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.[1]
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 BulagaSilver Anniversary Special.
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.
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.
^ It was a non-elimination week. The bottom group are Mark Herras, Nadine Samonte and Dion Ignacio, But next week the two survivors were eliminated from the competition on January 9, 2004.
^ The final four was chosen on January 9, 2004. And the last avengers are Dion Ignacio and Nadine Samonte, The first called to eliminate is Dion Ignacio and the second called is Nadine Samonte.
^ In the final judgment night, Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado were proclaimed as the Ultimate Survivors.
