Fan-Favorite Contestants Face Off In Episode 3 Of Star Search
A 12-year-old’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” left everyone speechless during Night 3 of Star Search.
It’s been 22 years since Star Search was last on TV. The show originally aired from 1983 to 1995 and later had a brief comeback from 2003 to 2004.
That changed on January 20, when the show officially returned with an all-new season after Netflix picked it back up. And the reboot already feels like it never left, with just as much talent taking the stage as ever before.
As for the judging panel, fans are getting a star-studded lineup that includes actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen, and country superstar Jelly Roll.
Their scores, along with viewer votes, will decide who moves forward each night during the 5-week competition and gets one step closer to the $500,000 grand prize.
On Tuesday night, January 27, Night 3 of the competition kicked off, with eight contestants across four categories taking the stage. The categories include Junior Music, Dance, Variety, and Music Group.
Two performers from each category went head-to-head for a spot in the next round.
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12-Year-Old Yair Keydar Blows The Judges Away With “Over The Rainbow”
Winners from Episode 1 returned on the most recent episode to compete against new contestants. In the Junior category, returning performer 11-year-old Eric Williams went head-to-head with newcomer 12-year old Yair Keydar.
Eric gave a memorable performance of “Candy Girl” by New Edition, and he really impressed the judges.
Sarah Michelle was especially amazed at how talented he is at just such a young age. He earned a score of 5 from Jelly Roll, 4 from Chrissy, and 4 from Sarah Michelle, giving him an average of 4 stars.
Next up, Yair Keydar took viewers’ breath away with a powerful performance of “Over The Rainbow.”
It’s not every day you see a 12-year-old sing such a classic. Most people know the ballad from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Yair’s performance was simple, letting his voice be the main focus. He stood on stage with just a microphone, belting out the lyrics, while a few gold lights sparkled softly in the background.
“I have absolute chills. You took a song that is one of the most recognizable songs in the world and made it your own,” judge Sarah Michelle Gellar said. “I can’t believe it’s your first time competing on a stage like this. The control you had at 12 years old, I don’t know what to say.”
Judge Chrissy Teigan described Yair’s voice as “pure and so beautiful.”
When it was time for scores, each judge gave Yair a perfect 5 stars. Combined with a 4.3 from the viewers, his total came to 4.64, making him the winner of the round. Unfortunately, that meant Eric was sent home.
