TV’s Time Warp: ABC Plans on 'Star Search' Remake

I recently wrote a post about all the sequels and remakes that are coming to the box office, and wondered if this was because of a lack of originality in Hollywood. But it seems as though the world of television might have the same problem. New versions of Melrose Place, V, and 90210 are currently on air, and this fall might see updates of Hawaii 5-O and The Rockford Files.

I can’t criticize those shows before I see them, but I can spread some light on what’s probably the worst idea out of all the networks this year: ABC’s plan to resurrect Star Search. The original amateur hour talent search aired in syndication from 1983 to 1995, and introduced the world to many future celebrities, including Britney Spears, Beyonce, Brad Garrett, Tiffany, Justin Timberlake, Ellen DeGeneres, Alanis Morissette and more. However, bringing the show back is an old idea. CBS remade it in 2002 with Arsenio Hall as host and a frequently changing group of celebrity judges. It tried to capitalize on the success on American Idol, but it was canceled a year later. Prior to that, original Star Search host Ed McMahon hosted and produced the extremely similar Next Big Star. It aired on the now-defunct PAX network in 2001. Every episode referred to and showed clips from the original Star Search, and the series was canceled a year later.

Now rumor has it that ABC offered former American Idol judge Paula Abdul a large sum to be a “combination of a host and a judge”, but she turned it down. Maybe she realizes that Star Search doesn’t have too much potential, or perhaps she’s just waiting to be on FOX’s spin-off of American Idol, X Factor. Either way, it’ll probably last a year.