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They starred on hit Disney shows, released platinum albums, became internationally known celebrities, went on to pop superstardom and their songs are played everywhere to this day—they're the Star Search kids of yesteryear.

Hosted by Ed McMahon, Star Search was where it was at in the 1980s and 1990s. There are a surprising number of pop singers who got started on the talent competition. Some were adult competitors while others were junior vocalists. Even if they didn't all win the contest, they gained audiences in an era that predated social media. Check out these ten talented pop stars who shot to fame thanks to their time on Star Search.

via: Instar

Updated January 2025: This article has been updated to reflect the latest happenings with the young singers who got their big break on Star Search.

Alanis Morissette

via Instar

Alanis Morissette didn't win big, but she competed on...

Reality TV stars are not A-listers, but some famous faces started as minor stars on TV. Or, early in their careers, they participated in reality TV. For example, did you know that Stephen Colbert, now associated with CBS’s The Late Show appeared on Whose Line Is It Anyway in the 1990s? Here are four other famous faces apart from Stephen Colbert who were on non-a-Lister shows.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Started In Reality TV

Elizabeth Hasselbeck wasn’t known until 2001. Before that, she worked for a big company. But, she got her chance at fame when she appeared on Survivor Season 2. Fans of the show will remember that she was gutsy and played a solid game.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck – The View – YouTube

Although she didn’t win, she went on to become a familiar conservative face on The View. She started off in 2003 and lasted 10 years before moving on to Fox and Friends.

Now that the dust has settled from the biggest stand-up bomb of the 2024 election cycle, open mic host and right-wing provocateur Tony Hinchcliffe is ready to make amends with none of the entire races he insulted.

On Sunday, October 27th, the Kill Tony host performed at a rally for President-Elect Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, a stadium where Hinchcliffe had recently hosted an episode of his amateur comedian roast/Star Search podcast. Hinchcliffe found the new crowd at Msg to be less enthused about his half-baked, predictable, sub-4chan-level racist humor than his usual crowd, and by Monday morning, his laughless routine was front-page news on every media outlet in the country. Hinchcliffe’s hacky jokes about Black people carving watermelons on Halloween, Latino people having a lot of kids and Puerto Rico being an island of garbage failed to impress even the furthest-right pundits like Ann Coulter, and...

The best Martin Lawrence movies and TV shows started out thanks to his television roles, but he actually got his first big break thanks to Spike Lee. While he was mostly involved in boxing when he was in school, he started working as a comedian when he got out of school and actually began to make a living working standup shows. This led to Martin moving to New York City and joining The Improv, which got him a role on Star Search. That was his true big break, as it got him noticed in Hollywood.

This earned him the attention of Spike Lee, who gave Lawrence his first movie role in the award-winning Do The Right Thing. After this, he got roles in movies like House Party and Boomerang, and he finally was able to get his own starring role when he signed on to star in the comedy sitcom Martin.

Before she was starring in movies, hosting her own talk show and publicly feuding with garbage people, Rosie O’Donnell began her career in show business as a stand-up comedian. In fact, back in the ‘80s, she won Star Search five times.

But as O’Donnell just recounted on David Duchovny’s Fail Better podcast, her first attempt at stand-up didn’t go so well — mainly because she ripped off another comedian’s entire act.

O’Donnell only became a comic after Richie Minervini, then the owner of The East Side Comedy Club on Long Island, approached her after witnessing the teenager get big laughs during a high school performance. (Note to any modern club owners out there: Randomly approaching minors following school productions probably wouldn’t fly anymore.) Minervini told O’Donnell: “I own a comedy club, I think you’d be a great stand-up comic.”

O’Donnell’s response? “No way,...

Cat Glover, the singer and dancer whose winning streak on TV’s Star Search talent competition drew the attention of David Bowie as well as the artist she’d become most closely associated with, Prince, died September 24. She was 62.

Her death was announced last night on her official Facebook page. “It’s with great sadness that we formally announce the passing of Catherine Vernice Glover- Aka ‘Cat.’ Please allow her children, family and friends privacy at this difficult time.” A cause of death and other details were not disclosed, but the message states that a further statement “will be released in due course.”

Born Catherine Vernice Glover in Chicago on July 24, 1962, Glover began dancing at age 5, reaching her first rush of recognition in 1986 as part of the dance duo Pat & Cat with Patrick Allen on Star Search. The act was the competition’s first to nab a perfect four-star...

