# StarStruck season 1

The first season of StarStruck, is a Philippine television reality talent competition show, was broadcast on GMA Network. Hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Nancy Castiglione, it premiered on October 27, 2003. The council was composed of Joey de Leon, Joyce Bernal and Ida Henares. The season ended with 71 episodes on February 1, 2004, having Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado as the Ultimate Survivors.
The series is streaming online on YouTube.

## Overview

StarStruck was first announced on GMA Network program SOP, where the hosts invited teenagers from 14 to 18 years old to audition for the upcoming season. Most of the auditions were held at the GMA Network's headquarters and at SM Supermalls throughout the Philippines.
The first season was directed by Lino Cayetano, who studied and taught film in the University of the Philippines, aside from his film and audio-visual communications course in New York Film Academy.
The pilot episode was aired on October 27, 2003. StarStruck was shown only on weekdays with tests shown from Mondays to Thursdays and the elimination night aired on Fridays. The show held its Final Judgment on February 1, 2004, at the Araneta Coliseum.

## Selection process

In the first year of the reality-talent search, out of hundreds who auditioned nationwide, only the Top 100 was chosen for the first cut. From the Top 100, it was trimmed down to the Top 60, then from the Top 60 to the Top 30, and from the Top 30 to the final fourteen finalists.
The Final 14 underwent various workshops and training in order to develop their personalities, talents, and charisma. But, the twist is that every week, one or two hopefuls from the final fourteen may have to say goodbye until only four remain. Those who were eliminated were dubbed as StarStruck Avengers.
The Final 4 vied for the coveted Ultimate Survivors titles, the Ultimate Male Survivor and the Ultimate Female Survivor. Both of them received P1,000,000 pesos each plus an exclusive management contract from GMA Network.
The Runners-up both received P100,000 pesos each plus an exclusive management contract from the network. The StarStruck Avengers (the losing contestants) also received an exclusive contract from the network.

## Hopefuls

When the Final 14 was chosen, they are assigned to different challenges every week that honed their acting, singing, and dancing abilities. Every Friday, one was to leave the competition until there were just six others left. From survivor six, there would be two eliminated, revealing the final four.
The Final 4 battled with each other on the Final Judgment. People chose who they wanted to win by online voting and text voting. 30% of the result came from the online and text votes and the remaining 70% from the council.
Color key:
| Place | Contestant | Age | Hometown | Exit | Result |
| 1 | Mark Herras | 16 | San Pablo, Laguna | February 1, 2004 | Ultimate Male Survivor |
| 2 | Jennylyn Mercado | 16 | Las Piñas | February 1, 2004 | Ultimate Female Survivor |
| 3 | Rainier Castillo | 18 | Quezon City | February 1, 2004 | First Prince |
| 4 | Yasmien Kurdi | 15 | San Juan | February 1, 2004 | First Princess |
| 5 | Nadine Samonte | 15 | Metro Manila | January 9, 2004 | Avenger |
| 6 | Dion Ignacio | 17 | Siniloan, Laguna | January 9, 2004 | Avenger |
| 7 | Christian Esteban | 18 | Tuguegarao | December 26, 2003 | Avenger |
| 8 | Katrina Halili | 17 | Quezon City | December 19, 2003 | Avenger |
| 9 | Tyron Perez | 18 | Concepcion, Tarlac | December 12, 2003 | Avenger |
| 10 | Sheena Halili | 16 | San Fernando, Pampanga | December 5, 2003 | Avenger |
| 11 | Jade Lopez | 16 | Tanauan, Batangas | November 28, 2003 | Avenger |
| 12 | Anton dela Paz | 17 | Quezon City | November 21, 2003 | Avenger |
| 13 | Cristine Reyes | 15 | Marikina | November 14, 2003 | Avenger |
| 14 | Alvin Aragon | 15 | San Juan | November 7, 2003 | Avenger |

