Blonde Crazy

Bailey Hanks, the winner of the recent MTV talent/ reality show Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, makes her Broadway debut tonight as that fabulous fashionista-turned-legal eagle Elle Woods in the hit musical version of Legally Blonde.

In a nice show of support for new talent, the show's producers have also cast the three Blonde runners-up. Autumn Hurlbert will also make her Broadway debut tonight; in addition to playing a sorority sister, she also understudies the lead role. Lauren Zakrin will fill similar roles on the upcoming Legally Blonde national tour, where she will be joined by Rhiannon Hansen in the ensemble.

And finally: Bailey's recording of the Blonde song "So Much Better" is now available for download on Amazon and iTunes – Over 2 million songs and growing.

UPDATE: Broadway.com has pics from Bailey's opening night, including a shot of new UPS guy, former Altar Boy Ven Daniel.

The Blonde Leaving the "Blonde"

Laura Bell Bundy, who received a Tony Award nomination for creating the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, performed her last "bend and snap" on Broadway yesterday. Bundy had been with the production since its early workshop days back in 2005.

Replacing Bundy in the role is the winner of the MTV talent/reality show Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, who will not only be revealed on tonight's final episode, but will also make her Broadway debut in the hit tuner Wednesday night. Of the three finalists -- Bailey Hanks, Rhiannon Hansen and Autumn Hurlbert -- Autumn is the fan fave in a current Playbill.com poll, with over 50% of the vote, while Bailey is the frontrunner on the show's official website.

The winner will also see her recording of the Blonde song "So Much Better" released as a single and download on Amazonand iTunes – Over 2 million songs and growingthis Tuesday.

UPDATE: And the new Elle Woods is ... click here to find out, and click here to see her "So Much Better" music video.

Elle: Oh, Dolly!

With Broadway's new Elle Woods almost crowned, it's time to take a look at the official Legally Blonde: The Musicaldoll!

The 16-inch limited edition creation from Madame Alexander comes attired in her "Harvard Variations" ensemble, complete with a tiny Bruiser in tow. The second dollin the collection is dressed in Elle's pretty in pink grand finale outfit.

Either way, it's two snaps up!

Out in Film: Jerry Mitchell

Idol worship: Jerry Mitchell, actor/dancer/ director/choreographer.

- He began his career as a dancer in such Broadway productions as Brigadoon, On Your Toes and The Will Rogers Follies.

- After assisting dance legend Jerome Robbins, he became a choreographer in his own right with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He received Tony and/or Drama Desk nominations for The Full Monty, The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, finally winning both prizes for the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles.

- Directing was next on his agenda, and he got his chance with the hit Legally Blonde - The Musical. In connection with that show, he can currently be seen on the MTV reality series that is conducting The Search for Elle Woods, and was recently part of another TV talent show, Step It Up and Dance.

- Film work as a choreographer has included the classic tango scene from Scent of a Woman, as well as such other movies as In & Out, The Object of My Affection, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Camp (yes, it's "Turkey Lurkey Time").

- During his chorus boy days, he created the now legendary Broadway Bares annual burlesque shows to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Now celebrating its 18th year, this year's edition, titled Wonderland, will be presented this Sunday. Also new: his book, Backstage Pass: Broadway Bares,all about the show's creation and evolution over the years.

Countdown to AFI's 10 Top 10: Courtroom Drama

"Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in a courtroom;
justice is what comes out of a courtroom."
-- Clarence Darrow

From the bounty of the romantic comedy, we now come to the humble courtroom drama, in this, the penultimate step in our countdown to the American Film Institute’s next sure-to-be-buzzed-about list, AFI’s 10 Top 10 (now less then a week away!). Whereas the rom coms were the most represented among AFI’s previous lists (with a whopping 35 previous mentions out of 50 nominations), this legal-minded genre has only placed seven films in prior countdowns.