Cat Glover, the singer, dancer and choreographer who worked with Prince during his late 1980s pomp, has died. She was 60.

Glover’s death was announced on her official Facebook page. “It’s with great sadness that we formally announce the passing of Catherine Vernice Glover- Aka ‘Cat.’ Please allow her children, family and friends privacy at this difficult time,” the short statement said. No cause of death was given.

Glover is indelibly linked to Prince and worked with the late artist on a number of projects, including on the albums Sign o’ the Times and Lovesexy and their related music videos, concert films and tours. She also famously provided the rap on Prince’s single “Alphabet St.”

Catherine Vernice Glover was born in Chicago on July 23, 1964. One of six children, she attended Esmond Elementary and Morgan Park High Schools. She began dancing at 5, and it would quickly become a lifelong passion.

Sabrina Carpenter has joined forces with a ’90s pop idol in honor of the latter’s debut album’s 25th anniversary. A video released on the ’90s singer’s YouTube Channel showcases all sorts of reimaginings of her famous song. Carpenter herself also commented on how the star has influenced her. So, what did she have to say? Details here.

An Idol Performed A Variety Of Her ’90s Classics

It has been 25 years since Christina Aguilera released her debut album. Now, the blonde bombshell with the dynamic pipes has released a tribute to her self-titled album filmed at the Spotify Music Studios in Los Angeles, California. Aguilera opened up the video with a soulful reimagining of “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You).” She then followed this up with a rendition of “Genie In A Bottle.” Throughout, she was surrounded by accompanying musicians and backup singers.

Christina Aguilera – YouTube

However,...

As Fox Mulder on The X-Files, David Duchovny investigated vampires, chased mutant sewer-monsters and battled scantily-clad, virtual-reality cowgirls. But he very nearly found himself in an even stranger situation: holed up in a San Francisco townhome with three children and two other dudes.

Yes, Duchovny came shockingly close to starring in Full House, which may sound kind of odd, but certain Full House storylines could have easily passed as X-Files episodes.

On a recent episode of his podcast Fail Better, Duchovny chatted with Fred Armisen about their early unsuccessful auditions, with the former Saturday Night Live cast member revealing that he once tried out for Mad TV, the Rc Cola to SNL’s Coke.

Duchovny then revealed that when he first moved to Los Angeles, he auditioned for plenty of sitcom pilots, and “thought each one was gonna be the break.” One of the shows that left him “devastated” for weeks afterwards was Full House.

“Comedy is what takes us away from all the pain and all the hurt and all the turmoil that goes on in life. It takes us away from that, even if only for a brief second, a brief moment.” Maybe you wouldn’t expect this level of depth from a man who’s made a career of being silly. Something else you might not expect? Even 30 years into his comedy career, he was still possessed by a nervous energy before getting on the stage for his 2016 special. So much of what has made Martin Lawrence successful is his ability to channel that nervous energy into something great and, more importantly, something funny.

But what drives that energy? For Martin, it may be the very pain, hurt, and turmoil he’s trying to help us escape. Despite his success, Martin’s life has been marked by challenges, from a difficult childhood to high-profile controversies.

As we head into summer, it is a great time to become a Peacock subscriber. Not only is NBCUniversal’s flagship streaming service home to great movies and buzzy originals, but it also offers tons of new and exclusive films and TV series throughout the month. In May, Peacock is also the home for both the Kentucky Derby and the Indianapolis 500, WWE and Nxt premium live events including the King and Queen of the Ring, PGA and Lga golf tour stops, Indycar, and much more. The NBCU streamer is also home to original and exclusive Peacock series, and the next-day streaming of shows from across the NBCU family of networks, it is a good time to sign up for either a Peacock Premium ($5.99) or Peacock Premium Plus ($11.99) plan. However, come July, those prices will increase by $2 per month.

Sign Up $5.99+ / month peacocktv.com What Are the Best Shows and Movies...

Sometimes your entire world can change in a single moment. For a young Tia Carrere’s world became more excellent one trip a local grocery store where the parents of a man who was producing a movie saw her and told her about this movie their son was shooting. This would lead Tia Carrere to land a role in the film Aloha Summer. She says she was super nervous because she had never acted before and hadn’t even thought of it as an option in her life but she did it! Ms Carrere grew up wanting to be a singer…. and she did that too!

