StarStruck is a Philippine over-all talent competition (singing, dancing, acting, hosting) airing on GMA Network. It debuted on October 27, 2003, and has since become one of the most popular shows on Philippine television.

The program seeks to discover new celebrities in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. The Filipino public votes for the outcomes of the later stages through text voting and half of the results are from the judges (more popularly known as council). The judges give critiques of the contestants performances depending on the challenges that are being given to the contestants. Since season 1, the council had a lot of members including Joey de Leon (actor, singer-songwriter and comedian), Joyce Bernal (multi-awarded directress), Ida Henares (GMA Networks Artist Center Head) Christopher de Leon (multi-awarded actor), Louie Ignacio (StarStrucks director), Lorna Tolentino (a grandslam actress), and the late Douglas Quijano (one of showbiz industrys respected talent manager).

The show has been hosted up to the present time by Dingdong Dantes from the first season up to the fourth season, Jolina Magdangal since the second season up to the fourth season, Raymond Gutierrez from the third season and Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo as the new hosts on the 5th season. Nancy Castiglione co-hosted the show with Dingdong Dantes from the first season.

Format[link]

Across the nation, casting tours are held in different regions, wherein hopeful contestants are screened by preliminary panels to be selected for star quality, acting talent, or humorous potential and human interest. The audition process is long, beginning with thousands of hopefuls showcasing their talents and interviewed by the panelists.

The competition heats-up when the hopefuls are cut down to fourteen young hopefuls and be the official contestants for a respective Season.

The Final Judgment will then award the finalists respective titles. There will be two ultimate survivors, a male and a female, at the end of every season. The winners are determined through the average of the text and online votes plus the decision of the three members of the StarStruck Council. However in Season 3, from the two ultimate survivors, there will be an Ultimate Sole Survivor, which will earn the winner extra prizes. While in Season 4 instead of a final four, the format differentiates by choosing the final six as there will be four big winners for the season, composed of Ultimate Love Team, Ultimate Hunk, and Ultimate Sweet Heart.

Season synopses[link]

Season 1[link]

StarStruck was first announced on the GMA Network Sunday entertainment program SOP, where the hosts invited teenagers to audition for the upcoming StarStruck season. Much of the auditions were held at SM Supermalls throughout the Philippines.

The first season of StarStruck was then directed by Lino Cayetano, and was hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Nancy Castiglione. The council, which guides the finalists throughout the competition are composed of Joey De Leon, Ida Henares and Bb. Joyce Bernal.

The pilot episode aired on October 27, 2003. Out of thousands who auditioned for a stab at stardom, the initial cut of 100 was reduced to 60, from 60 to 30 and from 30 to only 14 teens as finalists. The Final Fourteen underwent various workshops and trainings in order to compare their personalities, talents, etc.

The twist is that every week, one of the Final 14 may have to bid goodbye until only four remain. Those who were eliminated were dubbed as "StarStruck Avengers". The Final Four Survivors will vie for the coveted "Ultimate Survivor" title.

StarStruck Kids (2004)[link]

After the phenomenal success of StarStruck, GMA Network was inspired to launch a kiddie version of the show. The first and the last of its kind in the StarStruck franchise, the show is geared towards finding new child wonders. The show was first aired on March 20, 2004 and was shown every weekdays.

The show featured young contestants aging from 5 to 7 years old. The rules for picking the two "Ultimate Survivors" were the same as the senior version of Starstruck. Seven boys and seven girls, also known as 14 K, were picked among hundreds who applied for the contest.

The Final Judgment was held on June 5, 2004 at the Aliw Theater. Sam Bumatay and Kurt Perez were the StarStruck Kids Ultimate Survivors.

Season 2[link]

It was first aired on October 11, 2004 and ended on February 20, 2005 with a new set of Survivors and a more rigid tests. The same rules were applied in selecting the Ultimate Survivors.

The show primer aired the untold secrets of the first season's Final 14, the life they had before and after StarStruck and the changes StarStruck made into their lives.

