Laura Bell Bundy has signed on to stay with Legally Blonde -- the Musical, through the Spring. After that, she will likely be moving on from her first leading role on Broadway, as SoCal sorority girl turned Harvard Law standout Elle 
Woods. Last month, Laura (photo, left, by Aaron Lee Fineman) told us she's looking to pursue other projects, including her burgeoning career as a recording artist.
MTV, it appears, will be looking for her replacement.
Last fall, the network showed Legally Blonde in its entirety several times, including a sing-along version, an unprecedented move for a Broadway musical that was still running. Now, according to Playbill, MTV is planning a reality series to find an actress to take over the part. The New York Post reports there's a casting call for the show in Orlando on Jan. 21. They are looking for non-union actresses 18 and over, according to the paper.
This looks similar to Grease: You're the One That I Want, last year's NBC series that found Max Crumm and Laura Osnes to play Danny and Sandy in the current revival of Grease on Broadway. University of Kentucky graduate Derek Keeling was in the running for Danny up until the next-to-the-last episode.
For Legally Blonde, this looks like a dicey proposition. Yes, it'll get the show more national publicity. But Elle Woods is a huge, huge part. The stars are going to have to line up just right for the reality show to find an untested actress with the triple-threat talents and stamina to do that part for eight shows a week. So far, the information is simply there will be a reality show, so no word on whether this will be decided by viewers, judges, a combination of the two and if Laura will play any role in the TV show.
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