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Legally Blonde Finale Recap: And the Next Elle Woods Is...
Hey everyone! I can't believe this show has come to and end already. Rumors abound over who the winner is, although they conflict with each other so I won't believe anything until I watch the show. Now that Lauren is gone I hope Bailey wins, and I have a feeling she will. She just seems the most Elle-like and is the best all-around threat of the group.
As with all finales we get a recap of the full season. We see the final 10 work singing, dancing, and acting. And we get to see more crying and Autumn run off stage to throw up! And Lauren's tearful speech last week as she realizes how much she's learned in the competition. Pretty short recap, compared to other shows (HK, cough, cough).
First things first. We left off with the judges about to cut another girl to leave us with the final two. It should be Rhiannon based on her lack of singing last week. After the judges say how great all three have been (duh- otherwise they wouldn't have made it this far) they announce that indeed Rhiannon is cut because of her lack of voice. So it's down to Autumn and Bailey for the role. I've heard rumors both of them win (though I'd heard none that Rhiannon wins) so who knows. Both are talented, but Bailey seems more Elle-like to me.
Rhiannon clearly seems devastated by the news and even Bernie almost sheds a tear watching her. She is disappointed but glad at what she accomplished.
Now the two will perform in front of director Jerry Mitchell to see who gets the role of Elle on Broadway.
The next morning it was quiet with just those two waking up alone. Of course they both want to win.
Then they get a call sheet to go to the Palace Theater (where the show is put on) Stage Door. Bailey is overwhelmed already at being in this great historical theater like real Broadway stars. Then they pass Laura Bell Bundy's dressing room and they freak out some more. Finally they reach the stage, and are awed at how huge it is. You can see them both imagine being a star on that stage. The two hold hands and share the moment together.
And out comes Haylie to greet them. She tells them they must each perform three numbers "Omigod You Guys". "Positive", and "So Much Better". Great I've had two of those songs stuck in my head since I heard them on the show so I guess they'll be stuck in my head again. "So Much Better" in particular should be interesting to see how much they've grown in the past few weeks. And they will perform at the theater with current cast members, full orchestra, and real sets. Like Haylie says, "It's just like the real deal". And they have one day to learn the material.
As the girls point out each song has different challenges "Omigod You Guys" is an acting song (I think that was one of the weeks Autumn almost got cut, right?). "Positive" is the big dance number (wasn't Autumn in the bottom group that week too?, and "So Much Better" is the belting song. Autumn is the better singer but Bailey's advantage in dancing and acting should help her with the first two.
Denis, Mark, and Seth come out to congratulate and help the finalists, and Seth says he knew they would be the finalists.
The finalists get to see the workings of the moving stages. They have to go up a moving staircase! Looks like fun but really hard! Autumn worries about learning the steps so fast and also has trouble learning the rhythm of "Positive". Remember they only did a section of it before...
Bailey already seems to outshine Autumn in the dancing, although Seth says Autumn has improved. Bailey does worry about the last note in "So Much Better". Weird, since she hit it fine in the first audition. Although she is correct in her assessment that this note is key, since Autumn will surely nail it will her great voice.
Now to bump it up a notch- the company of the show arrives to dance in the background. Autumn really has trouble with the dances and mechanics of the show. Isn't she supposed to be the theater vet of the two? Bailey too is a bit overwhelmed. Hopefully they can put it together tomorrow...
Back at the loft the two agree to just have fun with the performance. Autumn practices a lot more, while Bailey is more confident and relaxes. Autumn says she thinks she's more prepared (I agree based on Bailey not rehearsing) and has had a bigger journey (honestly I all think they've had a great journey just getting to where they are). I hope Bailey's lack of extra practice doesn't hurt her in the end.
The next morning the girls have a quiet ride in a towncar to the Palace Theater. Bailey just wants to concentrate on the moment, and I understand why. At the theater they each have their own dressing rooms and are fitted for clothes. Autumn gets hair extensions, and she actually looks more Elle-like than she did with shorter hair.
They both come out and look gorgeous in their hair and makeup!! We again see the judges, dressed up for the occasion. And there is Jerry Mitchell, who congratulates them on making it this far. He tells them to relax (harder than it sounds).
Then they go back to their dressing rooms. And if it's reality show finale, that means the loved ones are arriving! Bailey and Autumn's parents come by to give support for their loved ones as they audition for the role of a lifetime. Autumn's parents say she has already won and wish her good luck. Bailey said she had a feeling they would come (she's probably seen other reality shows before) and hugs her parents as they go to watch her perform in the audience.
And now it's showtime. First up is Bailey doing "Omigod You Guys". Her parents already are impressed (of course). Bernie says she looks like Elle Woods, and that's before she hits the great high note at the end of her early solo. So maybe her voice is as good as Autumn's! Jerry too is impressed. She is really good! Her voice isn't as strong as we skip to the end but she really does have the acting down. Heather has chills. Her parents are crying.. aw! She was really good!
