung and Andy Lau.

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