When I first heard that MTV was going to broadcast Broadway’s Legally Blonde: The Musical (this Saturday at 1 p.m.), I thought, Omigod! — to quote the opening song — why would a show do that? Why would the producers take the thing they’re trying to charge $125 for and give it away on TV for free? And then I thought, Omigod, why haven’t other shows done this?
Anyone who’s already seen the show (starring Orfeh and Laura Bell Bundy, pictured) and liked it will watch the MTV version (you can see a few clips here), which includes a red- (or pink-) carpet celebration hosted by the Hills girls. (Apparently this is a big deal. Personally, I couldn’t pick Lauren out of a lineup. Oh, that sound you just heard was half of the EW staff collectively fainting.) Anyone who watches on MTV and doesn’t like it — well, no big deal. It’s not like they shelled out $125 for it. They’re not likely to be too bitter. And those who watched and liked it will be itching to see it again — live. They’ll be bugging their moms to buy tickets. They’ll be buying the cast recording. The stuffed Bruiser puppies. The yoga pants with "omigod" emblazoned across the butt. (Those are actually pretty cute, come to think of it.)
MTV, by the way? Perfect match for LB. The show’s target audience is 12- to 21-year-old girls. This is no dumb Blonde.Moreover, it’s making Broadway more accessible, which I have toapplaud. Not everyone can afford to shell out upwards of 100 bucks apop every time they want to get a little culture. And not everyonelives in a city with access to Broadway shows, touring companies,professional theater, or community theater.
So I wonder… will other shows hop on the TV bandwagon? The upcoming Little Mermaid could do its own Disney Channel broadcast. Spring Awakening seems like another one that’s tailor-made for MTV. (The show already has its own video!) I know I’ll be watching Blondeon MTV tomorrow — well, DVRing, since it conflicts with theMichigan-Purdue game (college football fans: also not the show’s targetaudience); what about you, PopWatchers? And what Broadway show do youwant to see on TV?
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MTV, this isn’t what we meant when we asked to see more music
Ah, the desperate grasping of the High School Musical coattails has begun. I love musicals (though not this one; I can’t stand the songs) and I wish them the best, I get the feeling that this is not going to be the major cultural sensation MTV is hoping for.
Oh, and by the way, those sweatpants with writing on the butt? Beyond lame.
I just saw Avenue Q last night and it was fabulous, had it not come to los angeles and I was able to score $20 seats, I would have never been able to experience it, so I definitely agree they should bring more Broadway shows to the Small Screen (as long as they dont show repeats every other day like MTV is notorious for doing). Although Avenue Q is pretty offensive/raunchy perhaps it could broadcasr on HBO???
A live broadcast of RENT on MTV would not only be awesome, it would highlight the flaws of the Chris Columbus film (which I admittedly own)
watch it? i’m having a party for it! i’ve wanted to see it, but tickets are expensive, and rush seats i’ve tried to get aren’t that expensive. and while i admit that i feel foolish watching a filmed version of a musical that’s playing only a few blocks away from me, i think it’s brilliant marketing for the show. thing about the national tour! think about high school musical! smart smart smart.
I don’t mind this show “selling out,” and I would almost expect Spring Awakening to follow in its footsteps. But I am beyond excited anyway! I can’t wait to watch it today and hope that other shows do follow in its footsteps to bring more attention to Broadway if nothing else.
Besides, even if you did pay $125, the TV version is probably gonna be a different (better? maybe?) seat, or at least a different experience than the live version.
But “Spring Awakening” would probably have to be somewhat censored to appear on TV, right?
I’m all for this – what does MTV usually show on Sat afternoons except Top Model marathons and non-stop ringtone ads?
Would LOVE to see Wicked.
I just started watching it, 19 minutes in and there’s major suckage going on. There’s a reason MTV is doing this, it wants to kill BROADWAY DEAD!!!
OMG those Hills girls suck! Like majorly with no expression and complete monotone voices. But I’m incredibly excited (I’m in the target audience!)
I think it is great if they are trying to expose a younger audience to theater. However, I feel that most theatrical productions come across as terrible on film. It always seems like the actors are shouting and overdoing it. The problem is that acting for the stage and acting for film are VERY different things…and trying to cross the two mediums doesn’t usually work. But good luck to them.
I think it is great if they are trying to expose a younger audience to theater. However, I feel that most theatrical productions come across as terrible on film. It always seems like the actors are shouting and overdoing it. The problem is that acting for the stage and acting for film are VERY different things…and trying to cross the two mediums doesn’t usually work. But good luck to them.
If MTV is airing Legally Blonde, then VH1 should air Xanadu!