As she gets dressed for the next song it's Autumn's turn to go on. She has a tough act to follow. Jerry seems to love her voice. She's good too although not as Elle-energetic as Bailey was. The judges love her voice too. She holds out one note for what seems like forever, and acts well while she does it. I have to admit she did a great job too. It might be a draw after the first number.
Now it's time for song number two "Positive". Autumn is now confident, saying she finally has the dance down. I don't like her acting early on, and she stumbles on the words. I think she does well with the dancing but the judges say it's not quite right so I guess I'll go with the experts on this one. Her lack of dancing may be her downfall. She recovers well for the end of the song though. She's proud of her dancing but if she saw the judges' reaction she might not be so happy.
Now it's Bailey's turn. She brings it in the dancing. This clearly the number where she has the advantage over Autumn. But, Autumn should have the advantage in the next number so it will be really close. I love her attitude at the end of the song! She looks really angry and determined! Bernie says she sounds offkey a bit. I don't hear it but again I'll defer to the experts on this. I love the way she sits in the chair at the end! Offkey notes aside she still wins this round since Autumn messed up the singing and dancing, while Bailey just messed up the singing.
And now the big belter- "So Much Better". Autumn is up first. She sounds great and looks really sad. It's really good! And she does a great job instantly changing emotions when she realizes she is on "the list". The judges too are impressed. And she nails that last note! That was really good- and a great recovery from her last number.
So Bailey must match Autumn's strong performance. We skip right to the part where she finds out she's on the list, and her excitement is certainly more Elle-like than Autumn's. She isn't as good as Autumn but should be good enough to be in a show. She does a great job acting with Warner, and the judges love it as well! Jerry and Bernie love it and say they believe it! This might seal the deal for Bailey! And she nails the last note! I think she has this in the bag! They both were good on this number too but Bailey outshined Autumn on the one that was not a draw.
This week we don't hear the judges deliberate so we actually don't know ahead of time who won!! The two come back out onstage and get cheers from all four. Jerry said they were great at times but neither of them were there yet. So does that mean the winner will get the boot after two weeks? Apparently the winner is the star for two weeks and then will either stay longer or get the boot based on how well they do.
Heather says Autumn had a bum note early on but she recovered. Bernie loves how much they have grown, especially Bailey's acting. Paul loves Bailey's energy, and I agree it makes her more Elle-like. He especially loved her moment in "So Much Better" when she sees her name on the list. I agree that did really pop out for me. They also said Bailey sounded the best she's ever been. Jerry tells her she looks out into the audience too much and not enough at her costars. Well isn't she supposed to relate to the audience? Anyway he says Autumn sounded amazing but doesn't seem quite sorority girl like. He states what we've know all along- Bailey dances better, and Autumn sings better. Jerry says what the judges said last week, that they should put the two of them together to make the perfect Elle.
Oh wait the judges haven't decided yet. While they deliberate Autumn says she'll bring something new to the role and won't be a "carbon copy" of what was done before (a pretty clear shot at Bailey). Bailey says she was made for the part.
Bailey can't believe how great of an opportunity this is for her. Autumn says this has been her lifelong dream. Yeah we get the point they both want it get to the winner already...
And now it's decision time. And the parents are there to watch it. That must stink for the parents of the one that loses. Bailey's dad looks more excited than she does! And Haylie opens the list.... and the winner is.... Bailey! Not too surprising based on how well she did tonight. And as she shrinks to the floor in disbelief she almost pulls Autumn down with her. Autumn looks graciously happy for her and they hug onstage.
And now she gets to take her encore. Wait this is Idol and she has to sing while crying? This could be painful, especially with her doing the real singing song "So Much Better". She does well considering the circumstances. She almost sounds as good as she did before.
Oh hey there's a nice surprise. Girls dressed in white appear to sing backup on top of the set. Wait there's Natalie and Lauren! So all the finalists are back supporting her. Aw that's so cute they have letters on their jackets to spell out "Elle Woods". I don't know if that's part of the show or not but it's adorable.
And there's the obligatory finale confetti! The other girls come down to hug her as the credits roll.
So thought's on Bailey as the new Elle Woods? Will she last more than a week? I think she was the new favorite in the finale but I know a lot of people liked Lauren and Natalie (and Autumn) so she might not be popular enough to stick around. Post your comments below.
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Jul 22, 2008 12:18 AM
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Broadway must be more about looks than talent, just like the rest of the world, that is the only reason Bailey won. Not that Autumn isn't beautiful because she is, she, Autumn, just couln't pull off the ditzy Elle, and we know that Elle can be ditzy, as well as Bailey. I think that ditzy is the only thing that Bailey and Elle really have in common!
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Jul 22, 2008 2:26 PM
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If it makes you feel better Autumn apparently is the understudy for Bailey. And Lauren is the Elle understudy in the national tour, and Rhiannon is Margot in the national tour, so they all got exposure out of this. I think Autumn may be the better singer and actress but Bailey is more Elle-like, and that's why she won.
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Jul 22, 2008 4:01 PM
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