## Weekly Artista Tests

Color key:
    Week 1: The official Final 14 hopefuls have been chosen.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Safe |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Safe |
| Dion Ignacio | Safe |
| Anton dela Paz | Safe |
| Tyron Perez | Safe |
| Alvin Aragon | Eliminated |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Challenge Winner |
| Sheena Halili | Safe |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Bottom 3 |
| Jade Lopez | Bottom 3 |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Safe |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
| Cristine Reyes | Safe |
    Week 2: The Final 13 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Safe |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Safe |
| Dion Ignacio | Safe |
| Anton dela Paz | Bottom 3 |
| Tyron Perez | Safe |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Safe |
| Sheena Halili | Challenge Winner |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Safe |
| Jade Lopez | Bottom 3 |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Safe |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
| Cristine Reyes | Eliminated |
    Week 3: The Final 12 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Challenge Winner |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Safe |
| Dion Ignacio | Safe |
| Anton dela Paz | Eliminated |
| Tyron Perez | Bottom 3 |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Safe |
| Sheena Halili | Safe |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Safe |
| Jade Lopez | Safe |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Bottom 3 |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
    Week 4: The Final 11 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Bottom 5 |
| Christian Esteban | Bottom 5 |
| Mark Herras | Bottom 5 |
| Dion Ignacio | Safe |
| Tyron Perez | Safe |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Safe |
| Sheena Halili | Bottom 5 |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Challenge Winner |
| Jade Lopez | Eliminated |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Safe |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
    Week 5: The Final 10 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Safe |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Bottom 5 |
| Dion Ignacio | Bottom 5 |
| Tyron Perez | Bottom 5 |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Safe |
| Sheena Halili | Eliminated |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Bottom 5 |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Challenge Winner |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
    Week 6: The Final 9 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Bottom 4 |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Challenge Winner |
| Dion Ignacio | Bottom 4 |
| Tyron Perez | Eliminated |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Bottom 4 |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Safe |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Safe |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
    Week 7: The Final 8 hopefuls.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Safe |
| Christian Esteban | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Safe |
| Dion Ignacio | Bottom 3 |
| Contestant | Result |
| Katrina Halili | Eliminated |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Safe |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Challenge Winner |
| Nadine Samonte | Bottom 3 |
    Week 8: The Final 7 hopefuls. Avengers versus Survivors.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Challenge Winner |
| Christian Esteban | Eliminated |
| Mark Herras | Bottom 3 |
| Dion Ignacio | Safe |
| Contestant | Result |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Safe |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Bottom 3 |
| Nadine Samonte | Safe |
    Week 9: The Final 6 hopefuls.
** Eliminated Contestant: None
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Safe |
| Mark Herras | Bottom 3 |
| Dion Ignacio | Bottom 3 |
| Contestant | Result |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Challenge Winner |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Safe |
| Nadine Samonte | Bottom 3 |
    Week 10: The Survivor 6 hopefuls, The official Final 4 hopefuls have been chosen.
** Challenge Winner Contestant: Not Awarded
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Final 4 |
| Mark Herras | Final 4 |
| Dion Ignacio | Eliminated |
| Contestant | Result |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Final 4 |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Final 4 |
| Nadine Samonte | Eliminated |
    Week 11-12: The Final 4 Homecoming
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | Advanced |
| Mark Herras | Advanced |
| Contestant | Result |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Advanced |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Advanced |
    Week 13: The Final Judgment, the Ultimate Survivors have been proclaimed.
| Contestant | Result |
| Rainier Castillo | First Prince |
| Mark Herras | Ultimate Male Survivor |
| Contestant | Result |
| Yasmien Kurdi | First Princess |
| Jennylyn Mercado | Ultimate Female Survivor |

