ARTICLES
Star Search
Casting Exposes The Latest Internet Frauds & Scams
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Jonathan Parker - CEO, Star Search Casting, Inc
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 17, 2007 –
HOLLYWOOD
– As the number of scams targeting aspiring actors, singers,
dancers and models escalate, and scammers become more sophisticated in
their methods, it can be tricky to identify the difference between a
scam and a legitimate opportunity. In response to the growing number of
internet scam victims, Star Search Casting ( www.StarSearchCasting.com
), in addition to becoming the number one casting website, has also
become the leading provider of up-to-date information on the latest
industry scams. Star Search Casting educates users on how to spot a
scam; actively monitors all site activity to prevent members from
becoming the victim of popular internet scams; and encourages members
to report suspicious activities and warn others if they’ve
uncovered a scam.
“Our members use our site not only because they know
they’ll get access to valuable casting opportunities, but
also
because they know our website is a safe environment that’s
actively monitored to prevent scammers from taking advantage of
them,” says Jonathan Parker, CEO of Star Search Casting.
“In addition to making sure that the site is safe, we also
try to
educate our members on how to spot a scam. Many internet users think
that if a site or service charges money that it’s
automatically a
scam, but this is one of the most misleading pieces of advice
circulating the web. More accurately, if the site or service asks for
money but only accepts cash or money orders, that’s an
immediate
red flag.”
The staff at Star Search Casting is very knowledgeable of scamming
trends and it’s this knowledge that helps to keep the site
and
its members safe. Star Search Casting staff members regularly and
routinely updates its members on the latest industry scams. When
members log in to their website, the Entertainment Scam Alert section
provides instant updates on the most recent scammer activity targeting
aspiring actors, dancers, models and actors. Additionally Star Search
Casting staff members post information about these scams in the site's
forums to make sure members are informed and aware of potential scams.
Many of these posts occur within 24-48 hours of the scam’s
first
appearance on the internet.
Star Search Casting has always taken vast measures to ensure the safety
of its site. It’s the only casting site that is both Hacker
Safe
and a member of the Better Business Bureau Online Reliability Program.
In response to escalating internet scams, the staff at Star Search
Casting monitors all of the messages on the site regularly to ensure
the safety of its members. Additionally when members access their
messages, Star Search Casting provides their members with an option at
the top of each message to flag the message if they encounter spam or
abuse.
Star Search Casting members also work to keep the site safe, and to
keep fellow members from falling victim to internet scams. Star Search
Casting members are encouraged to post information about scams in the
site’s forums if they encounter a scam or have become the
victim
of a scam. The forums are also a great way for members to learn more
information about how to spot and avoid popular scams & frauds.
All of these measures combined help to combat over 90% of scam attempts
on the Star Search Casting website. For more information on the latest
entertainment industry related scams, log on to
http://www.starsearchcasting.com visit the online community for
up-to-date, comprehensive information, tools and tips on how to avoid
and spot scams today.
# # #
Star Search Casting ( http://www.StarSearchCasting.com ) was one of the
very first casting sites on the web and has longevity and experience in
the online casting business that very few other sites can claim.
Founded in 1998 by Jonathan Parker, an entrepreneur and entertainment
industry executive, SSC now has a global reach, having grown to be one
of the largest online sites of its kind with over 234,000 members.
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Entertainment Scams, Online Scam, Fraud, Scammers, Hollywood,
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Directors, Auditions, Actors Models |
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Star Search was a television show that was produced from 1983 to 1995 and hosted by Ed McMahon. A relaunch was produced in 2002 - 2004. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and later at the Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.Contents
[hide]
• 1 Rules of original Star Search
• 2 Remake
• 3 Selected Star Search Winners
• 4 Notable competitors on Star Search
• 5 External links
[edit] Rules of original Star Search
On both the T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment and 2929 Productions version of the show, contestants competed in several genres of entertainment. While categories varied slightly from season to season, the six basic categories were:
• Male Vocalist
• Female Vocalist
• Junior Vocalist (removed in 1986, returned in 1987)
• Vocal Group
• Spokesmodel
• Comedy
Potential contestants audition to be on the show. If selected, they will compete. In each category, two people compete, a champion and a challenger. The challenger gets the advantage of performing their act first, the champion performs their act second.