After rocking everyone’s world in the Wayne’s World cinematic universe film franchise, Tia Carrere became a household name in the early nineties while also standing toe to toe with some of the biggest names in the business. But after a few bad turns...

Teenager Meg Griffin isn’t only an afterthought to her family (cartoon dad Peter regularly forgets about her existence even when she’s standing right next to him), the character also didn’t appear in the 1995 student film from which Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane developed his hit animated comedy.

MacFarlane made animated short ‘The Life of Larry’ while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design in the 1990s. It featured “loveable but tactless lower middle class” dad Larry, his supportive wife Lois, their heavy-set blonde, baseball-cap-wearing son Milt, and “incisive, cynical” talking dog named Steve, plus all the cutaway gags and pop culture parodies for which Family Guy would become famous… but no super-intelligent baby, and no butt-of-every-joke teenage daughter Meg.

One-off 1997 sequel ‘Larry and Steve’ lost Larry’s wife and son to focus on the talking dog, but by the time of the seven-minute 1998 Family Guy pilot,...

Exclusive: Levity Talent has brought in J.P. Buck and Emily Noonan to serve as manager-producers, Deadline has learned.

In a statement on the hirings, Levity Founding Partner Judi Marmel said, “As Levity continues to grow year over year, our goal remains to bring the brightest comedy minds into one place to work with our talent and our brand. Having worked closely with both J.P. and Emily over the past decade, I’m beyond inspired to now work with them daily and help accelerate and grow our client’s careers.”

A veteran producer, Buck’s career has spanned comedy, unscripted, talk, and game formats and has been built on spotlighting the next generation of domestic and international talent for the comedy industry through festival showcases, late-night appearances, and debut stand-up specials. He joins from Team Coco, where he spent the past 15 years. During his time at Conan O’Brien’s company,...

Millennials rejoice! 26 years later, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are once again serving up fast-food morsels in the achingly-awaited "Good Burger 2." Folks who grew up on Nickelodeon's kid-friendly sketch comedy series "All That" have been clamoring for a return to the chaotically unclean confines of Good Burger, and now that it's here, I'll let those whose satiric sensibilities were partially formed by the original pass judgment on the quality of the sequel.

I do, however, know Sinbad. A comedic force of nature, I first saw the man rack up multiple wins on the Ed McMahon-hosted talent competition "Star Search" in the 1980s. I remember watching him besting a young Dennis Miller; this bothered me at the time, but considering Miller's career trajectory, I am firmly in Sinbad's camp. After all, who else possessed the bravery to ask which part of the chicken produced the Chicken McNugget?

In any event,...

If you’re a child of the nineties, chances are you grew up loving Sinbad. Also known as David Atkins, Sinbad began his comedy career as a contestant on Star Search before nabbing his breakout role on the Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, where he played Coach Walter Oakes; he served as a mentor to the main cast, who all played students at the fictional Hillman College. His distinctive look made him instantly identifiable, and it wasn’t long before he started showing up in movies, with roles in Necessary Roughness and Coneheads.

His career was unusual because most people went to TV after their movie careers cooled down. For Sinbad, it was the opposite. His solo TV show, The Sinbad Show, was a flop, but shortly afterwards, his movie career went into high gear, with him appearing in a string of hit movies. His biggest hit was Houseguest opposite the late Phil Hartman,...

With “Dancing with the Stars” set to come back for a 32nd season this fall on ABC after spending last year on Disney+, there’s a long list of celebrities who deserve to compete on the dance floor. Two of my previous suggestions came true: Frankie Muniz (who came in third in season 25) and Kel Mitchell (who came in second in season 28). Below is a list of female stars I think the show should consider inviting to the ballroom to vie for the next Mirror Ball Trophy. Do you agree with my picks? Vote in our poll at the bottom of this post to let us know which you’d most like to see on “DWTS.” And feel free to let us know in the comments what other stars you would like to see when the show comes back in September.

SEEEverything to know about ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season...

Singer Tori Kelly is receiving treatment for blood clots in the ICU after being rushed to the hospital on Sunday night.

The 30-year-old passed out at dinner in downtown Los Angeles. Her friends drove her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors discovered clots in her lungs and legs.

The Grammy Award-winner originally gained a following on YouTube and went on to appear on television competitions such as Star Search and American Idol.

In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died In 2022

She has since won multiple awards and collaborated with pop icons such as Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran.

Representatives for Kelly have not responded to questions concerning the singer’s current state, though her condition is reportedly serious.

