What To Watch
Movies and Shows Starring Celebrities Who Once Competed on Star Search
From a talent competition to TV and film.
By Ashley Lee
Jan. 20, 2026
Movies and Shows Starring Celebrities Who Once Competed on Star Search - Netflix Tudum
The famed talent competition Star Search is back. This time, it has a brand-new format: live on Netflix, and with real-time viewer voting and contestant eliminations. And it showcases a broader mix of performers, including musicians, dancers, comedians, and kids’ acts. Anthony Anderson is hosting the reboot, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jelly Roll, and Chrissy Teigen make up the panel of judges.
The series — airing live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT — might very well launch the careers of its relatively unknown performers. After all, these 15 celebrities appeared on previous editions of the series, and went on to lead must-see movies, feel-good TV shows, and stand-up specials. The new Star Search has a timed voting window, but these titles featuring former contestants are available to stream at your leisure.
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Burlesque
Before Christina Aguilera recorded songs like “Genie in a Bottle” and “Dirrty,” she competed in Star Search, performing the Etta James classic “Sunday Kind of Love,” in 1990. She later made her film acting debut in this 2010 movie, playing an aspiring singer who gets a job at a struggling burlesque lounge. Come for the jazz-inspired dance numbers with Kristen Bell and Julianne Hough, and stay for a standout performance by Cher as the club’s owner.
Crossroads
Britney Spears knows that a road trip with your girlfriends is always a good idea. The hitmaker of “...Baby One More Time” and “Oops!…I Did It Again” was a Star Search contestant in 1992, covering The Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge.” She also co-starred in this movie about high school besties who drive across the country together. Zoe Saldaña, Taryn Manning, Kim Cattrall, and Dan Aykroyd are also in the 2002 film, written by Shonda Rhimes (Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte).
Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable...
Dave Chappelle made his first appearance on Star Search in 1993 and, at 19 years old, was the youngest comedian to compete on the show at the time. Of course, he’s since released numerous stand-up specials, including Dave Chappelle, Equanimity & The Bird Revelation, The Dreamer, Sticks & Stones, and The Closer. His latest: The Unstoppable…, which was a surprise release in 2025.
Friends with Benefits
Justin Timberlake donned a cowboy hat while performing Alan Jackson’s song “Love’s Got a Hold on You” on the show in 1993. In 2011, the musician behind songs like “SexyBack” and “Mirrors” starred in this romantic comedy as a magazine executive who regularly hooks up with his best friend, only to begin developing feelings for her. Mila Kunis plays his love interest, and Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Nolan Gould, Richard Jenkins, and Woody Harrelson round out the cast.
Hands of Stone
In the early ’90s, Usher’s Star Search rendition of Boyz II Men’s ballad “End of the Road” caught the attention of music executive L.A. Reid — to the tune of an eventual record deal. In this 2016 boxing drama, he portrays Sugar Ray Leonard, opposite Édgar Ramírez as Roberto Durán. The two legendary fighters face off multiple times in the movie, with Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, Ana de Armas, and John Turturro in tow.
Home Team
Kevin James competed on Star Search in 1995, just years before debuting his sitcom The King of Queens. He’s since starred in a number of comedies, including this 2022 film that’s based on the true story of former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. James portrays an NFL coach who returns to his Texas hometown to coach his 12-year-old son’s team. Make it a marathon by also watching True Memoirs of an International Assassin, Sandy Wexler, and The Crew.
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
In 1993, Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland appeared on Star Search as part of the group Girls Tyme, and performed an original song. After topping the charts as a member of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to headline Coachella — a milestone captured in this 2019 documentary. Want a Destiny’s Child double feature? Throw on the 2019 holiday movie Merry Liddle Christmas, in which Rowland plays a woman hosting her family for the holidays.