Sigh. This is actually a fantastic show, when you see it on stage. But the way MTV filmed this…where to begin? The editing sucks. And the audience is beyond obnoxious. Do we need insane concert-style cheering every five seconds? I found myself instinctively not liking it when I watched today…and I actually liked this show when I saw it live a few months ago. The problem here is MTV tried to film a Broadway musical like it was a concert. Just doesn’t work. On the bright side, it’s nice to be able to have these performances on film. Laura Bell Bundy is incredible, as are Christian Borle and Orfeh and Michael Rupert. I just wish I could watch them without the hundreds of tweens on speed screaming in the background.
Sigh. This is actually a fantastic show, when you see it on stage. But the way MTV filmed this…where to begin? The editing sucks. And the audience is beyond obnoxious. Do we need insane concert-style cheering every five seconds? I found myself instinctively not liking it when I watched today…and I actually liked this show when I saw it live a few months ago. The problem here is MTV tried to film a Broadway musical like it was a concert. Just doesn’t work. On the bright side, it’s nice to be able to have these performances on film. Laura Bell Bundy is incredible, as are Christian Borle and Orfeh and Michael Rupert. I just wish I could watch them without the hundreds of tweens on speed screaming in the background.
Blah, MTV sucks and so does LEGALLY BLONDE. The movie was soooooo unfunny, so I’m not going to see the musical.
Well, down here in the deep south, TV Guide said it would be on at THIS time, TitanTV said it would be on THIS time, and MTV didn’t have it on at all… Did someone just screw up, or did they pull it at the last moment? Hmmmmm…..
I was surprised to actually like the musical. When I first heard about it, I was horrified. I felt that not everything should be made into a Broadway musical. But, I was bored yesterday, so I watched it, it was good. Really good. I loved the music, and they could really sing well. The songs fit into the story very well. Would I pay money to see it on Broadway, probably not. I’m too cheap for that, but it was good.
I personally thought Legally Blonde the musical was a waste of time for MTV to show. I wish they could’ve shown Spring Awakening. THAT’S a show teenagers should be watching because they can relate to it more. I would know this because i’m a teenager!
I watched it yesterday, and it was terrible. I’m a huge Broadway fan, too, so it’s not like I’m a musical hater. The annoying audience, the average songs, AND the Hills girls? God help us.
i’m with avenque q, wicked, rent and spring awakening. i can see where MTV is coming from, and yes it’s awesome that a lot of the target audience that normally wouldnt be able to see a Broadway musical got to see one…but now they think all musicals are like legally blonde. God help us true theater lovers. i’d take wicked any day over a half assed production of a half assed movie.
I agree with a lot of what you said…but I still had problems with how much they made the audience reaction more like a taping of “Maury,” than a Broadway show. I attended the taping, which I did a little making of video here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=zrHvW8-C-6I) and I was happy to hear that they edited out the truly horrendous note that LBB hit at the end of act one. Overall I enjoyed the taping, but will be surprised if it makes that much of an impact.
sorry. that URL, which I would LOOOVE for you to check out is http://youtube.com/watch?v=zrHvW8-C-6I
I stumbled across the replay last nigth and really enjoyed it (minus The Hills girls). Kudos to MTV for landing this — PBS knows what a draw Broadway shows are; what else do you see every pledge drive? I definitely want to see Wicked, Spring Awakening and Avenue Q (even though that one is currently touring). I’d pay extra for a premium cable channel that shows the current musicals — travel to NYC + the price of tickets isn’t feasible for everyone.
I thought it was a great idea. I DVR’d it and have watched it all the way through once, and some songs a couple more times. Theatre does not come across well on film. Anyone seen the DVD of Into the Woods? Great show, boring on film. The tween screaming didn’t even compare to the unneccessary “hosting” by those brainless girls from The Hills. Will Elle ditch law school and Emmett? Find out after the break. Thank goodness for DVR.
I hope they don’t do this to Spring Awakening. Just saw the show last week and MTV could not possibly capture it on film and do it justice.
I liked it. I would actually go see it on broadway, cause I’m sure it will be better
Hah! 19-21 target audience my a…ss. My husband and I, who are both closer to 50 then 40 looooved it. If we were planning a trip to NYC, we would both be so there, (for Spring Awakening too).
Oh yeah, how did those young women from the Hills get cast? I never saw so much ineptitude on screen. They were wooden, unemotional and the way their eyes focused on the cue cards instead of the camera…. Couldn’t MTV had found young spokespeople with actual charisma and talent?
Okay, I know people are going to go on and on about how television could never do Broadway justice, and I hear ya, but some of us don’t live in NY and when we go, don’t have time to go to more than one or two shows. I loved that MTV did this – I’ve been wanting to check out Legally Blonde for a while, and while nothing can substitute for the live experience, the camera’s view was better than most of the seats I’ve had at shows.