Two courtroom classic stand tall among those seven though, with four previous listings each: To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men. The latter has the stronger shot at the top spot, if only because about 99% of it takes place in a courtroom. With three prior listings, Philadelphia joins newbies Advise and Consent and The Children’s Hour in a curious gay subgenre among the 50 nominees here (see the comments section below for the full list).

The only other multiple prior honoree is Erin Brokovich (with two mentions, plus an AFI Award), which brings our attention to some films nominated that, like Brokovich, aren’t heavy on the actual courtroom scenes (such as the newest film on the docket, Legally Blonde, the comedy that stands out like a pink sore thumb among the other nominees). Single placers also on the docket include Adam’s Rib (also in the romantic comedy race), A Few Good Men and The Verdict.

This means there will be plenty of new films in this top ten, with the strongest contenders being Anatomy of a Murder, Inherit the Wind, Judgment at Nuremberg, Paths of Glory and Witness for the Prosecution. Other notable hopefuls include The Accused, … And Justice for All, The Caine Mutiny, A Cry in the Dark, Fury (the oldest nominee), In Cold Blood, I Want to Live!, Kramer vs. Kramer, A Man for All Seasons and A Soldier’s Story.

The final verdict on the best courtroom dramas will be announced next Tuesday, June 17, in the three-hour CBS television special, AFI’s 10 Top 10. Joining the previously announced hosts will be such famous talking heads as Tim Allen, Ed Burns, Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda, Michael J. Fox, Brad Garrett, Ben Gazzara, Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, Norman Jewison, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Ray Liotta, Robert Loggia, George Lucas, Sidney Lumet, Amy Madigan, Leonard Maltin, Dominic Monaghan, Elizabeth Perkins, Roman Polanski, Harold Ramis, John Ratzenberger, Rob Reiner, Isabella Rossellini, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Steven Spielberg, Daniel Stern, Ridley Scott, Lesley Ann Warren, Vanessa Williams and Rita Wilson. The presence of some or all of these interviewees may be evidence of the films making the final cut, but we'll address that in a later session. For now, the jury is out.

Whipped Into Shape

The next great star search hits MTV tomorrow night with the debut of Legally Blonde - The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. Blondes and non-blondes alike will strut their stuff to be cast in the hit Broadway musical version of the Reese Witherspoon favorite.

And unlike Grease: You're the One That I Want, the decision will be left to the professionals, including Blonde director/choreography Jerry Mitchell and the show's Tony Award nominated librettist Heather Hach. Also on hand will be host Haylie Duff and music man Seth Rudetsky.

The winner of the eight episode series will take over the role of Elle Woods on Broadway following the departure of its Tony nominated star, Laura Bell Bundy. Click here for a video preview.

From Stage to (Small) Screen

The MTV presentation of the Broadway musical Legally Blonde was nominated for two Daytime Emmy nominations today, including Outstanding Special Class Special. Isn't that special?

In more From Screen to Stage news of the day:
- Speaking of Legally Blonde, Kate Rockwell, an alumni of Grease: You're the One That I Want, will join the cast as a sorority sister next month.
- Raúl Esparza will star in the Steve Martin role in an upcoming workshop of the Broadway bound stage musical version of Leap of Faith. Film director Taylor Hackford is at the helm of the new tuner, which features songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, currently represented on the Great White Way with Disney's The Little Mermaid.
- Speaking of Disney, the French production of The Lion King (known as Le Roi Lion) was named Best Musical at the recent Moliere Awards, the French version of the Tonys.
- Good news for "fanadus": original Xanadu cast members Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa have all renewed their contracts with the show through next January.
- And this last show has nothing to do with movies -- unless you count The Last King of Scotland -- but it does have the best title ever.

UPDATE: Cheyenne Jackson will be leaving Xanadu ... but just for the month of July so he can play "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo" in the Encores! Summer Stars production of Damn Yankeess. Jane Krakowski (as Lola) and Sean Hayes (as the devilish Mr. Applegate) also star.