Sarah Michelle Gellar Reflects on Being Rejected from “Star Search”, Says Now Being a Judge Is a 'Full Redemption Arc' (Exclusive)
- - Sarah Michelle Gellar Reflects on Being Rejected from “Star Search”, Says Now Being a Judge Is a 'Full Redemption Arc' (Exclusive)
Tereza Shkurtaj, Alex CramerJanuary 25, 2026 at 11:30 PM
1
Donna Svennevik /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Sarah Michelle Gellar. -
The iconic ’80s and ’90s talent competition Star Search has officially returned, reimagined for a new era by Netflix
Episode 1 taped live on Jan. 20, 2026, with Chrissy Teigen, Jelly Roll and Sarah Michelle Gellar at the judges’ table and Anthony Anderson as host
During the taping, PEOPLE spoke with Gellar about the full-circle moment of judging the show that once rejected her audition as a young girl
Before American Idol and America’s Got Talent, there was Star Search – an iconic talent competition that aired from 1983 to 1995.
The no-frills series put singers, comedians, dancers and other performers head-to-head and helped launch future stars like Britney Spears long before viral auditions and fan voting.
But while many careers began on the Star Search stage, not every hopeful walked away a winner. Few people know that Sarah Michelle Gellar auditioned for the show as a young girl – only to be rejected.
“You know, what I remembered was I didn't make it, and that's okay because I watched so many people that I thought were so talented that even got on and didn't win and went on to huge careers,” Gellar, 48, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “So I remember just that I didn't make it, but I still loved the show.”
Kit Karzen/Netflix
Sarah Michelle Gellar.
When Gellar auditioned for Star Search, she competed in the acting category and was surrounded by familiar faces, including Lindsey Price and Eva LaRue.
“I have plenty of friends that were on the original acting category,” the Scooby-Doo actress explains. “So they had a scene, and two actors would start it, and then two actors would finish, and then it would be a live vote.”
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Although Gellar’s audition didn’t move forward, she has returned decades later as a judge on Star Search’s Netflix reboot alongside Chrissy Teigen and Jelly Roll, a moment she says feels like a “full redemption arc.”
“It does feel that way a little bit,” she admits, reflecting on her journey from a young hopeful to a judge. “But you know what? It’s the ultimate lesson…have your dreams…go after them. You’re never too young to have dreams.”
Being rejected on the show clearly didn’t hold her back, and Gellar says she feels no bitterness about the experience. “I feel very lucky,” she shares. “I wasn’t angry about it.”
Kit Karzen/Netflix
Chrissy Teigen, Jelly Roll, and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
For Gellar, coming back to Star Search isn’t about winning – it’s about celebrating growth after failure. “It worked out okay,” she emphasizes, reflecting on how early setbacks didn’t define her path.
She notes that sometimes not winning can actually open the door to greater growth, pointing to Spears as an example.
"Maybe if Britney had won, she would have stayed in sort of that country lane, and she wouldn't have developed into the artist that she became, and maybe she wouldn't be the superstar that she is,” Gellar says, suggesting that rejection isn’t the end, but often part of the journey that shapes an artist’s true potential.
“So sometimes those are lessons you have to learn,” she admits. “Maybe for me, not being on it made me study my craft more, work harder so that I could achieve what I wanted.”
Netflix/YouTube
Anthony Anderson, Chrissy Teigen, Jelly Roll, and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
When it comes to picking her favorite category on Star Search now that she’s a judge, Gellar points to magic.
“I think anything that I don't understand how it works, right? Like music, I do understand. I understand what it's like to hit a note and to be in... dance, I understand. I may not be able to dance like that, but I understand it,” she reveals. “So for me, comedy and magic are the two I'm most excited about.”
Star Search premiered on Jan. 20 with new episodes dropping every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Netflix.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