There were slight changes made in The Council. Bb. Joyce Bernal was replaced by director Louie Ignacio.

Season 3[link]

StarStruck Season 3: The Nationwide Invasion started December 2005 and ended on March 12, 2006 (the Final Judgement) airing on Philippine TV replacing Darna. From millions of hopefuls from different provinces all over the Philippines, only 14 will have the chance to survive. If in the first two seasons, StarStruck is shown only weekdays having Friday as Elimination Night, this season Mondays to Fridays will be tests and Sundays would be the elimination night. The show held its Final Judgment on March 12, 2006.

This time, from the two Ultimate Survivors, a Sole Survivor will be picked who will win more than 10 million pesos worth of prizes, consisting of an exclusive GMA talent management contract, a new house and lot, a large cash prize and a livelihood showcase.

This season was hosted by Dingdong Dantes, Jolina Magdangal and Raymond Gutierrez, and members of The Council were Joey de Leon, Lorna Tolentino and Louie Ignacio.

Season 4[link]

On September 3, 2006, GMA Network formally announced the return of their reality-based talent show now titled StarStruck: The Next Level (aka StarStruck 4), a new and improved edition of the popular show. Hosted by the same hosts and headed by The Council members' Lorna Tolentino, Louie Ignacio and Douglas Quijano, the show had its pilot episode on December 4, 2006.

In the 4th year of the reality-talent search, the age bracket for star wannabes was adjusted from 15-18 in previous batches to 16-21, a milestone in StarStruck History.

Unlike the previous batches which launched 14, this batch were trimmed down to twenty, dubbed as the "TOP 20". Also, four winners will be picked this year — Ultimate Sweetheart, Ultimate Hunk, and Ultimate Loveteam.

Just like in previous seasons, voting is via the internet and mobile phones and this constitutes 50% of the total scores of the survivors.

Top 20[link]

• Lizzy Pecson
• Chad Burden
• Jean De Castro
• Kiko Junio
• Chariz Solomon
• Lui Perez

Season 5[link]

GMA Network announced that there will be a 5th season. Auditions for the new season started on the day it was launched on August 30, 2009. It has been confirmed that Dingdong Dantes, Raymond Guttierez and Carla Abellana (replacing Jolina Magdangal) will host the 5th season of Starstruck. The new Starstruck council is composed of stage writer and director Floy Quintos, actress Iza Calzado and another unnamed actor. Dennis Trillo becomes replacement for Dingdong Dantes who later hosts for Family Feud where Richard Gomez, the original host of its show, is planning to run for congressman of Ormoc.^[1]

Major changes will happen on the show on its 5th season. The regular daily show will become a daily update show and will focus on the lives of the contestants and their activities and tests on the show. It will be hosted by the show's alumni, Mark Herras and Sheena Halili of season 1, LJ Reyes of season 2, Arci Munoz of season 3 and Paulo Avelino of season 4. From seasons 3 and 4 the performance night and elimination night both happen during the Sunday show, this season there will be a Saturday edition and it is the performance night and will be hosted by Raymond Gutierrez. The Sunday edition is the elimination night and will be hosted by Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo.

Awards and nominations[link]

StarStruck has been a recipient of various local Best Reality Show Awards as well as Best TV Hosts Awards for its past seasons.

It was also acclaimed internationally. The StarStruck: The Nationwide Invasion (Season 3) Final Judgment was awarded nominated and Highly Commended in the 2006 Asian TV Awards. The same StarStruck III: The Final Judgment was also a Finalist for Variety Special Category in the 2007 New York Festival TV Program & Promotion Awards.

Last November 18, Starstruck won again as Best Reality Talent Search Program in the 2007 PMPC Star Awards for TV, while Dingdong Dantes, Jolina Magdangal & Raymond Gutierrez as Best Reality Talent Search Program Hosts Winners.

Trivia[link]

• The Philippines' premiere all male dance group, The Maneouvres, are considered by fans as the lucky charms of the contestants. Mark Herras, Ryza Cenon, Jewel Mische, Mart Escudero all danced with The Maneouvres during their solo numbers before being pronounced as winners in the contest, with the exception of Batch 3's Marky Cielo. The Maneouvres were not able to dance during the 3rd. season's final judgement due to schedule constraints but Marky started harnessing his dance skills with the Maneouvres when he became a regular on SOP years before his early demise on December 2008.

• All of the StarStruck's signature dances & were choreographed by the legendary ace choreographer, Geleen Eugenio, with the exception of Batch 1's Hey yah (Sung by ) which was choreographed by The Maneouvres, they danced to the tunes of the said song at SOP's front act segment on that same year, they later danced it with the StartStruck contestants for their dance week & it came out so good that the contestants started dancing the said song during their mall tours until it became their signature dance.

• Starstuck's first season in 2003 once had a rating of 41.6% nationwide.

• Nadine Samonte was part of ABS-CBN's star circle batch 10, her batchmates are Dennis Trillo, Reggie Curley and Bea Alonzo. Bea remained an ABS-CBN star while Dennis, later followed by Nadine all defected to GMA where their careers soared to greater heights.

• Mart Escudero is a nephew of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, his real name is Marc Butler but he then opted to use Escudero to easily be identified with the Filipino Audience.

• Nadine Samonte, Mart Escudero, & Kirby De Jesus are former ABS-CBN talents before joining StarStruck, the careers of both Nadine & Mart soared to greater heights after joining StarStruck.

• Mark Herras & Marky Cielo don't only share the same talent in dancing but they also have the same name. They are both named Mark Angelo (Mark Angelo Santos Herras / Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo).

• Ken Punzalan & CJ Muere also auditioned for Star Circle Quest's first season but all failed to make it to the top 10.

• It wasn't Katrina Halili who first jumped into the sexy bandwagon, it was her batchmate Dion Ignacio. Dion became an endorser for Carter underwear alongside Jericho Rosales & was part of the Cosmopolitan's bachelor bash for 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2008. Later Christine Reyes, Iwa Moto, Jackie Rice, Prince Stefan, Paulo Avelino, & Aljur Abrenica all jumped into the sexy bandwagon.

• Marky Cielo (Ichigo Kurosaki), Yasmien Kurdi (Rukia Kuchiki), Dion Ignacio (Yasutora Sado)and Rainier Castillo (Uryū Ishida) voiced the four main characters in the Filipino dub of anime Bleach which debuted in 2007.

• All 7 female contestants of the 1st. season all made it to the FHM's 100 sexiest for 2003, Katrina Halili became number 1 for 2 consecutive years 2006 & 2007 then later Cristine Reyes as number 1 for 2009.

• Megan Young and Johan Santos are among the Starstruck alumni who later become housemates in Pinoy Big Brother of the rival TV station ABS-CBN. Young appeared in Celebrity Edition 2 while Santos appeared in Double Up. Young would later be a regular talent of the station. Santos was crowned as the Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Fourth Big Placer.

• Marky Cielo was the first Igorot actor and voice actor.

• Marky Cielo (1988–2008, aged 20) was the first StarStruck alumni and winner to pass away. Then followed by Tyron Perez of StarStruck batch 1 avenger (1985-2011, aged 26).

• Batch 5 have the oldest and youngest winner of StarStruck (relative to the Final Judgment). Steven Silva is the oldest winner at 23 while Sarah Lahbati is the yougest winner at 16. Aljur Abrenica was also 16 when he won the Ultimate Hunk title.

• The youngest contestant to win is Jackie Rice, who was 14 at that time.

• Princess Snell and Ian Batherson are castaways of Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown

• Rich Asuncion joined Bb. Pilipinas 2009 and she ranked First Runner-up.

• Among the StarStruck finalists, eleven have departed from GMA Network as of November 2010. Megan Young, Cristine Reyes, Johan Santos, Tyrone Perez†, Piero Vergara, Paulo Avelino and Ultimate Winner Jewel Mische have all defected to ABS-CBN, while First Prince Rainier Castillo, First Princess, Arci Munoz, Ultimate Winner Mart Escudero and Nadine Samonte were moved to the emerging TV5.

• Sheena Halili,Aljur Abrenica,Yasmien Kurdi,Dion Ignacio,Rocco Nacino and Kris Bernal are the members of Starstruck who appeared in Amaya.

• Most of the Ultimate Survivors, First Princes and First Princesses are part of the cast of currently aired Danserye called Time of My Life.

• Sheena Halili became a news anchor in May Tamang Balita on GMA News TV.

• Stef Prescott appeared as a castaway in Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Doubles Showdown along with her partner Gino Dela Peña. She made it on the finale along with professional surfer Mara Lopez-Yokohama and comedian Albert "Betong" Sumaya Jr., where she finished as the second-runner up.

• Alvin Aragon (1st StarStruck Avenger) was finally married to former Sexbomb Girls Izzy Trazona (on February 18, 2012).

• Cristine Reyes is the first Starstruck alumni to win as GMMSF's Box-Office Queen from the movie No Other Woman (tied with Anne Curtis).

See also[link]

• List of GMA Network shows

References[link]

External links[link]

• StarStruck
• Stage 1:The Starstruck Playhouse
• StarStruck on IMDb

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2011)

Megan Lynne Young (born February 27, 1990) is a Filipino-American actress who is a member of Star Magic Batch 15. She is best known for being a former celebrity housemate on Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2. Megan is an alumnus of ABS-CBN's rival television station GMA's StarStruck and a former member of GMA Artist Center.

She is the older sister of Lauren Young.

Career[link]

Megan Young's first big showbiz break was with the talent reality search Star Struck. Her talent and personality landed her in the show's top six. But despite her good finish, Megan's acting career never took off. Projects came to her in trickles. Often she would be typecast as the antagonist, the bitch, the bad girl, something she found unpleasant.

She soon moved to ABS-CBN following her sister, Lauren Young, who was part of Star Magic Star Circle 13. She is the first StarStruck alumna to transfer to GMA's rival station, ABS-CBN, in a bid to change her image from a villain to a "nice girl". Her first exposure on the Kapamilya network was as a celebrity housemate on Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2.^[1]

In 2009 she was one of four chosen to be a new Video Jockey for the relaunching of Channel [V] Philippines.

Megan attended Trinity University of Asia School in Quezon City, a middle competency university with fellow actors Ahron Villena, Kris Bernal, and Erich Gonzales. She also attended Digital Film Making at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.^[2]

Appearances[link]

Television[link]

Film[link]

Music video appearances[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Megan Young at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Twitter Account
• StarMagic Profile

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (July 2011)

Mikael Daez (born March 7, 1988) is a Filipino actor and commercial model. He was chosen to play one of the lead roles in the Philippine historical drama, Amaya starring Marian Rivera.^[1]

Education[link]

Daez studied at Ateneo de Manila University from grade school up to college where he graduated with a Management degree.^[2]

Career[link]

Daez started as a commercial model. His endorsed products included Jollibee, Yogurt, Dole Juice, SM and many more.^[2]

In 2011, he auditioned for and achieved the role of one of the two leading men of Marian Rivera for the television series, Amaya.

But, before being seen in Amaya, he was also part of the recently concluded show, Spooky Nights Presents: Bampirella, where he starred opposite Marian Rivera.^[3]

In 2011, Daez was included in the movie remake of the Filipino classic cult fim, Temptation Island, where he replaced Paulo Avelino who was suffering from poor health.^[4]

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Movies[link]

Awards and Nominations[link]

• 100 Sexiest Men in the Philippines - 2011 Rank # 62^[5]

External links[link]

• Mikael Daez at iGMA.tv
• Mikael Daez at the Internet Movie Database
• Mikael Daez at blogspot.com
• Mikael Daez at Facebook.com

References[link]