All acts are judged by a panel of four judges, each judge can award an act from one to four stars (later changed to five stars). Once both acts are complete, Ed reveals the scores, best average wins. If there is a tie, a studio audience vote breaks the tie in which the results are revealed at the end of the show.
Any performer must win at least several shows in a row, dependent on the number of shows left in the season, to earn an entry into the next round of the competition; usually this was three or four wins in a row. In later seasons, three match winners were automatically retired. In this case, two new performers compete in that category the following week.
The rules for the Quarter and Semi Final shows are the same as above, only random draw (or alphabetical order) determines who will perform first. Note that scores are never revealed in the Quarter or Semi Finals, and only the winners are announced.
The judges are removed for the Championship show, and the studio audience votes for the winners. Winners of Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Group, and Comedy are awarded $100,000 but unlike American Idol, no record contract was guaranteed. Many Star Search winners from the early seasons secured recording contracts within a few weeks of the end of the competition - first season vocal group winner Sawyer Brown, first season male vocalist champion Sam Harris and second season male vocalist champion Durell Coleman were the first three, and were later followed by second season vocal group winner Limited Warranty, third season female vocalist champion Linda Eder, second season junior male vocalist champion Jimmy Salvemini, whose album was produced by Luther Vandross, and first season junior female vocalist runner-up Tiffany, who despite not winning her competition (she lost to Melissa Moultree} was the first Star Search alumnus to land a number one hit, I Think We're Alone Now, in 1988 - on Star Search she performed as Tiffany Renee. The winner of the Spokesmodel category is awarded $100,000 and a contract with a well-known modeling agency. Winner of Junior Vocalist wins $25,000.
In early seasons, before the three match limit rule was adopted, the grand champions were determined by how long a champion held their title. While it is believed that Sam Harris holds the record for longest championship, at 14 weeks in Season 1, Harris was actually defeated by singer Beau Williams on Harris' 14th attempt. This record is actually held by Singer Durell Coleman (1985) who won the $100,000 on Season 2 with 15 wins and no defeats.
[edit] Remake
In the wake of American Idol's success, Arsenio Hall hosted a new version of Star Search, which ran for two years: 2003 and 2004 on CBS, before ending up in reruns on cable channel GSN for one year from 2004 to 2005. This new version was judged by several people, including Ben Stein and Naomi Judd. Among the winners were singer Tiffany Evans, comedian Loni Love and singer David Archuleta.
The revival consisted of four series. For the first series, the categories were Adult and Junior Singer, Comedy, and Modeling. In series two and three, Modeling was replaced with Dance. In the final series, the Comedy category was scrapped altogether and only the singing and dancing categories remained.
For the first three series, two new competitors faced off. The three house judges, along with the one celebrity judge, gave each contestant a score on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, making a maximum studio score 20 stars. During each commercial break, the home audience went to www.cbs.com/star to rate the competitors who just performed. Each performer could earn up to another 20 stars from the home audience. In the climactic moment before the score from the home audience was revealed, Hall would often say, "Hit me with the digits!".
When the scores were tallied, the higher scoring performer won. If the score was tied, then Hall would read off each performer's score rounded to the nearest hundredth (the at home score was initially rounded down to the nearest star, unless there was a tie). That performer would then go on to the next round of competition. The only real exception to this format during the first three series was that three people competed in the semi-final rounds, not two. After the first two series, a special, "Battle of the Best" show took place, where the two Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Comedian Grand Champions (Modeling was only the first season, and Dance had only been around for one season) were brought back to face off for an additional $100,000.
For the fourth and final series, three contestants in Adult Singer, Junior Singer, and Dance were brought back to initially compete (Comedy was dropped, jokingly because Naomi gave many comics only one star). The three brought back in each category were not necessarily the Grand Champions of their series. The show scrapped the celebrity judge and had three house judges for the entire series: Naomi Judd, MC Lyte, and Matti Leshem (who tried to berate contestants as if he were Simon Cowell).
