Celebrities who lost on Star Search but still made it big

The lovable loser character can be invaluable on a television comedy. When storylines wear thin, you can often get a laugh at the expense of someone who’s socially awkward, romantically impaired, clumsy or, let’s say, a couple channels short of a cable subscription.

Think of George Costanza on Seinfeld, Homer Simpson on The Simpsons, or Ross Geller on Friends.

But in real life, being a loser isn’t so fun. And talent shows have long been built around this fact. Winning means some measure of fame and fortune. Losing means slipping back into obscurity.

Or does it?

Consider Star Search, which aired from 1983 to 1995 with Ed McMahon as host, and from 2003 to 2004 with Arsenio Hall as host. A new version debuted Jan. 13 on Netflix, with Anthony Anderson fronting things. Episodes air live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and include real-time audience voting.

To be sure, there’s often another chance at success around the corner — not just for the twice-cancelled Star Search but also for many of its former competitors. Consider these stars who made it big after losing on the show.

1. Alanis Morissette (1990)

She was 14 years old, with big hair and tight clothes — the epitome of teenage girls of the era. She delivered a bouncy pop song on Star Search but went on to become the queen of angsty rock — and later, a more mellow, introspective singer-songwriter. Morissette now has seven Grammys and 14 Junos, plus nominations for two Golden Globes and a Tony.

2. Justin Timberlake (1993)

He was 11-years-old, wearing a cowboy hat and singing Alan Jackson’s 1991 tune Love’s Got a Hold On You. He later appeared on The All New Mickey Mouse Club, became a member of ’N Sync, launched a solo music career, and starred in movies such as The Social Network. Incidentally, his Mickey Mouse Club co-stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera also lost on Star Search.

3. Beyoncé (1993)

As part of the group Girls Tyme, she lost to rock band Skeleton Crew. Years later in 2014 — after making it big with Destiny’s Child and making it even bigger as a solo artist — Beyoncé released the song ***Flawless, which featured an audio clip of the performance. In a video interview, she called the loss “a defining moment of (her) childhood.” She explained, “At that time, you don’t realize you could work super hard and give everything you have — and lose.”

4. Ray Romano (circa 1990)

The comedian and actor told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that he was relieved to lose. “My wife was pregnant with our first child and due probably four weeks later,” he said. “I was supposed to stay in L.A. for another two days with my manager, but I was so deflated (by the loss) that I just went home. My wife’s water broke that day, and she had the baby 24 hours later.”

Among other achievements, Romano went on to star in the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (winning three Emmys for it) and appear in movies including The Irishman, The Big Sick and the Ice Age franchise.

But wait, there’s more. The list of now-famous Star Search also-rans goes on to include Norm Macdonald (1990), Drew Carey (1988), Dave Chappelle (whose first appearance was in 1993), and Martin Lawrence (1987).