The post Singer Tori Kelly Hospitalized For Blood Clots appeared first on uInterview.

Stand-up comic. Talk show innovator. The View firebrand. Betty Rubble. There’s very little Rosie O’Donnell, 61, has left to accomplish in her singular career. From the moment she broke out of Long Island with a performance on Star Search in 1984, O’Donnell has proved a highly resilient, sometimes confrontational and always entertaining force. She’s also among the most fiercely outspoken advocates of LGBTQ+ causes in Hollywood. (She launched her own gay family cruise line, for heaven’s sake.) Then, as the country’s far right kicks up its attacks on queer people and their art forms, who better than O’Donnell, the original Donald Trump adversary and Broadway’s biggest cheerleader, to celebrate in The Hollywood Reporter‘s 2023 tribute to Pride?

THR sat down with the actor (American Gigolo, Smilf) and podcaster (iHeart’s Onward With Rosie O’Donnell) at a seaside restaurant near her home in Malibu — she moved...

Christina Aguilera is a pop star known for her impressive vocal range and gilded discography, but her work in movies and TV shows has also shown that Aguilera is capable of acting as well as she performs live. Most often, Aguilera appears as herself in TV shows and movies, making quick cameos in Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (2006), Shine a Light (2008), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Casa de mi Padre (2012), Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), and Life of the Party (2018). Aguilera is a bestselling album artist who has been a coach in six seasons of The Voice.

Beyond The Voice, Aguilera has appeared as herself on Star Search, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, Beverly Hills 90210, Roswell, Christmas in Washington, Al Salir de Clase, Un Paso Adelante, Player$, Punk’d, Rock Legends: Platinum Weird, Project Runway, Conan, Entourage, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Disney Family Singalong, Yearly Departed, and Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil. While Aguilera often plays herself,...

One of our favorite fellows competing on “The Masked Singer” season 9 is disguised as the Macaw. He wowed the crowd in his first appearance on March 22 with rollicking renditions of “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw and “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain. It became clear quite quickly that this contender is someone who makes a living by raising his voice in song.

Forget those guessses by the judges that Macaw is Zayn Malik, Doug Robb or Elijah Wood. We’ve rewatched those first two performances and taken another look at his clues package. We are sure we’ve cracked the code as to Macaw’s true identity. Keep reading as we have all your “The Masked Singer” spoilers, including the answer to the question, “Who is Macaw?”

We are absolutely certain that the Macaw is “American Idol” alumni David Archuleta. Don’t believe us?...

On Feb. 13, 1998, New Line unveiled The Wedding Singer in theaters in time for Valentine’s Day audiences. The Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore rom-com went on to earn 123 million globally at the box office. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below.

We’ve all heard him, usually at weddings and bar mitzvahs where alcohol often blurs true appreciation of his talents. Song stylist extraordinaire, he has the uncanny ability to make virtually any song, even “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida,” sound like “Hot Hot Hot.”

Now, thanks to Adam Sandler, he has been finally given his due in The Wedding Singer, a (for the most part) winning romantic comedy that plays off the per former’s sweet, loopy personality. Despite a saggy middle stymied by sappy good intentions, the picture stands as Sandler’s best effort.

Demographically, expect some thing of a trade-off. While all the lovey-dovey stuff might turn off some of his partying young male fans,...

Wickie Roy started Season 2 of “Girls5eva” in album mode and ended it in relationship mode, a development that was as surprising to Renée Elise Goldsberry as it probably was to fans. “We did not see this coming. I, the actor, did not see this coming, but it’s pretty wonderful,” Goldsberry tells Gold Derby (watch the exclusive video interview above).

In the final two episodes of the season, Wickie meets and quickly falls for Sheawn (Chad L. Coleman), aka the Lunch Lord, whom she first tries to use as a “basic whisperer” to find out what the people like to improve her social media presence. He knows exactly what she’s doing and calls her out on it, and further disarms her by not being phased at all by her outrageous behavior. At one point, Wickie blurts out, “Why do I like you?!”

“In the beginning she’s using him,...

Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

Judd was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Judds, alongside daughter Wynonna. The Judds scored 20 Top 10 hits (including 15 number ones) and went undefeated for eight consecutive years at all three major country music awards shows.

