Suvechha Sarkar
Few television shows capture the impressive skills and big dreams of talented performers like the Netflix reboot of ‘Star Search‘. The iconic competition not only provides the contestants with fame but also a shot at stardom. Episode 2 turns up the heat as it introduces several talented artists in multiple categories, including comedy, variety, and solo music, each bringing their own flair to the stage. With every punchline, performance, and high note, they hope to compete not just for applause but also for that final push to be crowned the winner. By the end, four winners emerged, securing their place in the competition and leaving a lasting impression.
Harry Merlin Piper is Rising as One of the Youngest Illusion Prodigies
Harry Merlin Piper is a 15-year-old magician who was first brought onto the stage by his father, Rodney James Piper, also a magician. Currently based in Salou, Spain, he has built an impressive reputation for his expertise in illusions, magic, and ventriloquism. As time went on, the competitor became the resident performer at the House of Illusion and has been working there ever since. It is crucial to note that ‘Star Search’ is not Harry’s first stint on television, as he has also made appearances on ‘Tac12 Día y Noche,’ ‘Spain’s Got Talent,’ and ‘Sky News UK Tonight with Sarah Jane Mee.’ His skills even paved the way for him to finally become the youngest person to receive The Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year Award. In July 2025, Harry attended the FISM World Championship of Magic in Turin, Italy.
By November of that same year, Harry collaborated with Magic Alon Society to award a talented magician with the Harry Merlin Piper Award for the second time. In that same month, Harry also performed at Salouween Street. In January 2026, the magician was interviewed by MarvoTalks, where he impressed the interviewer with one of his magic tricks. By the end of the month, one of his tricks was also featured on ‘The Today Show.’ He is also quite active on social media, especially Instagram, where he boasts over 5.7K followers. Besides maintaining a YouTube channel, Harry has further gained over 5.6K followers on Facebook. Beyond his professional pursuits, he considers his family an integral part of his life, as highlighted by his constant gratitude toward his father. Additionally, his cousin, Bonnie Piper, often accompanies him in his performances.
The Force Pushes Forward as a Promising Young Acrobatic Dance Team
The Force is a junior dance group from Livemore, California, comprising contestants aged 10 to 14. They competed against Harry in the junior variety category of the show and gave viewers a lively performance. It helped them earn an equal number of stars as their competitor, but unfortunately, the public vote led to their elimination. The Force mainly specializes in acrobatic dance, carefully balancing storytelling with sharp formations.
Their team of eight performers is originally a part of the Xtreme Force Dance Company, which made its debut in January 2025 with all its teams. While the dance company’s main Instagram page showcases the dance rehearsals of performers of all ages, The Force’s personal profile highlights the fluid movements of its group. They are quite grateful for the opportunity to take the stage on the show and have continued to move forward with resilience.
Susan Rice is Thriving as a Stand-Up Comedian For Over Four Decades
Susan Rice began carving her own path by attending a professional acting school and becoming a professional actress. However, she later found her calling in March 1983, taking to the stage to perform comedy, which led her to perform at several renowned comedy clubs. Simultaneously, she worked for a clothing company for 18 years. A significant moment in Susan’s comedy career came in January 2024, when she filmed on the set of ‘Don’t Tell Comedy.’ After her video went viral, it paved the way for her feature on Vulture in July 2024. Moreover, Susan earned an invitation to perform on ‘America’s Got Talent’ for the celebrity judges. As of writing, she has amassed significant following on Instagram and Facebook, with over 207K and 6.7K, respectively.
After gaining popularity, Susan has performed stand-up comedy several times on the ‘Don’t Tell Comedy’ set. For the entirety of 2025, she performed several shows, including one at the Edmonds Theater on December 27, 2025. In January 2026, Susan announced her upcoming Valentine’s Day performance at Cobb’s Comedy Club. Besides that, she has released her first comedy special, ‘Silver Alert,’ which is available on YouTube, Prime Video, and other streaming platforms. In her free time, Susan enjoys making lifelong memories with her granddaughter. Family is also an anchor for her as she loves celebrating festivities like Christmas with them.
JR De Guzman Has Turned His Love For Music and Comedy Into His Career
JR De Guzman was born in Pangasinan, Philippines, before he and his family moved to San Diego, California, when he was just one year old. Although he comes from a family of dentists, he chose a different path, becoming a musical comedian who uses his talent for singing and playing guitar to make others laugh. In 2022, JR was named one of Variety’s Ten Comics to Watch and Billboard’s Top 10 Musical Comics three years later. In December 2025 alone, JR performed multiple shows across New York, Toronto, and Washington, DC. By the same month, he announced the 2026 tour dates, running from February to June. These tours are scheduled to be conducted in places starting from California and moving on to Arizona, Texas, and New York.
