Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods is an MTV program created in order to cast an actress to replace Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.

The winner of the show, Bailey Hanks, in addition to being cast in the role, was given the opportunity to record her own single of the musical's first-act closer, "So Much Better". The show concluded on July 21, 2008. Autumn Hurlbert was the runner up. She served as Hanks' understudy and performed in the ensemble of the show (replacing Becky Gulsvig who left to join the tour). Bundy's last performance in the musical was on July 20, 2008. Hanks began performances on July 23, 2008, and remained with the show until it closed on October 19, 2008.

Two other show finalists, Rhiannon Hansen and Lauren Zakrin, performed in the "Legally Blonde" national tour. Hansen played Margot, and Zakrin performed in the ensemble as well serving as understudy to Becky Gulsvig as Elle Woods.

The show began with 15 contestants. All except the winner were eliminated over eight episodes, in which they performed songs and faced other challenges. A three-judge panel made the elimination decisions. Most episodes involved a small prize for the winner of the challenge, which could be shared with another contestant of the winner's choosing.

Judges and mentors Haylie Duff, singer, actress, and Broadway Performer Jerry Mitchell, director and choreographer of Legally Blonde: The Musical Paul Canaan, ensemble member of Legally Blonde: The Musical Bernard Telsey, casting director Heather Hach, librettist of Legally Blonde: The Musical Seth Rudetsky, musician, comedian, actor, writer, vocal coach Denis Jones, Associate Choreographer of Legally Blonde: The Musical Marc Bruni, associate director of Legally Blonde: The Musical

Contestants NameAgeHometownStatusBailey Hanks20Anderson, South CarolinaWinnerAutumn Hurlbert28Mesa, Arizona2nd PlaceRhiannon Hansen19Logan, Utah3rd PlaceLauren Zakrin18Rochester, MichiganEliminated 7thNatalie Lander25Malibu, CaliforniaEliminated 6thEmma Zaks26Bronx, New YorkEliminated 5thCassie Silva19Los Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 3rdCelina Carvajal28San Francisco, CaliforniaLindsey Ridgway24Chicago, IllinoisEliminated 2ndCassie Okenka22Toledo, OhioEliminated 1st

Age at the time of filming.

Episode summaries

In each episode, the contestants met different cast members from the Broadway cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical. They also studied a song from the show and faced various tests and challenges that were evaluated by the panel of judges. Most weeks, a challenge winner received a special prize to help them for the upcoming audition.

Episode Number 1 – "You're Cut" (Originally aired June 2, 2008) 50 contestants traveled to New York hoping to star as the next Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical. An initial dance audition ensued, and the field was narrowed down to 15 contestants. The 15 contestants learned the song "So Much Better,” and a dance. Later on, the contestants auditioned for the judges. Five contestants were eliminated as the judges were not satisfied with their singing and dancing, leaving 10 remaining contestants. The 10 contestants were moved to a penthouse to stay for the next 8 weeks for their upcoming auditions.

Episode Number 2 – "And Then There Were 10" (Originally aired June 9, 2008) Episode 2 was focused on acting. Scene partner Nikki Snelson (who played Brooke Wyndham in the musical) purposely drops a line during the contestants' auditions to see how the contestants react if their scene partner forgets a line. The contestants also learned the song, "Delta Nu Nu Nu". The challenge winner, Bailey Hanks, won personal time with Nikki Snelson. She shared the prize with Ridgway.

Episode Number 3 – "Omigod, She Threw Us Under the Bus!" (Originally aired June 16, 2008) After a grueling vocal workshop on spin bikes to test the contestants' stamina, Silva isolates herself from the other contestants by complaining to the judges that the other contestants failed to give their all during her rehearsals. The episode also focused on the song "Omigod You Guys". The prize was a manicure and pedicure with Orfeh (who played Paulette in the musical), won by Zakrin and shared with Silva.

Episode Number 4 – "It's Time to Get Serious" (Originally aired June 23, 2008) The top eight contestants experience illness and nerves, while learning the song "Serious" and performing a challenging comedic scene. The prize was a date with Richard H. Blake (who played Warner Huntington III in the musical), won by Hurlbert and shared with Carvajal.

Episode Number 5 – "These Pink Boots Are Made For Dancing" (Originally aired June 30, 2008) The six contestants test their dancing skills on the cobblestoned streets of Brooklyn and face a Hip-Hop dancing challenge ("Shake Your Junk" dance sequence). The song for the episode was "Positive". Lander won a yoga lesson with Kate Shindle (who played Vivienne Kensington in the musical), which she shared with Hansen.

Episode Number 6 – "Blonde to the Bone" (Originally aired July 7, 2008) The final five contestants were given makeovers and performed the ballad "Legally Blonde." The episode's challenge involved modeling, and the featured song was "Legally Blonde". Lander won a lunch date with Andy Karl (who played Kyle The UPS Guy and understudied Emmett in the musical).

Episode Number 7 – "Triple Threat Test" (Originally aired July 14, 2008) Four finalists auditioned with a challenging number that tested their singing, acting and dancing abilities. Their costume change skills were also tested, as was their stamina. The song featured was "What You Want". All the contestants won dinner at the loft and Legally Blonde-style Tiffany necklaces.

