The Playgoer: Legally Blonde Reality Show: It's On!

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Monday, May 05, 2008

Legally Blonde Reality Show: It's On!

Expect to hear a lot about this this summer:

Rialto reality show "'Legally Blonde The Musical': The Search for Elle Woods" has set its preem date, bowing June 2 on MTV.

Eight-episode, pre-taped series will follow 10 actresses vying to replace Laura Bell Bundy as the star of "Legally Blonde," the 2007 tuner based on the 2001 MGM pic. Haylie Duff ("Hairspray") hosts.

Aiming to position itself more as a "Project Runway" than an "American Idol," the show will be presided over by a team of judges -- including helmer Jerry Mitchell and casting agent Bernard Telsey -- whose decisions will not be based on viewer votes. Legit vocal coach Seth Rudetsky and the show's cast members also will be on hand during the proceedings.

Well at least they've professionalized the judging a bit more. Clearly the creative team did not want to let go of quality control.

Can we assume then that the top contenders who emerge will basically be experienced Equity actresses?

And, damnit, wouldn't that be a good thing? During the "Grease/You're the One that I Want" debacle, I kept wondering: Gee, wouldn't a great idea for a "reality" show be to shadow a handful of "real" theatre actors through a real audition process? (Instead of whatever that was.) Indeed, the "Project Runway" model may be more watchable. If still, totally whoring the industry.

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