As in past series, two new contestants competed. With only three judges, 15 stars was possible, and ties were broken by a majority vote between the three. This is where the former contestants came in. Initially, in each category, these three performers made up the "Winner's Circle". The winning challenger then had the chance to challenge one of the three performers in his or her respective winner's circle. The winner's circle performer then had to beat or tie the bar set by the challenger- ties were automatically given to the Winner's Circle performer. If they couldn't beat the score, they were out of the competition, and the challenger took his or her place in the Winner's Circle.
Halfway through the series, the three performers in each Winner's Circle competed against each other in a special show. The winner in each category not only received a trip home, but a free pass to the final show. From then on, there were only two people who could be challenged in each Winner's Circle. In the final show, the three people in each Winner's Circle competed against each other for $100,000. This, along with the Free Pass show, were the only two shows which re-adopted the at-home voting concept.
• The Adult Singer group was the only group to record a complete shutout. The three performers in the beginning were there in the end as well.
• The free pass was equally important in the other two groups as well. In both the Dance and Junior Singer categories, not only did the free pass save the winner from being challenged in an ever-changing Winner's Circle, but they ended up winning their group finals (Junior Singer Mark Mejia and Dancer Jon Cruz).
• Adult Singer and Series 1 champion Jake Simpson was challenged a record four times during his tenure in the Winner's Circle. He not only went a perfect 4-0, but he also won his group final. The only match he lost that entire season was the Winner's Circle Square-Off Special.
This remake lasted two years before its cancellation in April 2004.
[edit] Selected Star Search Winners
• 1983 Sam Harris (Male Vocalist Champion, Season 1)
• 1985 Durell Coleman (Male Vocalist Champion, Season 2)
• 1986 Kenny James (Male Vocalist Champion)
• 1986 Peggi Blu (Female Vocalist Champion)
• 1986 Jenny Jones (Comedy Champion)
• 1987 David Slater (Male Vocalist Champion)
• 1987 Tracie Spencer (Female Vocalist Champion)
• 1988 Victor Trent Cook (Male Vocalist Champion)
• 1988 Linda Eder (Female Vocalist Champion)
• 1989 Josephine "Banig" Roberto (Female Vocalist Champion)
• 1991 Tommy Gardner (Junior Vocalist Grand Champion)
• 1991 4 Boys And A Babe (Junior Dance Champions)
• 1993 Tom Burns (Male Vocalist Champion, Season 10)
• 1995 Colleen Ford (Junior Vocalist Champion, Season 12)
• 2003 Tiffany Evans (Junior Division Grand Champion (becoming the only performer in Star Search history to receive perfect five scores on all of her appearances).
[edit] Notable competitors on Star Search
• Tommy Gardner, 1991 (Junior Vocalist Grand Champion for the year)
• Bill Kaulitz, 2003 (lead singer of Tokio Hotel; appeared on the German version of Star Search)
• Ingo Oschmann, (2003 Comedy champion)
• Joseph Williams (Toto lead singer from 1986 - 1988)
• Josh Strickland, 2004
• Alanis Morissette (singer)
• Aaliyah, 1990 (singer)
• Josephine Banig Roberto, 1989 (Singer)
• Christina Aguilera, 1990 (Singer)
• David Archuleta, 2003 (Junior Vocal Champion)
• Spensha Baker 2004 (Junior Singer Finalist)
• James Bonamy
• Percy Richard (Vocalist of the Year 1993)
• Destiny's Child, 1991 (Singers as Girls Tyme)
• Támar, 2004
• Drew Carey (Game show host for "The Price is Right")
• Jon "Do-Knock" Cruz (Member of Super Cr3w, champions of America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 )
• Colleen Ford, 1995 (Junior Vocal Champion)
• Billy Dean
• Brian Page & The Next 5 Time Vocal Group Winner
• Diana DeGarmo
• Charles Divins
• Kim J Hunter, 1989 (Dancer)
• April Fulladosa/Gislason, 1986 (Female vocalist)
• Elisa Fiorillo
• Brad Garrett (Comedian)
• Dana Gould, 1987
• Ruben Gomez, 1986 (Junior Male Vocalist) lead singer for Menudo 1987-1990