They also won five Grammy Awards, with Naomi Judd winning a Grammy for Country Song of the Year with The Judds’ hit “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

Born January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky, Judd moved to California when her marriage to Michael Ciminella ended. She raised both daughters as a single parent. She attended nursing school at California’s College of Marin before beginning her music career with daughter Wynonna.

In 1991, The...

Sam Riddle, the famous Los Angeles DJ of the 1960s and producer of long-running talent show “Star Search,” died at his home in Palm Desert, Calif, on Monday, a representative confirmed to Variety. He was 83. Riddle had been suffering from Lewy Body Dementia.

Starting his career as a radio jock, Riddle was recognized as one of the founding figures behind the “Boss Radio” format. Moving to TV, he then hosted Los Angeles variety shows, including “9th Street West” and “Hollywood A-Go-Go.” He eventually became a producer, working on shows such as ABC’s “Almost Anything Goes” and “Star Search Starring Ed McMahon,” where he gave career breaks to stars such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Dave Chappelle, Christina Aguilera and many more. Additionally, he’s known for recognizing the Spanish-language market and oversaw the early creation and production of numerous specials and series for Telemundo and Univision, including “Ritmo...

Sam Riddle, an original “Boss Radio” DJ on Khj Los Angeles who also produced and narrated Star Search and many other TV shows, died Monday at his home in Palm Desert, CA. He was 85. Riddle’s family said had been battling Lewy body dementia.

Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery

Riddle was one of Khj’s original Boss Jocks during the mid-1960s and went on to host local TV shows including Hollywood A Go Go, 9th Street West, Boss City and Sounds of Now. He also co-hosted Get It Together with Mama Cass and Sam Riddle at the turn of the 1970s. The 2021 HBO documentary Tina includes Riddle announcing the first big TV appearance of Ike and Tina Turner.

Born on December 12, 1937 in Fort Worth, Texas, Riddle served in the Air Force reserves during the Vietnam War. He got his radio start with DJ gigs in Texas,...

Sam Riddle, the popular Los Angeles “Boss Radio” deejay of the 1960s who went on to produce the Ed McMahon-hosted TV talent show Star Search, has died. He was 83.

Riddle died Monday at his home in Palm Desert after a battle with Lewy body dementia, a publicist announced.

In an era when radio disc jockeys exerted huge influence on sales and pop culture, the Texas native started out in L.A. radio on Krla and jumped to Kfwb before landing at Khj-93, where he became one of the founding jocks behind the “Boss Radio” format.

By virtue of ...

Sam Riddle, the popular Los Angeles “Boss Radio” deejay of the 1960s who went on to produce the Ed McMahon-hosted TV talent show Star Search, has died. He was 83.

Riddle died Monday at his home in Palm Desert after a battle with Lewy body dementia, a publicist announced.

In an era when radio disc jockeys exerted huge influence on sales and pop culture, the Texas native started out in L.A. radio on Krla and jumped to Kfwb before landing at Khj-93, where he became one of the founding jocks behind the “Boss Radio” format.

By virtue of ...

In the months following the release of Alanis Morissette’s breakout album “Jagged Little Pill,” one question persisted throughout the glowing coverage of the singer-songwriter’s debut: Why was this gal so angry? It’s a question that director Alison Klayman (“Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry”) thoroughly answers in her “Jagged,” but it’s refreshing to see the not-quite fawning profile engage with something a bit more substantive. That’s not to say the film’s subject isn’t substantive — she is — but this focused look at Morissette’s early years seems hellbent on offering up a glossier-than-necessary veneer on a complex story. When it veers away from a predictable timeline and expected beats, “Jagged” hits its high notes.

As was the case with Morissette’s big break, these moments come care of heightened emotion, like a series of magazine headlines that juxtapose “angry” with “hot” with a startling, queasy regularity.

Norm Macdonald, the revered stand-up comic, actor, writer and former “Weekend Update” anchor on Saturday Night Live, has died after a nine-year battle with cancer. He was 61. Launch a photo gallery of his career by clicking on the image above.

Macdonald began his career in show business by starting in the comedy clubs of Canada. Influenced by the likes of David Letterman, Bob Hope and Sam Kinison, he developed his trademark style that became highly influential for a generation of comics.

After competing on 1990’s Star Search, Macdonald landed a writing job on The Dennis Miller Show. He later was hired to write for Roseanne Barr’s sitcom Roseanne for the 1992-93 season before landing at NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

At SNL, beyond his popular impressions of Burt Reynolds, Larry King and Quentin Tarantino, Macdonald was most known for his acerbic wit and deadpan delivery on the “Weekend Update” desk,...

