Slim pickings in new TV talent tilt

MERCADO. High-flying stellar career.

The new “Starstruck” talent search has gotten off to a brisk start, ending its very first week of telecasting today by already coming up with its 14 finalists, separated from the chaff of 35 original hopefuls.

In past editions, “Starstruck” has managed to discover and develop durable TV-film stars like Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras, but they have tended to be exceptions to the more general rule of starlets who are given their chance to shine, but don’t quite have what it takes to really make it.

For the TV talent search to be more efficiently productive and successful in its avowed intent of finding real stars, therefore, it’s key that its selection process is radically improved. That means tapping real experts at finding stellar talents to audition thousands of hopefuls to find an initial 50 really promising unknowns.

This should be done six months before the actual start of the show’s airing schedule, so that the 50 initial finds can be given enough workshops to hone and refine their looks and performing abilities.

Exceptionally promising

The goal is to come up with 35 official semifinalists who are really exceptionally promising and talented, so when the search starts airing, most or all would convince the viewing public that they have what it takes to end up as certified stars.

Was this in fact the operative process for the current tilt? Based on how the 35 chosen bets have been presenting themselves, the answer to that all-important question is in the niggling negative: Too many of the 35 are swiftly turning out to be not pretty or gifted or charismatic enough for viewers to love or even like, so the search is currently having a tough time coming up with its roster of 14 deserving finalists.

Perhaps not enough lead time was allotted? Perhaps the “experts” weren’t all that astute? Perhaps the mentors weren’t up to snuff in making the 35 semifinalists really get their performing and stellar acts together? Based on how poorly the 35 initial bets are faring on the show, it sure looks like some talent-development initiatives were haplessly put into play.

Well, there’s still hope that the search will produce a few stars—if the 14 finalists are smartly chosen. Will this happy outcome actually happen? Based on some of the finalists already chosen up to last Wednesday, we’re not that sure. — But, here’s hoping!

Weakest link

The weakest link in the current batch’s combination of performing skills appears to be their singing ability. Most of the surviving talents to date are just so-so singers

—so, where are the really good vocalists? Were they simply not goodlooking enough to make the cut?

As for dancing ability, that isn’t such a big deal in these parts, because most Filipinos dance well. What about acting? Ah, that’s another big bone of turbulent contention, because many of the bets’ idea of great acting is obviously just to get a big emotional breakdown going—and lugubriously and loudly scream their hearts and lungs out!

That does show that they’re capable of “total” emotional and vocal commitment, but what about subtlety? Emotional shading? Insightful contradiction of feelings? Those emotive skills are just as important as big “breakdowns,” but have yet to be witnessed on the show. Let’s pray that the 14 finalists will be taught to develop and produce them as well!

—And, what about “happy?” Not all great acting is sad, loud and tragic, positive emotions are important, too! —So we trust that we’ll also get to hear the finalists believably, enthusiastically, joyfully laugh!