Comic to compete for $500,000 prize

Janine Harouni has made it to the final of Netflix talent show Star Search.

The UK-based American stand-up earned her place on last night’s semi-final, which was streamed live on the platform.

Under the show’s format she had to unseat the previous comedy frontrunner, Filipino comic JR De Guzman.

After Harouni’s set, judge Chrissy Teigen said: ‘I have been waiting for a true contender for JR for several weeks now. You are a true stand-up. You seemed so confident and seasoned. You are fun to watch.’

She also said that De Guzman was ‘so funny… but it’s like you’re an actor’.

Follow judge Sarah Michelle Gellar told 38-year-old Harouni, originally from Staten Island: ‘There hasn’t really been a traditional comic come on that stage where you can see the Netflix special. I would tune into your Netflix special, absolutely.’

Third judge Jelly Roll added: ‘I love what JR does but I have been dying for a quiet room comedian – no guitar, no prop. I think you’re a superstar.’

Each judge gave her four out of five stars, one more than De Guzman in total. These votes were combined with viewers’ scores, with 3.4 for De Guzman and  3.3 for Harouni, but it was enough to secure her place in the final, which streams next Wednesday at 2am UK time. 

Asked how she felt about getting through, Harouni joked: ‘I really have to go to the bathroom - but I’m also feeling very excited.

The ultimate winner will take home a grand prize of $500,000 (£400,000).

Other comic acts who failed to unseat De Guzman in previous rounds included musical-comedy duo Good Cop/Rad Cop, New York stand-up Liam Nelson and 74-year-old Susan Rice.

Here’s Harouni’s set from the show:

Published: 12 Feb 2026