Saturday Night Live veteran Norm Macdonald has died following a private battle with cancer. He was 61.

Macdonald was reportedly battling an undisclosed cancer for almost a decade, which he chose not to disclose to friends, family or fans.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: Baking Show Premiere, Bb: Celeb Edition Return and MoreCecily Strong Mulls Her SNL Future: 'Things Are a Bit More Up in the Air'snl Cast Shake-Up Ahead? McKinnon, Davidson and Strong Spark Speculation About Exits in Season 46 Finale

“He was most proud of his comedy,” Macdonald’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra told Deadline. “He never...

Norm Macdonald, whose laconic delivery of sharp and incisive observations made him one of Saturday Night Live‘s most influential and beloved cast members, died today after a nine-year private battle with cancer. He was 61.

Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him when he died, said Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but was determined to keep his health struggles private, away from family, friends and fans.

“He was most proud of his comedy,” Hoekstra said. “He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.”

Norm Macdonald:...

This American Horror Story: Double Feature review contains spoilers.

American Horror Story Season 10 Episodes 1 and 2

For 1984, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk channeled their inner Sean S. Cunningham in order to craft a campy, funny, bloody ode to classic slasher movies from Friday the 13th to Sleepaway Camp. From the very opening moments of this season, in which a car sweeps down a deserted two-lane highway along a cold, frosty beach, the first half of American Horror Story: Double Feature, dubbed “Red Tide”, evokes nothing more strongly than the works of Stephen King and Joe Hill. It’s hard to do anything related to New England and horror without running into the King family, and rather than attempt to run from the obvious influences, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk lean in and give the people what they want from the very first frames.

Rather than opting for Maine or Haverhill, Massachusetts...

March marked the 65th anniversary of the wrap of the first season of the “Mickey Mouse Club,” and the recent death of one of the original Mouseketeers, Johnny Crawford, reminded fans of the enduring talent that the show, and especially its early 1990s iteration, brought to the entertainment industry. The original “Mickey Mouse Club” launched the career of Annette Funicello, who occupied a beloved niche in audiences’ hearts for six decades, and the 1990s revival produced Oscar nominees and artists who’ve sold tens of millions of albums and redefined pop music and pop culture. But who are the greatest Mouseketeers? It’s a list ready for debate between boomers and gen Z.

Justin Timberlake

“The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”

A breakout star from the series, Timberlake really hit it big in Ur boy band *Nsync (with fellow “Mmc” castmate Jc Chasez). He transitioned into an even bigger solo pop career,...

Liars have released a new song, “Sekwar,” from their upcoming album, The Apple Drop, set to arrive August 6th via Mute.

“Sekwar” boasts a mix of lurching drums, rich guitars, and pulsing synths that sometimes stumble around each other and sometimes link up in unison. “When the fog that grows insane,” sings Liars mastermind Angus Andrew at the end of the song, “That I can’t get out my mind/Can you tell me what I used to know?”

“Sekwar” arrives with a music video, directed by Clemens Habicht, and...

When the documentary The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears premiered on FX in February, it caused a sensation. More than 1 million reactions were tweeted within a few days of its debut. And Justin Timberlake, whose treatment of Spears after the pop stars’ breakup years ago was questioned in the film, felt compelled to issue a statement apologizing to his former girlfriend.

“We were all truly surprised at what a reception there was,” director and executive producer Samantha Stark said during Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted panel discussion of the documentary. “Britney Spears, for a long time, was not taken seriously, was made fun of a lot, you can see throughout her life, with the media coverage. I was worried people would continue to do that, to make fun of that…but it was really, really incredible to see people really ‘get’ what we were trying to show.

Singing competition series have been on the air for decades, dating all the way back to the days of Star Search. And today, plenty of innovative shows that put their own twist on the concept continue to pop up on linear network television channels and streaming services. From a focus on mentoring aspiring singers to highlighting terrible ones and even disguising who the person is behind a voice, it seems like every concept has been done.

Related: 10 Songs That Should Be Retired From Singing Competition Shows

There are tons of reality competition shows of all kinds on television nowadays, from dating to cooking. But when it comes to the best singing shows, this particular genre takes the cake in terms of variety, not to mention celebrity appeal.