Over the years, JR has released a Netflix special, ‘The Comedy Lineup,’ the album ‘Dual Citizen,’ and an hour special ‘I’m Your Son, Papa.’ In January 2026, he also revealed his decision to return to the Netflix Is A Joke fest in May. Beyond his professional pursuits, the comedian devotes his time to his soulmate, Taylor Lynn. From visiting the beautiful beaches together to humming to beautiful tunes with several musical instruments, the couple never misses a chance to create lifelong memories. Aside from that, JR maintains an incredible relationship with his parents, Tony De Guzman and Jaitrix Tesant, and his beloved brothers. The family often gathers around during the festive season, further highlighting their love for one another. JR’s heart also revolves around his furry pup, who is also his cuddle partner.
Duo Vespertilio is Redefining Aerial Dance with Dark Theatrics and Precision
Duo Vespertilio is a dance group comprising two dancers, Saifee Ghadiyali and Sierra Porreco, from Denver, Colorado. As performative partners, they often combine risky trapeze work and gothic essence. They usually focus on creating aerial and acrobatic routines, often described as “death-defying” and evoking fear. Since its creation, Saifee and Sierra have offered coaching for the dynamic duo trapeze to this day. Furthermore, Duo Vespertilio has performed in several corporate events and music festivals.
Duo Vespertilio currently promotes its services through its personalized namesake website and social media, especially Instagram. On the digital media platform, they share glimpses of their practice sessions, making their precision and unmatched skills quite evident. In September and October of 2024, Saifee and Sierra proudly shared their experience during their performance on the Howl-O-Scream event at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Macy Blatter and Tempo Are Keeping up the Rhythm With Their Dance Training
Macy Blatter and her beloved pup, Tempo, performed together and instantly impressed the judges with their dance. Unfortunately, they were unable to achieve the higher score and were ultimately eliminated. Macy started out with dog training when she was just 15 years old and had always admired the art of dog dancing. However, it wasn’t until 2023 that she officially began indulging herself and her furry pup Tempo in dancing. After extensive training, they competed at the International Freestyle Competition at Crufts in March 2025. Aside from that, Macy is a proud paw parent to another adorable pup, Rumor. He was her first companion, introducing the 23-year-old to dog sports and accompanying her on several of her travels.
In December 2025, Macy announced the release of her e-book, ’45 Step By Step Trick Tutorials.’ She also revealed that it is currently available for just $15 and that she will use the proceeds from its sales to fund a cause she has come across. As of writing, Macy has amassed over 51.5K followers on Instagram, where she collaborates with and promotes several brands, including Farmina Pet Foods and Charlee Bear Dog Treats. On the platform, she continues to curate a feed providing her followers with tutorials on how to train their dogs to perform certain tricks. Whenever Macy gets the chance, she loves showering Tempo and Rumor with love and attention.
Issy Saadeh is Gradually Building His Identity as an Emerging Pop Artist
Since Issy Saadeh is the oldest among his five siblings in an Arab family, he has always had the zeal to be a role model for them. After graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Government, Law and Society and Applied Economics and Management, he joined as a Legal Assistant in Manhattan, New York. However, he never forgot his true dream and passion — singing. He started singing with his mother when he was just 3 years old and has always desired to become a pop star. On the show, Issy opened up that he had made the hard decision to leave behind his day job to pursue a professional path as a singer and songwriter. Unfortunately, he was sent home after receiving an average of 3.3 stars.
Yet, Issy has not let the setback define his love for music, as he continues to share covers on his social media, particularly Instagram. He has gradually garnered a huge community of over 8.4K on the platform. In January 2024, he was interviewed on Shoutout LA about the reason he chose a creative career. On a personal front, the contestant considers his friends an integral part of his life. He enjoys attending parties with them, going on skiing adventures, and sharing laughter from time to time. As a fitness enthusiast, the 24-year-old frequently works out and maintains a strict fitness routine. Besides that, Issy has decided to keep further details about his personal life out of the spotlight.
Bear Bailey is Pursuing a Music Career With His Family as the Source of Strength
When Bear Bailey sang on stage, highlighting his faith, it didn’t just help him secure a victory but also moved the judges to tears. He had disclosed that he grew up in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana, since his mother worked there. During his time there, he used to sing in the church choir, which helped him discover his profound love for the art of singing. Although Bear initially struggled to pursue this particular professional path, his voice reached millions when a TikTok video of him singing went viral, helping him gain 1 million followers. Since then, he has utilized his popularity to create a steady music career. In November 2025, Bear had the opportunity to sing “I’ll Praise You Through” with the Maverick City Music choir at Hearts on Fire Conference.
By December 2025, Bear once again shared his journey with the audience during a show with the same choir. He further got the opportunity to sing “Praise You Through” for the choir’s EP, “Made A Way.” In August 2025, the singer took a significant step forward in his personal life by proposing to the love of his life, Ashley D., for the second time. Bear never backs down from expressing his true feelings for her and how much she means to him. They often go on romantic dates together or simply take walks in nature. Their life is further lit up by their beloved son, Ronan. In October 2025, Bear and Ashley further expanded their family by bringing home two adorable kittens, Cleopatra and Arthur Curry.
Read More: Star Search Episode 1 Contestants: Where Are They Now?
