Legally Blonde

<p>Was Rachel the very pretty brunette who was one of the last two? I thought she was the strongest person there in terms of singing, and would like to have seen her have the chance to do more. (And she would have looked totally fine in a blonde wig, by the way.) I felt this same way when Julianna was eliminated on Grease. Like someone really qualified got ripped off.</p>

<p>Let's not forget that this is from the people who bring us "The Real World" and "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila." It is all about catfights and drama. I hope these girls realize that they are being chosen with that in mind - the little southern girl in leg warmers who has never been on a plane interacting with the wild child who makes out with everyone. Seems the only criteria was to be able to hit the one note at the end of one song and maybe having hair with lots of body and a natural wave. I saw Legally Blonde when MTV televised it and I couldn't even watch it long enough to get to that song so I think they should focus on something at the beginning. I remember there was lots of moving around - more like an exercise video than dancing, but they had better choose someone who can move since the score is completely forgettable. Did I mention I didn't like the show? A good catfight might be an improvement.</p>

<p>In addition to the pitch issues and the inability to really hold the last note, to my ear none of the contestants knew the difference between belting and yelling. There was a distinct lack of musicality in the singing and I frankly found the singing to be grating. What was kind of strange was that during the group rehearsals, that's not the way they sounded. It's almost as if they were coached to sing their individual auditions over the top at maximum volume.</p>

<p>OK, I def. thought Rachel was the best. And to be brutally honest, some of those girls don't have the "look". One of the premises of Legally Blonde is that this bombshell blonde gets dumped by her boyfriend because, although she has the "looks", she supposedly doesn't have the "brains." A couple of those girls won't be able to pull that off.
Also, a friend from CCM said his friend (from CCM) tried out and was told she was going to be in the top 10, but didn't like the contract stipulations. She said it was ridiculous and that the winner was only guaranteed 2 weeks as that part, so Singersmom, you hit the nail on the head!!</p>

<p>I haven't seen this tv show but sure have heard a lot about it! :) It doesn't surprise me that they have that stipulation in the contract, rossji. No producer is going to do a show like this without it. Would you want the lead of your show chosen via voting by the general public? I doubt it. </p>

<p>I saw the show when it first opened and I have to admit that it was LOTS of fun. It's fluff, for sure, but it's enjoyable fluff and the castmembers were extremely talented. Laura Bell Bundy is very, very good in the role, and it is not an easy role in which to excel. It will be interesting to see who is finally cast and how long they are kept in the show.</p>

<p>If you are interesting in seeing some really talented people in a reality/competition setting, check out "Step it up and Dance" and "So You Think You Can Dance." Those dancers are incredible - they work in many different genres and the focus really is on dancing. Jerry Mitchell has a coaching role on "Step it up..." He agreed to be involved only if he didn't have to judge. He does a great job working with the dancers. I am amazed that they can do hip hop or krump one week and ballroom or broadway the next.</p>

<p>I agree! I'm not a dancer at all (never formally studied or anything) but I find the dance related reality to shows to be more entertaining and, in my opinion, have a much higher quality of talent than the singing based ones.</p>

<p>I haven't seen the show, but after reading Defying Gravity's comment that one was a CMU grad, I was curious so I went to the website. I learned in Emma Zaks' bio that she is 25 and was a CMU grad. Her name was unfamiliar to me so I called my daughter. Neither she (CMU MT class of 2006) or other CMU MTs have ever heard of Emma Zaks. A Google search did not find any connection to CMU. If she did go to CMU, she was not in the School of Drama as an MT or Acting major. In the meantime, CMU MTs are not happy that, especially given her level of talent, she is falsely representing the school. (I would certainly be open to correction, if indeed Emma was an MT or Acting grad from CMU.)</p>

<p>I noticed that the girls on the show have little blogs so maybe someone can ask her if she was in the school of Drama. I'm thinking perhaps she was in the School of Music, then again she could have had a completely unrelated major.</p>

<p>CmuJohannasmom,
Very interesting. With the connections Emma has, I don't think it matters what school of CMU she was in :-P
It also left me really ****ed off that someone like Hayle Duff is flaunting her Broadway talents when there are so many super talented people that never make it on Broadway.</p>

<p>I was kind of reminded of that song from " Last Five Years", where Cathy has the audition.</p>

