Washington ? Arsenio Hall has been signed to be host of CBS’s “Star Search” remake. It will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting Jan. 8.

The talent competition series is based on the original “Star Search” that aired from 1983 to 1995 and helped launch the careers of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Sinbad and Martin Lawrence.

CBS has ordered nine episodes, featuring live competition in four categories: adult singer, junior singer, comic and supermodel.

“Star Search” voting will be by “celebrity judges” and viewers at home, a la “American Idol,” the hit Fox singing competition that sent the other networks scrambling to get a “reality” series like it on their air fast.

A series like “Star Search.”

According to CBS, Episodes 1, 2, 3, and 5, 6 and 7 will be “first round” matchups. Winners of Episodes 1, 2 and 3 will advance to Episode 4, which is the first semifinal. Episodes 5, 6 and 7 will introduce the next batch of first-round hopefuls and Episode 8 will be the second semifinal.

Episode 9 will be the grand finale, on Feb. 6, during the ratings sweeps. Two semifinals winners from each category will compete for the $100,000 grand prize on that show.