Martin
Martin Lawrence was a contestant in 1987 — an appearance that led to the comedian being cast in the sitcom What’s Happening Now!!, which launched his acting career. He later led this hit show as Martin Payne, a radio DJ in the Detroit area who has a macho public persona — a characteristic that’s a point of contention between him and his girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell). Also featuring Tracy Morgan and David Alan Grier, the series ran from 1992 to 1997.
No Good Deed
Ray Romano delivered a stand-up set on Star Search in 1989, years before the launch of his acclaimed sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Romano and Lisa Kudrow star in this 2024 series as a couple trying to sell their 1920s Spanish-style villa in Los Angeles. The dark comedy, created by Liz Feldman (Dead to Me), features Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Teyonah Parris, O-T Fagbenle, Abbi Jacobson, and Poppy Liu as the three families competing to buy what they believe to be their dream home.
Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
Norm Macdonald took part in an international edition of Star Search in 1990, shortly before his Saturday Night Live tenure. The comedian, who died of leukemia in 2021, recorded a final hour of stand-up at his home in 2020. The special was released in 2022, and included a conversation about Macdonald between Adam Sandler, Conan O’Brien, Dave Chappelle, David Letterman, David Spade, and Molly Shannon. Keep the laughs coming with his 2017 special Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery and his interview series Norm Macdonald Has a Show.
The Parkers
Countess Vaughn was victorious on Star Search in 1988, thanks to her soaring cover of the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There.” She gained notoriety from the UPN sitcom Moesha, playing Brandy’s onscreen best friend, Kim Parker. From 1999 to 2004, Vaughn then led the spinoff show The Parkers, in which Kim attends community college alongside her mother, played by Mo'Nique. Vaughn didn’t stop singing either, as she also recorded the hit series’ theme song.
Sing
In 2003, Tori Kelly competed on Star Search, performing the Rachael Lampa song “Blessed.” The singer-songwriter went on to join the voice cast of this 2016 animated movie alongside Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Kroll, and Taron Egerton. In this movie about a singing competition, Kelly voices Meena, a sweet and timid elephant who struggles with stage fright. Kelly reprises her role in Sing: Thriller, the short that showcases the Michael Jackson hit.
Survival of the Thickest
Garcelle Beauvais competed on Star Search as a spokesmodel in 1985. She later co-starred in the hotel-set sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show, playing the front desk clerk Francesca “Fancy” Monroe (and Foxx’s love interest) for five seasons. She has appeared in Michelle Buteau’s series since its 2023 launch as Natasha Karina, an icy former supermodel who hires Buteau’s stylist character Mavis and finds herself discovering not just gorgeous outfits but also a necessary friendship.
Younger
Sutton Foster covered Cilla Black’s song “You’re My World” on Star Search in 1990. The Broadway boldface led this series from Darren Star (Emily in Paris) set in the book-publishing industry. Foster’s character Liza is a divorced single mother who, amid her struggle to rejoin the workforce, poses as a 26-year-old in order to get a job as an assistant. Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, and Miriam Shor play Liza’s colleagues in the show, which debuted in 2015 and ran for seven seasons.
All About Star Search
News“This is the real magic right here.”By Michael EhrlichFeb. 19
ExplainerThe outcome was decided by fans at home using Netflix’s new voting feature.By Amanda RichardsFeb. 18
Who’s WhoIn the finale, the power shifts to the audience — every vote comes from viewers.By Amanda RichardsFeb. 16
Deep DiveYou can catch all 7 seasons right now.By Erin CorbettFeb. 12
NewsThe iconic talent competition premieres live on Netflix on Jan. 20.By Michael EhrlichJan. 16
NewsThe five-week live event premieres on Tuesday, Jan. 20By Amanda Richards and Chris HudspethJan. 16
AwardsThe star jokes about alternate lives while accepting honors for his latest role.By Jenny ChangnonJan. 8
ExplainerCreator Liz Feldman is revealing all about the twisty dark comedy.By Ariana RomeroDec. 16
Shop Star Search
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