• Sam Harris
• Durell Coleman
• Beth Hart
• Keith Tyce Diorio (So You Think You Can Dance choreographer)
• Jessica Simpson (Singer)
• Ty Herndon
• Kent James, 1993 (as a part of the music group Kent & the Kommotion)
• Colleen Ford, 1995 (Singer)
• Sutton Foster, 1990 (Singer)
• Kevin James
• Coors Light Twins (Diane Klimaszewski & Elaine Klimaszewski), 1987 (teen dancers)
• Nick Lazzarini, 2003 (as a part of the dance group Hot Under the Collar)
• Julie McCullough, 1987 (Spokesmodel)
• Carlos Mencia, 1991 (Comedian)
• Vic Mignogna, 1993
• Dennis Miller
• Vickie Natale, 2003
• Rosie O'Donnell, 1984 (Comedian)
• Sophie Tamiko Oda
• Ken Ober
• Steve Oedekerk
• Q'Orianka Kilcher
• Rashaan Patterson
• Joey Pearson
• Alisan Porter
• LeAnn Rimes
• Ray Romano
• Tracee Ellis Ross
• J. D. Roth
• Sawyer Brown
• Sinbad
• David Slater
• Britney Spears, 1992 (Singer)
• Tracie Spencer
• Sharon Stone, 1984 (Spokesmodel)
• Marc Summers
• Eboni, 1995 (Vocal Group/Band champion)
• Justin Timberlake, 1991 (Singer, as Justin Randall)
• Bill Engvall
• Tiffany, 1985 (Singer, second place finalist)
• Jessica Tivens, 1988 (Singer)
• Lisa Tucker
• Phil Vassar, 1987, (Singer, finalist)
• Countess Vaughn
• Dave Chappelle (Comedian)
• Bianca Ryan, 2005 (Singer)
• Anna Maria Perez de Tagle
• Nadia Turner
• Rissi Palmer
• Rome Romanne
• Karina Pasian
• Jessica Sierra
• Jordis Unga
• Kimberly Caldwell
• Reva Rice
• Usher
• Janel Parrish, 2003 (singer)
© http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Search
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Plot
A new version of the popular syndicated talent show of the 1980s, CBS'
Star Search was hosted by former late-night talk show emcee Arsenio
Hall, leading one commentator to quip that Hall had "progressed" from
being the black Johnny Carson to the black Ed McMahon. Telecast live,
each episode featured a collection of would-be stars, competing in four
different categories: adult singer, junior singer, comic, and
supermodel. Four celebrity judges determined who among the aspirants
would be invited to continue competing on subsequent shows, with a
100,000-dollar grand prize going to the winner on the final episode of
the season. This Star Search revival premiered on January 8, 2003. ~
Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
• Arsenio Hall - Host
Credit
Andrew Golder - Executive Producer
Similar TV Series
American Idol: Season 01
http://www.entertainyourbrain.com/starsearchrev.htm
© http://www.answers.com/topic/star-search
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"Star Search" Review
By Shawn McKenzie 01/13/2003
When FOX’s “American Idol” became a monster hit last summer, it made sense to copy it, at least from a network development position. What would be the easiest way to copy it? Bring back the show that “American Idol” sort-of copied itself…“Star Search!”“Star Search” ran in syndication from 1983 to 1995. It was hosted by Ed McMahon, and it launched the careers of Britney Spears, Drew Carey, Rosie O'Donnell, Dennis Miller, Sinbad, Christina Aguilera, Ray Romano, Martin Lawrence, Alanis Morissette, LeAnn Rimes, country-rock group Sawyer Brown, and 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake. Arsenio Hall hosts the new CBS version. There are four categories: Junior Singer, Model, Comedian, and Adult Singer. Two contestants in each category go up against each other, and they are given a one to five star rating by five judges. The first three are always the same judges. They consist of Naomi Judd, Ben Stein, and Carol Leifer. The fourth judge is a special guest celebrity judge. On the first two shows, the special guest judges were Chaka Khan and Jack Osbourne. The fifth judge is the home audience. After both competitors perform in each category, the judges give their rating and Hall takes the show to commercial. That is when the home audience can log in to the show’s web site and give their rating. The winner in each category will go onto the semi-finals, and then the finals. The finale will be on February 6.