<p>Defying - I couldn't agree with you more. And Haylie Duff keeps saying she STARRED on Broadway, when she was a SMALL SUPPORTING ROLE.....gimme a break!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>I'm watching it again right now. Why?....I have no idea. But it kills me every time I hear Haylie Duff say she starred on Broadway. And when they say none of these girls have been on Broadway, when they obviously have! This show is bugging me. And I'm sorry, but I just watched the girl who says she went to CMU and I don't think she is even that good. Maybe it was her tone, but gah she sounded flat! I just wanted to mute the tv because it was not a pretty sound coming from her. And half of these girls belts sound like they hurt when they're singing...or should I say screaming, because some of them are.</p>

<p>I just saw "Sex and the City" and one of the girls was definitely in it - in the scene at the beginning commenting on the dress. I don't know her name but I recognized her. </p>

<p>I don't think Haylie Duff is a threat to anyone on Broadway. A stunt casting does not a career make.</p>

<p>is it just me or do the girls sound really nasal when they sing?</p>

<p>As I said, I haven't seen this show but I spoke to one of my Ds over the weekend. She knows a few people who were involved and she said that the show is very much a scripted production. I have no idea why they're saying that the girls have no experience because that is clearly untrue, even simply by looking at their bios on the show's own website. The girls that my D knows also have Broadway and national tour experience, and several of them have auditioned for LB previously, one who made it to the final callback for Margot last year. Many of these girls were obviously called in for this show, more than a few have worked with Bernie Telsey previously.</p>

<p>Having said that, it's likely that many, if not most, would have been seen in a typical open call process anyway, so while the ridiculous factor of the living together type reality show is high, the actual process for the search is not likely to have eliminated anyone who was interested in auditioning anyway. </p>

<p>I have seen Emma Zaks perform a couple of times and the comments here certainly don't reflect what I remember about her performances. She's been on NYC stages for many years. As for the CMU connection, I don't understand why the current MT students would even care. It's likely that her degree was in something other than MT, so how is that "falsely representing CMU"? It's not as though an actor can only include their college in a bio if they majored in MT or acting.</p>

<p>I agree with cartera that Haylie Duff is unlikely to be much of a threat to anyone in the theatre community. I don't understand, though, and never have, the vitriol that is often exhibited towards performers who are cast in stage shows but who are better known in another medium. Stunt casting is done for a reason - to sell seats. This is the bottom line in the very expensive world of professional theatre. The reality is that most performers whom I've seen who have been 'stunt cast' were actually very capable at performing the role. There have been a couple of exceptions but they are a very small minority. Haylie may not be a Broadway star, but she certainly did star on Broadway, as that was how her role was billed and how seats were sold when she was with Hairspray.</p>

<p>Although I agree that these reality type casting shows are a little silly, I'm happy if they're able to broaden interest in live theatre. You're the One that I Want has clearly played an important role in the success of the Grease revival in the past year. I hope the same for LB, which could use some help selling tickets. There are only two or three Broadway theatres which are larger than the Palace, and it's always been a tough one to fill.</p>

<p>I'm so judgemental ...</p>

<p>I suppose the fact that Broadway is currently teaming with ex-American Idol contestants is reason enough for people to subject themselves to this kind of show. Maybe it's worth the risk of never again being taken seriously as an artist if the producers decide to portray you badly. I guess some people just want to be famous ... It just seems to cheapen the whole art form to me. But whatever gets butts in the seats, right? Then, in the words of one of my favorite '80s rock stars, "How can you make art in a place where they sell Jujubes?" ;)</p>

<p>I dunno ... I'll admit to being somewhat obsessed with "So You Think You Can Dance." :)</p>

<p>If they have to put on "Claymates, the Musical" then so be it. A stressed economy will not help ticket sales, so something has to get people to choose a ticket over a tank of gas. I hope this show sparks interest in some who would not have considered going to to the theater. That is what all of us have to hope. Opera is doing the same sort of thing. The Met is showing operas in movie theaters and Nathan Gunn has to perform with his shirt off whenever possible. Anna Netrebko has made MTV -style opera videos.</p>

<p>alwaysamom, I am truly glad to hear that what we saw of Emma Zaks on the premiere episode of MTV's Search for Elle Woods is not representative of what she can do. I mean that sincerely. The snippet of her performances that we saw clearly didn't do her justice.</p>

<p>IT'S PAINFUL TO WATCH THEM MESSING UP THE AUDITION!</p>

<p>=' (</p>

<p>oh god, i feel so bad for them!
I just wanna give them all a hug!</p>