Before the rise of the internet, TV talent shows had been transforming normal people into superstars for as long as we can remember. These days, if talent scouts aren’t using American Idol or The Voice to find the “next big thing”, they’re using America’s Got Talent or the X-Factor. Like most great ideas, something similar came before it.
Performing at the place “where stars are born and legends are made,” meant that one had to be flawless. If not, you could expect excessive boos from the audience, and be escorted off of the stage. It seems brutal, but so is the industry, which the hopefuls were being prepared for.
Recorded at the legendary Apollo Theater in the Harlem, New York, It’s Showtime at the Apollo featured live performances from professional and up-and-coming artists. The venue was once the most popular club with African-American performers. For many years, the Apollo was the only theater in New York City to hire black people.
Some of the biggest names in R&B, soul, and hip hop have appeared on the show.
AMATEUR NIGHT
The highlight of the show was Amateur Night. Upon entering the stage, contestants would rub a log placed on a pedestal for good luck. Contestants’ singing (or occasionally dancing or comic) ability was judged by the audience. Talented ones were rewarded by vigorous applause. Those perceived as lacking were harshly booed. If it was clear that the audience disapproved, a siren was sounded and the stage lights dimmed which meant that the “Sandman” would soon appear.
The Sandman, who wore colorful clothing, carried a broom used to sweep performers off the stage, while performing a comedic dance routine. In the earlier days, the role was brilliantly played by the late Howard “Sandman” Simms, an accomplished dancer.
Having celebrated its 75th anniversary back in 2009, Amateur Night is still live at The Apollo Theater every Wednesday.
Fun facts
- Many famous performers graced the Amateur Night stage, such as The “Godfather of Soul” James Brown, Billie Holiday, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and the Jackson 5 – to name a few.
- In 1934, Ella Fitzgerald made her singing début at 17. She had originally intended to go on stage and dance, but she opted to sing instead and won the first prize of $25.00.
- Jimi Hendrix won the first place prize in an amateur musician contest at the Apollo in 1964.
- Rock and Roll legend Buddy Holly was one of few notable Caucasian performers
Hosts
Every great show needs a great host. As the launching pad for many of the world’s most outstanding performers, It’s Showtime at the Apollo employed various notable names as the “voice” to its exhibition.
From 1989 to 1991, actor/comedian Sinbad served as the permanent host. Kiki Shepard served as co-host from 1987 until 2002.
After Sinbad left, the show reverted to a series of special guest hosts. Including actor/comedian Martin Lawrence, actor/comedian Mark Curry, and rapper/actor/comedian Christopher “Kid” Reid. In 1993, actor comedian Steve Harvey began a 7 year stint as the permanent host. After Harvey left in 2000, he was replaced by comedian Rudy Rush. Rush was joined by new comedic dancer C.P. Lacey, who replaced the Howard “Sandman” Sims, who passed away.
It was for a time, hosted once again by Sinbad, who briefly returned to the show in 2006 while actress/comedienne Mo’nique was on maternity leave. Actress/comedienne Whoopi Goldberg hosted for the 2006–2007 season. During that time, actor/comedian Anthony Anderson hosted at times.
In 2012, BET aired Apollo Live, a revival of the original show, with actor/comedian Tony Rock. The judges were Gladys Knight, hip hop pioneer Doug E Fresh, and Michael Bivins of the iconic 80s group New Edition and early 90s R&B group Bel Biv Devoe.
STAR SEARCH
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Hosted by incomparable, famed media personality Ed McMahon, Star Search was produced from 1983–95. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre on Hollywood’s Sunset Blvd. It was unbeknownst to many that just 21 years after Johnny Carson’s former sidekick delivered his boisterous “Heeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” that the Detroit native would also become part of, yet, another iconic milestone.
Like It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Star Search was also a launching pad for many superstars – past and present.
On the show, contestants competed in several genres of entertainment. While categories varied slightly from season to season, the ten basic categories were:
Male vocalist
Female vocalist
Junior vocalist (Second half of the season)
Teen vocalist (First half of the season)
Junior dance (First half of the season)
Teen dance (Second half of the season)
Vocal group
Spokesmodel
Comedy
Dance
Like most talent shows, there was an audition and selection process, and then the fun began. In each category, two people competed, a champion and a challenger. Usually the challenger performed first, while the champion performed second. In later seasons, the champion performed first.
All acts were judged by a panel of 4 judges; each judge awarded an act from 1 to 4( later changed to 5 stars). Once both acts completed, Mr. McMahon revealed the scores and the best average won. If there was a tie, the audience voted to break the tie and the results were revealed at the end of the show.
Performers had to win at least several shows in a row, depending 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 competed in that class the following week.
In most seasons, 2 semifinal shows took place – one in the fall and the other in the spring, prior to the championship show. Each semifinal used five judges. No scoring was used, and the judges’ votes weren’t reveale. Winning acts competed in the championship show.
On the championship show, winners of Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Group, Comedy, and Dance, were awarded $100,000 but, unlike American Idol, no record contract were guaranteed. Many Star Search winners from the early seasons were lucky to secure recording contracts within a few weeks of the end of the competition.
In early seasons, before the three match limit rule was adopted, the grand champions were determined by how long a champion held their title.
Fun Facts
Notable competition winners
Countess Vaughn, 1988 (Junior Vocalist)
Tracie Spencer, 1987 (Female Vocalist)
Notable Performers
Aaliyah, (Female Vocalist)
Adam Sandler (Comedy)
Alanis Morissette, (Female Vocalist)
Britney Spears, (Female Vocalist)
Christina Aguilera, (Female Vocalist)
Dave Chappelle (Comedy)
Destiny’s Child, (Vocal Group, as Girls Tyme)
Drew Carey (Comedy)
Justin Timberlake (Male Vocalist, as Justin Randall)
Kevin James (Comedy)
LeAnn Rimes ( Female Vocalist)
Martin Lawrence (Comedy)
Ray Romano (Comedy)
Rosie O’Donnell, (Comedy)
Shanice Wilson (Female Vocalist)
Sinbad (Comedy)
Usher (Male Vocalist, as Usher Raymond)
In the wake of American Idol’s success, actor /comedian 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 four panelists, including Actor/economist/lawyer Ben Stein, Country music icon Naomi Judd, writer/producer Ahmet Zappa and a rotating celebrity panelist (which in at least one case was McMahon himself). Among the winners was singer Pop/R&B singer Tiffany Evans, who was the junior grand champion and the only performer in Star Search history to receive five perfect scores on all of her appearances.
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 house judges, along with the one celebrity judge, gave each contestant a score on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, making a maximum score of 20 stars. During each commercial break, the home audience went to 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!”
For the fourth and final series, celebrity judges were scrapped, and had three house judges for the entire series: Naomi Judd remained while Stein and Zappa were replaced by hip hop pioneer MC Lyte, and television producer Matti Leshem. This remake lasted two years before its cancellation in April 2004.
Sadly, in 2009 Ed McMahon passed away in his sleep at the age of 86. Although, Mr. McMahon developed health problems during his later years, no formal cause of death was given. He will always be remembered for his dynamic speaking voice, robust personality, and genuine spirit. Although Arsenio Hall did an amazing job with the remake, Ed McMahon will, forever, be known as the original “voice” of Star Search.
Presently there are countless talent shows that exist not only in the US, but in other countries as well. But like the old saying goes, everything great is always inspired by something even greater that came before it.