diff --git a/backend/src/routes/tmdb.js b/backend/src/routes/tmdb.js
index b1b0867..8fffe10 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/tmdb.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/tmdb.js
@@ -37,7 +37,12 @@ router.get('/search', authMiddleware, async (req, res) => {
     );
 
     if (!response.ok) {
-      throw new Error('TMDB API error');
+      const errorText = await response.text();
+      console.error('TMDB API error:', response.status, errorText);
+      return res.status(500).json({ 
+        error: `TMDB API error: ${response.status}`,
+        details: errorText 
+      });
     }
 
     const data = await response.json();
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeDetail.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeDetail.jsx
index 8244bbd..784276a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeDetail.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeDetail.jsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export default function ChallengeDetail() {
   const [searchResults, setSearchResults] = useState([]);
   const [showInvite, setShowInvite] = useState(false);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [searchTimeout, setSearchTimeout] = useState(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     loadChallenge();
@@ -76,19 +77,30 @@ export default function ChallengeDetail() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleSearchUsers = async (query) => {
+  const handleSearchUsers = (query) => {
     setInviteQuery(query);
+    
+    // Clear previous timeout
+    if (searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+    }
+    
     if (query.trim().length < 2) {
       setSearchResults([]);
       return;
     }
 
-    try {
-      const data = await api.searchUsers(query);
-      setSearchResults(data.users);
-    } catch (err) {
-      console.error('Search failed:', err);
-    }
+    // Debounce search by 1 second
+    const timeout = setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const data = await api.searchUsers(query);
+        setSearchResults(data.users);
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error('Search failed:', err);
+      }
+    }, 1000);
+    
+    setSearchTimeout(timeout);
   };
 
   const handleInvite = async (userId) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeList.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeList.jsx
index 5c1762f..7dab72d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeList.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/ChallengeList.jsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default function ChallengeList() {
   const [showResults, setShowResults] = useState([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [creating, setCreating] = useState(false);
+  const [searchTimeout, setSearchTimeout] = useState(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     loadChallenges();
@@ -24,19 +25,30 @@ export default function ChallengeList() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleSearch = async (query) => {
+  const handleSearch = (query) => {
     setSearchQuery(query);
+    
+    // Clear previous timeout
+    if (searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+    }
+    
     if (query.trim().length < 2) {
       setShowResults([]);
       return;
     }
 
-    try {
-      const data = await api.searchShows(query);
-      setShowResults(data.results || []);
-    } catch (err) {
-      console.error('Search failed:', err);
-    }
+    // Debounce search by 1.5 seconds
+    const timeout = setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const data = await api.searchShows(query);
+        setShowResults(data.results || []);
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error('Search failed:', err);
+      }
+    }, 1500);
+    
+    setSearchTimeout(timeout);
   };
 
   const handleCreateChallenge = async (show) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Friends.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Friends.jsx
index 1a9f339..842d0cc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Friends.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Friends.jsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export default function Friends() {
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('');
   const [searchResults, setSearchResults] = useState([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [searchTimeout, setSearchTimeout] = useState(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     loadData();
@@ -29,19 +30,30 @@ export default function Friends() {
     }
   };
 
-  const handleSearch = async (query) => {
+  const handleSearch = (query) => {
     setSearchQuery(query);
+    
+    // Clear previous timeout
+    if (searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+    }
+    
     if (query.trim().length < 2) {
       setSearchResults([]);
       return;
     }
 
-    try {
-      const data = await api.searchUsers(query);
-      setSearchResults(data.users);
-    } catch (err) {
-      console.error('Search failed:', err);
-    }
+    // Debounce search by 1 second
+    const timeout = setTimeout(async () => {
+      try {
+        const data = await api.searchUsers(query);
+        setSearchResults(data.users);
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error('Search failed:', err);
+      }
+    }, 1000);
+    
+    setSearchTimeout(timeout);
   };
 
   const handleSendRequest = async (userId) => {