Updated on October 21st, 2021 by Christine Persaud: Fan appetite for TV singing competitions has never waned as viewers love seeing singers of all kinds,...

After nearly a decade as head of scripted television for MGM, Steve Stark is leaving the studio’s executive ranks. The news comes a year after MGM’s Worldwide Television Group, run by Chairman Mark Burnett, last extended Stark with a new contract in conjunction with him being named President of a new label, MGM/UA Television.

“MGM has confirmed President of MGM/UA Television Steve Stark will be exiting his role,” the company said in a statement to Deadline. “The studio plans to announcing more details in the coming days.”

Stark is returning to producing, transitioning to an exclusive production deal with MGM/UA Television.

Over the past nine and a half years, Stark, a respected and well-liked executive, grew MGM’s scripted footprint with the award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale and Fargo, as well as Vikings, Get Shorty, Condor, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Perpetual Grace Ltd, among others.

Polin Cohanne, an entertainment attorney who represented Martin and Charlie Sheen, the TV talent show Star Search and Aaron Spelling Productions, has died. She was 70.

Cohanne died Dec. 7 of pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her friend Linda Bergman said.

Born on April 1, 1950, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Cohanne earned her B.A. in American Studies at Penn State in 1972, graduated from Villanova University School of Law and served as a judge advocate from 1975-78 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Irvine, California.

After her honorable separation, she became a staff attorney at ABC and then ...

Polin Cohanne, an entertainment attorney who represented Martin and Charlie Sheen, the TV talent show Star Search and Aaron Spelling Productions, has died. She was 70.

Cohanne died Dec. 7 of pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her friend Linda Bergman said.

Born on April 1, 1950, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Cohanne earned her B.A. in American Studies at Penn State in 1972, graduated from Villanova University School of Law and served as a judge advocate from 1975-78 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Irvine, California.

After her honorable separation, she became a staff attorney at ABC and then ...

The Super Six hit the stage on Wednesday night’s episode of “The Masked Singer,” facing off for just three spots in the Season 4 finale. After losing a head to head battle with the Crocodile, the Seahorse was revealed to be Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actress Tori Kelly. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m gutted that you’re going home,” panelist Nicole Scherzinger expressed following Tori’s unmasking. “We thought that you could take the entire competition. You’re the best vocalist we’ve ever had on this show.” Watch Seahorse’s powerhouse performance of “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars above.

“I’ve always thought of myself as just a singer,” Tori explained to host Nick Cannon during her unmasked interview. “I thought it would be fun to just come out here and show a whole other side of myself. Be a little more sassy! Show some choreography.

“The Masked Singer” sat out last week due to the 2020 World Series, but now it’s returned with an entirely new roster of secret celebrities. Broccoli, Jellyfish, Lips, Mushroom and Squiggly Monster all took the stage on Wednesday night as members of the yet-unseen Group C. This costumed quintet performed their hearts out in front of a virtual audience and panelists Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger, but who ended up with the lowest number of votes? And did You guess the unmasked contestant’s true identity?

See Coronavirus controversy: Why isn’t ‘The Masked Singer’ live audience wearing masks for health reasons?

Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Masked Singer” recap of Season 4, Episode 5, titled “The Group C Premiere – Masked But Not Least,” to find out what happened Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about...

Tony Charmoli, a leading television and Broadway choreographer and director who won three Emmy Awards from the 1950s through 1970s and worked with stars from Mitzi Gaynor and Shirley MacLaine to the costumed characters of Sid & Marty Krofft’s Lidsville and, later, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce, died August 7 at his Hollywood Hills home. He was 99.

“My darling Tony, who passed away peacefully over the weekend, was a wonderful gift in my life, and in the lives of all who knew him,” Gaynor wrote in a tribute posted on Instagram. “He choreographed and directed all of my CBS TV specials, and virtually all of my stage shows and tours between 1973 and 2013. More than that, Tony was a warm and special presence in my life, and a good and true friend who knew my soul.”

Premiering as a Broadway dancer in 1947’s Dear Judas, Charmoli performed in two more productions – Make Mine Manhattan and Love Life,...

In today’s film news roundup, “40 Years of Rocky” gets a release date, Pierce Brosnan’s “The King’s Daughter” finds a home and the 2020 Lower East Side Film Festival unveils its programming.

Release Date

Virgil Films has set a June 9 digital release date for the documentary “40 Years of Rocky,” which chronicles the behind-the-scenes journey of the 1976 classic “Rocky.”

