A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
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If you're looking for racial diversity ... keep looking. But on the plus side, the series emphasizes the hard work and determination necessary to make it in show business. A few contestants are unnecessarily catty, and some get very emotional/upset during the course of the competition, but in general, there are plenty of positive role models to choose from. Some body image issues arise among the contestants.
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Violence & Scariness
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Some verbal sparring/tense moments between contestants.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
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One girl is actually criticized for looking "too sexy" when she performs.
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Language
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"Bitch" is audible; stronger words like "f--k" are rare, and they're bleeped when they occur.
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Products & Purchases
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This is essentially a commercial for Legally Blonde: The Musical, making you wonder whether producers conceived the series as a way to boost ticket sales.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, after they see this upbeat, girl-centric reality series, young fans will probably want to make a pilgrimage to Broadway to see Legally Blonde on stage. Because contestants are auditioning with songs, dances, and dialogue from the musical, the show essentially functions as one long commercial for it. Still, even though the material leans heavily on girlish stereotypes, it ultimately offers young women a strong female role model who reminds us that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover -- especially if it's pink. Expect a few bleeped swear words and a bit of cattiness, but overall, this is tame for reality TV -- and, not incidentally, tamer than the movie the musical is based on, which is appropriate for teens and up.
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Community Reviews
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- Parents say (2)
- Kids say (1)
age 14+
Based on 2 parent reviews
Mr.Ray Parent of 14-year-old
December 11, 2022
age 18+
Taking the Lord’s Name in vain is celebrated w/ gusto!
I saw Legally Blonde The Musical, (the traveling show) (not the search for Elle Woods).This musical takes absolute singing, dancing and shouting delight in taking the Lord’s Name in vain. The OMG musical number is sung three times in the show and almost every cast member is involved. Plenty of sexual references and innuendos. There is a significant LGBTQ component. The message of staying true to your moral values especially as a women is present even though the cast seems to have surrendered to the pressure of Hollywood’s values.Entertaining never the less.
MomToAll101 Adult
December 7, 2011
age 10+
Give the kids a chance here, no bubble wrap necessary!
To be honest half the things in this would fly over kids heads, all they want to be is entertained. Since this is fun and quirky I would say it's very entertaining. With sexual content at a height I think as long as you explain to your child not to repeat things and they actually show interest in the programme and show maturity then it should be ok for over 10's.
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See all 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL: THE SEARCH FOR ELLE WOODS, 15 talented young women in their teens and 20s compete for the chance to sing, dance, and act the part of perky blonde sorority girl-turned-Harvard law student Elle Woods, a role originated by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 film. But only one lucky contestant will win bragging rights to replace Tony Award nominee Laura Bell Bundy as the next Elle on Broadway (talk about the chance of a lifetime). Judges include the show's director, Jerry Mitchell; casting director Bernie Telsey; writer Heather Hach; and actor Paul Canaan. Shepherding the girls through the audition process is singer-actress Haylie Duff, who earned her Broadway chops in 2006 playing Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):
In terms of entertainment value, this show is sure to appeal to fans of Legally Blonde the musical, fans of musicals in general, and fans of the Legally Blonde movies -- in that order. But if you don't meet those criteria, you probably won't find it that interesting. You'll like it even less if you don't like the musical version, since most episodes consist of the contestants singing the same Legally Blonde song, dancing the same Legally Blonde, dance or acting out the same Legally Blonde scene over and over.
Unlike other talent-driven reality shows of its ilk, Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods doesn't waste any time airing footage of the untalented hopefuls who didn't make the cut during open auditions. Instead, it cuts right to the chase, narrowing 50 semi-finalists down to a pool of 10 finalists in minutes. In a way, it's a process that's as ruthless and unemotional as a real-life Broadway casting, making this one of the most realistic reality shows on the air. And for that, it probably deserves a standing ovation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether watching the contestants go through the audition process changes the way they perceive Broadway stars in general. Were you surprised by the long rehearsals and grueling hours? Did some of the competitors handle the stress better than others? Do you think you'd have what it takes to make it in show business? Families can also discuss whether watching a TV show about Legally Blonde the musical makes them want to see it live. Do you think that's what the show's producers had in mind when they created it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 2, 2008
- Cast: Haylie Duff
- Network: MTV
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods
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