TV's singing competitions: How would they fare on the charts?

Pity poor "Star Search." It was the first really big competition that gave hopefuls a shot at stardom... and it's mostly forgotten today while "Idol" rakes in accolades. Think of it like all those pioneering Blues musicians who created the basis for rock and roll, but languished in obscurity and poverty while a bunch of upstarts came along and took all the glory.