Sylvester Stallone recounts the making of the film — which won the 1977 Academy Award for Best Picture — through rare home movies filmed by “Rocky” director John G. Avildsen. The documentary was written and directed by Derek Wayne Johnson, who served as co-producer with Chris May of Cinema 83 Entertainment and Cinema 83 Documentary Films.

“The documentary is a golden nugget for ‘Rocky’ fans and casual audiences alike,” said Johnson. “It’s a charming piece of film history narrated by Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, and will give audiences an intimate, and at times, emotional experience.

Washington, D.C. — Comedian Dave Chappelle was presented with the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for

American Humor Sunday night following a barrage of heartfelt tributes praising his courage, his spontaneity and his genius at drawing laughter from sobering racial commentary.

The Twain event, now in its 22nd year, was a non-stop love fest as a parade of admiring entertainers saluted Chappelle before a packed house at the center’s Concert Hall. It began with a tribute from Lorne Michaels about Chappelle’s hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” immediately following the 2016 presidential election, and ended with comedian Jon Stewart’s reflections about his former Comedy Central colleague and recent traveling companion on the road.

Slotted in between were Sarah Silverman, Common, Bradley Cooper, Morgan Freeman, Tiffany Haddish, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, rapper Q-Tip and others. It was accompanied by a decidedly mellow band led by music director Adam Blackstone,...

When John Legend was young, he lived and breathed music, playing piano at the age of 4 and writing songs before he was a teenager. Watching the old TV show Star Search filled him with hopes and dreams of fame and fortune, and he even tried out for the show! So now that he’s a [...]

The post John Legend Sees Himself In ‘The Voice’s’ Contestants appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

The last of the five episodes of “American Idol” dedicated to the auditions airs March 18 on ABC. The network has given us a sneak peek at the dozen artists we will see competing on Monday night. They are all hoping to sound good enough to judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie that they get a ticket to Hollywood. That’s where they’ll compete to make the Top 40. We’ve done some digging and know which of them made the cut as well as the results of how they fared in that make-or-break round. Spoilers ahead.

At the end of January, the Top 40 travelled to the Aulani Resort, a luxury hotel owned, as is ABC, by Disney. There, each of them sang again for the judges and just 20 of them were put through to the next round. That episode will air on March 31.

The Top 20 were split into two groups.

If there was ever any doubt about the magic of Disney, just look at who the Mouse House launched into stardom 25 years ago. It was 1993 when young Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling joined The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in its sixth season on the Disney Channel, and these four future superstars really were brand new to the world of showbiz. Sure, Justin, Britney and Christina had been on Star Search, but they were all eliminated before the final rounds. Not even little Ryan had Barney-equivalent acting experience on par with what Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez would bring to the table in the early 2000s—and not one of these tween-aged Mouseketeers came from a famous family à...

Image Source: Netflix

Not sure where you've seen Orange Is the New Black's newest cast member? It's probably not her acting chops in a prison jumpsuit that caught your memory but likely her voice. Vicci Martinez, who plays the role of Daddy this season, is actually an established singer-songwriter with 10 albums, two EPs, and four chart-hitting singles under her belt. As a singer, songwriter, and now actress, she's quite the triple threat.

Martinez has appeared on all the singing shows: American Idol, Star Search, and even The Voice. She worked with mentor CeeLo Green on the latter back in 2011, placing third and landing a deal with Universal Republic.

Image Source: Getty / Gilbert Carrasquillo

Daddy is Martinez's first major acting role in a TV series. In fact, her only other acting role is a small unnamed part in the 2008 comedy flick Limbo. It'll be interesting to see how she fits...

The 27th season of “Dancing with the Stars” is coming up this fall, and the results are in from our recent casting poll, so pay attention casting directors! These are the female celebrities our readers would most like to see on the show for its upcoming 27th season.

Dove Cameron was voted number-one with 40% of readers saying she should join the “DWTS” cast. It’s fitting since she is a Disney kid, having appeared in “Liv and Maddie” and the “Descendants” movies for the Mouse House, and Disney is the parent company of ABC, the network that airs “DWTS.” Multiple Disney stars have done well in the ballroom before, particularly Cameron’s “Liv and Maddie” co-star Jordan Fisher, who won the 25th season just last year.

Actress Lacey Chabert finished second with 15%. This would actually be her return to reality-competition programs after she launched her career on the original “Star Search...