## Final Judgment

The winner was announced on a two-hour TV special dubbed as StarStruck: The Final Judgment was held live on February 1, 2004, at the Araneta Coliseum, the venue of the event was jampacked with an estimated 15,000 StarStruck fans and supporters and almost the same number of fans used to wait outside the venue because of seats' insufficiency.
The opening dance number, together with this season's avengers, and they were joined by this final four. Hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Nancy Castiglione. The council was formed with Joey de Leon, Joyce Bernal and Ida Henares.
The final four then performs their solo performances. Rainier Castillo a dance number by a song of Klippers's Step Into The Rhythm performs a solo dance number with the Abstract dancers, and Mark Herras a dance number by a song of Britney Spears's Outrageous performs a solo dance number with the Manoeuvres, Yasmien Kurdi sang Christina Aguilera's The Voice Within, Jennylyn Mercado sang Alicia Keys's Fallin.
The avengers’ performance came in next, in a song and dance medley detailing the journey of the survivors from the audition process, the four International contenders and the elimination of the tenth avengers for a sing and dance number.
The male survivors, Rainier Castillo and Mark Herras dancing together with Joshua Zamora dance number with the Manoeuvres. Next the female survivors, Yasmien Kurdi and Jennylyn Mercado singing together with Lani Misalucha sang Mananatili Kang Mahal, Jaya sang Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig, and Regine Velasquez sang Dadalhin.
Announcement come, Jennylyn Mercado of Las Piñas is the Ultimate Female Survivor and Mark Herras of San Pablo, Laguna is the Ultimate Male Survivor were proclaimed as the Ultimate Survivors, each of them received P1,000,000 pesos each plus and an exclusive management contract from GMA Network.
While, Yasmien Kurdi of San Juan and Rainier Castillo of Quezon City were proclaimed as the Runners-up, each of them received P100,000 pesos each plus and an exclusive management contract from the network. The StarStruck Avengers (the losing contestants) also received an exclusive contract from the network.
It was also announced that the final fourteen will be having our own show. The Final Judgment rated 42.8%, impressively high for a late Sunday night telecast; the StarStruck: The Final Judgment was the only TV event that narrowly matched the Eat Bulaga Silver Anniversary Special.

## Signature dances

There are signature dances and journey songs made in this batch are the following:
* Average Joe
* Hey Yah
* Milkshake
* Outrageous
* Rubber Necking
* Step Into The Rhythm

## Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse

Because of the StarStruck fever, GMA Network created a new show, Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse. it premiered on March 22, 2004. The StarStruck test continues on this show where the final fourteen has to prove their staying power in the business. Every week from Mondays to Thursdays, the show presents a miniseries starring the final fourteen, but this time their acting prowess is put into test. The series ended on August 12, 2004 to give way to Joyride.
Color key:
| Contestants | Original Loveteam | Final Loveteam |
| Mark Herras | Cristine Reyes | Jennylyn Mercado |
| Rainier Castillo | Jade Lopez | Yasmien Kurdi |
| Dion Ignacio | Katrina Halili | Nadine Samonte |
| Christian Esteban | Sheena Halili | Jade Lopez |
| Tyron Perez | Nadine Samonte | Katrina Halili |
| Anton dela Paz | Jennylyn Mercado | Cristine Reyes |
| Alvin Aragon | Yasmien Kurdi | Sheena Halili |
| Jennylyn Mecado | Anton dela Paz | Mark Herras |
| Yasmien Kurdi | Alvin Aragon | Rainier Castillo |
| Nadine Samonte | Tyron Perez | Dion Ignacio |
| Katrina Halili | Dion Ignacio | Tyron Perez |
| Sheena Halili | Christian Esteban | Alvin Aragon |
| Jade Lopez | Ranier Castillo | Christian Esteban |
| Cristine Reyes | Mark Herras | Anton dela Paz |

### Stage 1: LIVE!

Fridays would serve as critical day because the audience will judge their performance for the week through text messaging. An acting award is also given to the survivor who excelled in that week. Stage 1: LIVE! Is also somewhat a variety show for the survivors?
If Mondays to Thursdays, they showed their acting skills, during Fridays, they are able to show their dancing, singing and hosting prowess. The show was hosted by Chynna Ortaleza, Cogie Domingo and Raymond Gutierrez. The show already went off the air.

## Elimination chart

Color key: