Netflix’s reboot of the classic talent competition Star Search faced broad backlash from fans after its live premiere on January 20, as many fans called out the poor picture and sound quality throughout the show.

The revival marks the return of the series more than three decades after the original ended, but technical issues became a major talking point among the show’s audiences.

Star Search aired its first episode of a planned five-week run on the streaming service, featuring performances in singing, dancing, magic, and group routines. The judging panel for the reboot includes Chrissy Teigen, Jelly Roll, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, all of whom made headlines for their involvement in the revived series.

Hosted by Black-ish actor Anthony Anderson, the live broadcast introduced a new generation of performers to Netflix subscribers.

Viewers quickly noticed the picture quality was blurry and the audio levels were inconsistent from the start. Fans took to social media during the broadcast to note the ongoing glitches, which persisted through the nearly 90-minute episode. One fan reacted on X, writing, “This #StarSearch production feels so old.” Another posted, “@Netflix it’s so blurry fix it now #StarSearch.”

“There is an audio engineer that is working his last show for a while,” one commenter predicted, while another wrote, “Star search on Netflix production and sound are unfathomably horrible.” Additional viewers added comments such as, “The mics are low can’t hear the commentary,” and “The music sounds like its underwater. Anyone else?!”

Despite the technical issues, many viewers praised Star Search’s updated real-time voting system, which allows fans to vote during live episodes via their TV remote or the Netflix app, differing from the original show’s reliance on telephone calls and faxes.

The new interactive voting feature was highlighted as one of the show’s key innovations, giving audiences around the world direct influence over contestants’ progress.

The Star Search reboot builds on a long legacy that began with the original series, which debuted in September 1983 and ran until 1995 with Ed McMahon as host. The original program is widely credited with launching the careers of major stars, including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Dave Chappelle, and Norm Macdonald, among others. A brief revival aired in the early 2000s, but the latest Netflix version represents the most significant relaunch in over 20 years.

Oscar-nominated musician Jelly Roll, a seven-time Grammy nominee whose recent album topped the Billboard 200 chart, is among the celebrity judges this season. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar and media personality Chrissy Teigen round out the panel, bringing diverse entertainment backgrounds to the competition.

While critics of the premiere focused on production quality, supporters noted that the show’s structure and voting format hold promise. Episodes are set to air live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through mid-February.