Episode Number 8 – "A Star is Born!" (Originally aired July 21, 2008) Hurlbert and Hanks performed three Legally Blonde numbers live at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, and Hanks was declared the winner. The three songs were "Omigod You Guys", "Positive" and "So Much Better". In addition to winning a contract to perform the role of Elle Woods on Broadway for at least three months, Hanks was given the opportunity to record her own single of the musical's first-act closer, "So Much Better".The single is available to download on Amazon.com, iTunes, and available on hard-copy from Ghostlight Records. Hurlbert, as the runner up, will act as Hanks' understudy and perform in the ensemble of the show. Zakrin, the third runner up, will understudy the tour's Elle Woods, Becky Gulsvig, and will also be a member of the ensemble. And, Hansen, the second runner up, will play the role of Margot, Elle's best friend, on tour, as well as understudying Elle.

Broadway cast appearances In each episode, the contestants meet a cast member from Legally Blonde: The Musical. Usually, these opportunities were awarded as prizes.

Episode 1: Jerry Mitchell (Director), Laura Bell Bundy (Elle Woods) Episode 2: Nikki Snelson (Brooke Wyndham) Episode 3: Orfeh (Paulette Bonafonté) Episode 4: Boo-Boo (Bruiser), Teddy (Bruiser), Richard H. Blake (Warner Huntington III) Episode 5: Kate Shindle (Vivienne Kensington), Nick Kenkel (Ensemble) Episode 6: Laura Bell Bundy, Andy Karl (Grandmaster Chad/Dewey/Kyle; u/s Emmett Forrest) Episode 7: Rusty Mowery (Dance Captain, Swing), Michelle Kittrell (Ensemble, Dance Captain), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Pilar), April Berry (Ensemble/Kristine the Delta Nu), Manuel Herrera (Ensemble/Nikos), and Nick Kenkel (Ensemble) Episode 8: Jerry Mitchell, and current cast members

Auditions These were the following auditions or workshops for each episode. These are similar to "challenges" on other reality shows.

Episode 1: Dancing/Singing Episode 2: Acting Episode 3: Stamina Episode 4: Bonding with Bruiser Episode 5: Hip-Hop Dancing Episode 6: Becoming Elle/Modeling Episode 7: Being a Triple Threat (Singing, Dancing, Acting)/Costume Changes/Stamina Episode 8: Performing Live at the Palace Theatre

Musical numbers These were the musical numbers from the Broadway show that the contestants were taught during each episode.

Episode 1: So Much Better Episode 2: Delta Nu Nu Nu Episode 3: Omigod You Guys Episode 4: Serious Episode 5: Positive ("Shake Your Junk" Dance sequence) Episode 6: Legally Blonde Episode 7: What You Want Episode 8: Omigod You Guys, Positive, and So Much Better

Rewards/Gifts Episode 1: None Episode 2: Personal time with Nikki Snelson. Won by Hanks and shared with Ridgway. Episode 3: Manicure and pedicure with Orfeh. Won by Zakrin and shared with Silva Episode 4: A date with Richard H. Blake. Won by Hurlbert and shared with Carvajal. Episode 5: Yoga lesson with Kate Shindle. Won by Lander and shared with Hansen. Episode 6: Lunch date with Andy Karl. Won by Lander. Episode 7: Dinner at the loft and Legally Blonde-style Tiffany necklaces. Shared by all of the contestants. Episode 8: Becoming Elle Woods. Won by Hanks.

Competition

Elimination process During the course of the auditions, the three judges determine which contestants to eliminate and which ones to continue in the competition. After the judges figure out who will go and who will stay they write the names down, in order by best audition, on "the list" similar to the one referred to during the song So Much Better. Haylie Duff is then given the list and announces the list in order. The remaining contestants who are not on the list must immediately head to the building's casting office where the three judges will determine the eliminated contestant.

Elimination chart +Call-Out Order Number List Episodes 1234567801 Hurlbert Hanks Hanks Hurlbert Hansen Lander HurlbertHurlbert Hurlbert Hanks 02 Hanks Ridgway Zakrin Hanks Zaks Hanks Zakrin HanksHanks Hurlbert 03 Okenka Okenka Zaks Lander Zakrin Zakrin Hanks Hansen Hansen 04 Silva Hurlbert Lander Hansen Hanks Hansen Hansen Zakrin 05 Carvajal Lander Hansen Silva Lander Hurlbert Lander 06 Chloe Carvajal Hurlbert Zaks Hurlbert Zaks 07 Zaks Emma Carvajal Carvajal Silva 08 Zakrin Silva Ridgway Zakrin Carvajal 09 Libby Zakrin Silva Ridgway 10 Ridgway Hansen Okenka 11 Mara Rachel 12 Mary Mara 13 Lander Mary 14 Rachel Libby 15 Hansen Chloe

The contestant won the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical. The contestant won the reward challenge. The contestant was not on the casting list but remained in the competition. The contestant won the reward challenge but was not on the casting list and remained in the competition. The contestant won the reward challenge, but was eliminated. The contestant was eliminated.

In episode 5, the panel of judges informed Lander that she would be on the list prior to the official announcement of the list. In episode 7 there was no one on the casting list. Additionally, Zakrin was eliminated before Hurlbert, Hanks, or Hansen were told they were safe, so they are listed alphabetically. On a Zoom reunion call held in April 2020, Hansen revealed that although all four contestants shared the reward, she won the final challenge. This elimination is based on the performances in episode 7. It narrowed down the competition to two contestants before the second elimination in episode 8, which determined the winner. Also, Hansen's elimination was announced before Hurlbert and Hanks's continuing, so they are listed alphabetically.

After the show Hanks was chosen as the winner by Jerry Mitchell during her final audition at the Palace Theatre.

Autumn Hurlbert was declared the runner-up and served as Hanks' understudy while also performing in the ensemble.