Star Search () is a television show organised by Mediacorp to scout for Chinese language-speaking acting talent. The first season premiered in 1988 and has produced 12 installments since. The most recent twelfth season premiered in 2024.
History Star Search started out as a Singapore local talent show, initially 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, which was met with several successes where many "alumni" have embarked their career with Mediacorp after the competition, whereas certain contestants deemed better may also be awarded a contract after competition ended. In 1999, the show expanded to include regions such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guangzhou (China), then via China and across Asia towards the 2000s millennium. 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; however, when the show returned for a ninth season in 2007, the champions per gender and its international tournament format was abolished, reverting back to the traditional format while retaining international contestants till this day.
Each season of the shows had a period of hiatus of at least two years, and up to nine years between the tenth and the eleventh season. The upcoming twelfth season will premiere in 2024 after five years.
While there is no official theme music released from the first three seasons, its titular theme, "飞高梦远" was introduced starting from the fourth season in 1995, and was still used to the day. The title is composed by Iskandar Ismail and lyrics provided by veteran Chen Jiaming.
Format Auditions typically take place several months beforehand. The chosen contestants are sent for training and begin rehearsing. Finalists are usually mentored by veteran Mediacorp artists. There are different segments to test the contestant in several areas, as scores are weighed and factor towards it to determine the result. Examples such as acting out on a skit featuring certain artists; while it is scripted, the artists may improvise to test the contestant's ability to do so; a Q&A segment where contestants are tested on their oratorical skills through a randomly chosen question; a performance segment whereas contestants performed a special item (such as a drama skit) and judged based on their charisma, confidence and ability to perform under pressure; and appearance such as First impression, fashion and talent performances besides acting. Between 1999 and 2003, televoting are also applied whereas contestants are also tested on popularity as well; televoting reappeared in 2007 but only through a fan-based award, and did not return in 2010 since.
They are judged by a panel consisting of both local and foreign celebrities such as Anita Mui, Chow Yun-fat, Alfred Cheung, Andy Lau, Stephen Fung, Simon Yam, Carina Lau, Raymond Lam and Sandra Ng, and since the 1990s, former alumnus, such as the first season winner Zoe Tay also accompanied as a judge, a mentor or an advisor, depending on the season.
Between seasons four and eight, in corporation with international contestant's participating since then, eliminations applied based on gender and that one winner from each gender will be decided. However, beginning on the ninth season, the gender-based category format was scrapped and that any contestants regardless of gender can win and become the final three for the season.
Depending on season, each winner (and up to third place) would be awarded a full-time contract with Mediacorp besides other prizes (such as contingent and character awards), though other finalists deemed suitable enough are often given contracts as well.