Even though the original “Star Search” was the template for “American Idol,” the FOX show had something extra that neither version of “Star Search” has…Simon Cowell. Don’t get me wrong, I think Kelly Clarkson is talented, and if they ever release her album I’ll probably pick it up, but Cowell was the star of that show. His brutally honest comments to the competitors made the show fun to watch. All of the celebrity judges’ comments on “Star Search” are a little too nice. It’s like they picked four Paula Abduls.
I do like the angle of having the different categories and the instant judging. It might cut down on the water cooler discussions that “American Idol” created with its “Survivor”-style elimination approach, but it is satisfying. I know it is a carry-over from the original version, but I like the addition of the Comedian and Model categories. I do wonder if all of these singers and comedians have to be soloists, or can they be a music group and/or comedy troupe.
I will watch “Star Search” until the end, but nothing in this version is all that exciting. Hall is actually a more entertaining host than McMahon (and certainly better than “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman), but the judges are a little boring. I am curious if we will see the next Britney or Rosie come from this show though.
Ratings System:
DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!
Try
to catch this show every week...
If a better show is on, tape this one...
If nothing else is on, maybe this will be good...
If this show is on, change the channel immediately!
© http://www.cbs.com/primetime/star_search/
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CBS 'Star Search' wins timeslot,
premieres to strong ratings
By Steve Rogers,
01/09/2003
CBS's premiere of "Star Search," hosted by Arsenio Hall, won
its
Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM) time period in viewers, households and key
demographics, according to final National Nielsen ratings for Jan. 8.
"Star Search" (8.5/14, 13.84m) was first in its time period in
households, viewers, adults 18-34 (4.8/14), adults 18-49 (5.1/14) and
adults 25-54 (5.3/13). This marks the first time CBS has won the time
period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34 with regularly
scheduled programming this season.
"Star Search" is CBS's highest rated regularly scheduled program in this time period since 1/2/02 in households ("60 Minutes II"), since 9/19/01 in viewers ("60 Minutes II"), since 9/13/00 in adults 18-34 ("Big Brother"), since 10/11/00 in adults 18-49 and 10/18/00 in adults 25-54. For the night, CBS (11.39m, 7.6/12) had its most watched Wednesday of the season behind the "CMA Awards."
© http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/cbs-star-search-wins-timeslot-premieres- strong-ratings-854.php
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Star Search Winner: Jake Simpson:
Reviews & ratings
Star Search Winner: Jake
Simpson
by Jake Simpson
Twenty-nine-year-old vocalist Jake Simpson was the first
winner of
CBS' reconstituted Star Search talent contest. His victory netted him
the tidy figure of 100,000 dollars in prize money. But it also
guaranteed a recording contract with Sony/Columbia. This is an
introductory EP, quickly produced to capitalize on Simpson's name
recognition. It includes the three songs he sang during his appearances
on the program, as well as tasteful renditions of five other
vocal-heavy songs. A full-length debut of original material is planned
for summer 2003. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide.
By Andrew
2/14/2005
Comments:
This young man has a super voice and the soul of a yesteryear motown
legend. His cover of "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye is bluesy and
soulful. The covers of "Isn't She Lovely" and "Signed, Sealed,
Delivered" would make Stevie Wonder proud. The first five songs, which
were the creations of mainly one songwriter, are moving, but don't
really show off the range that Jake has. Overall, this is a pleasant
surprise and there simply are not enough good things to say about this
young man's talent. We will definitely be hearing a lot more from Jake
Simpson!
(c) 2008 Myriam Martín Torralba