Past winners 1988ChampionZoe Tay1st Runner upAileen Tan2nd Runner upJacqueline LimMost PhotogenicAileen Tan1990ChampionChew Chor Meng1st Runner upMargaret Lee2nd Runner upRayson TanMost PhotogenicMargaret LeeMost Charismatic 最有性格新秀Cassandra See 薛素珊1993ChampionIvy Lee1st Runner upLina Ng2nd Runner upEugenia Lee 李月仪Most PhotogenicIvy Lee1995Female ChampionJacelyn TayMale ChampionIx ShenFemale 1st Runner upZiozio Lim 林倩萍Male 1st Runner upChristopher LeeFemale 2nd Runner upPhyllis QuekMale 2nd Runner upAric Ho 何志健Most Photogenic Ziozio Lim 林倩萍 1997Female ChampionFlorence TanMale ChampionJerry ChangFemale 1st Runner upAmanda Ho 何芸珊Male 1st Runner upSean Tang 陈思恩Female 2nd Runner upMichelle Liu 刘铃铃Male 2nd Runner upAndi Lim 林伟文Most PhotogenicFlorence Tan 陈秀丽1999Overall Female ChampionVivian LaiOverall Male ChampionJeff WangOverall Most PhotogenicSamantha Toh 卓淑怡Overall Most CharismaticJeff WangSingapore Female ChampionVivian LaiSingapore Female 1st Runner UpCarol Tham 谭淑君Singapore Female 2nd Runner UpNg Sue Ling 黄淑玲Singapore Male ChampionNick ShenSingapore Male 1st Runner UpOh Say Tuck 胡世达Singapore Male 2nd Runner UpRaymond Tham 陈俊光Malaysia Female ChampionSamantha Toh 卓淑怡Malaysia Male ChampionDixon Loo 罗斯益Hong Kong Female ChampionPink Lai 黎洁屏Hong Kong Male ChampionFu Xiaoming 付小明Taiwan Female ChampionLiu Xiaomei 刘晓梅Taiwan Male ChampionJeff WangGuangdong (China) Female ChampionElaine Liu 刘凌Guangdong (China) Male ChampionQi Yuwu2001Overall Female ChampionMichelle Liow廖莹莹Overall Male ChampionShi Bin施斌Singapore Female ChampionJoey Ng黄玉霞Singapore Female 1st Runner UpJeslynn Wong黄玮珮Singapore Male ChampionAlan TernSingapore Male 1st Runner UpPaerin Choa蔡昊哲Malaysia Female ChampionMichelle Liow廖莹莹Malaysia Female 1st Runner UpLim Chia Chia林佳佳Malaysia Male ChampionGary YapMalaysia Male 1st Runner UpZhang Yao DongShanghai Female WinnersSun Li, Le Yao 乐瑶Shanghai Male WinnersHu Wensui, Shi Bin 施斌2003Overall Female ChampionFelicia ChinOverall Male ChampionCui PengOverall Mr CharismaLi Qiyang李企扬Overall Ms VitalityFelicia ChinOverall Best Singing & Dancing PotentialTai Chien Yuen戴倩芸Overall Best Acting PotentialFelicia ChinOverall Best Hosting PotentialCui PengSingapore Female WinnersCheryl Chin, Felicia Chin Singapore Male WinnersHuang Shiyu, Li Qiyang黄仕昱、李企扬Malaysia Female ChampionChua Poi Suan蔡佩璇Malaysia Female 1st Runner UpTai Chien Yuen戴倩芸Malaysia Male ChampionNg Hong Shen伍洪升Malaysia Male 1st Runner UpLing Hung Liong林训良China Female WinnersZhang Lingling, Yang Han张琳琳、杨晗China Male WinnersJames Lee, Cui Peng李健逊、崔鹏2007ChampionAndie Chen1st Runner upYeo Wee Lie Jerry2nd Runner upPan Hung Hsi Celia潘虹熹FinalistTan Sia Chong Jackson陈侠中FinalistYa HuiFinalistDesmond TanMs TelegenicKoh Yah Hwee许雅慧Mr PersonalityTan Sia Chong Jackson陈侠中Most PopularYeo Wee Lie Jerry杨伟烈2010ChampionJeffrey Xu1st Runner upPeggy Lin林佩琪2nd Runner upAdeline Lim林赞银3rd Runner upRomeo Tan4th Runner upSora MaGrand Finalist (Not in any order)Vivi Hu胡薇Grand Finalist (Not in any order)Jeff Lim林志杰Grand Finalist (Not in any order)James SeahGrand Finalist (Not in any order)YiLynn Teh郑伊琳Grand Finalist (Not in any order)Darryl Yong2019ChampionZhang Zetong1st Runner upHerman Keh2nd Runner upYe Jiayun叶佳昀Samsung's Galaxy Leap Forward StarVanessa Ho何鎂琪2024ChampionTiffany Ho1st Runner upGladys Bay 马䲰娗2nd Runner upJona Chung 仲伟杰3rd Runner upChua Seng Jin 蔡承峻4th Runner upMarcus Sim 沈伟洋
Notable past contestants
Chen Hanwei (1988) Peter Yu (1990) Bernard Tan (1990) Ann Kok (1993) Yao Wenlong (1993) Collin Chee (1993) Carole Lin (1995) Brandon Wong (1995) Yvonne Lim (1997) Vincent Ng (1997) Deborah Sim (1997) Constance Song (1997) Joey Swee (1997) Evelyn Tan (1997) Apple Hong (1999) Priscelia Chan (1999) Zen Chong (2001) Melvin Sia (2003) Tracy Lee (2007) James Seah (2010)
References
External links Star Search 2007 - Official Website Star Search 2007 - Mediacorp English Forum Star Search 2007 - Mediacorp Chinese Forum