We kid you not. Harvard, the esteemed Ivy-league university known for its smarty-pants students, is naming Paris Hilton its “Woman of the Year.”Granted, the honour is being bestowed by the institution’s comedy magazine, Harvard Lampoon. So it’s completely in jest. But Hilton, enterprising 26-year-old socialite that she is, is trekking to Harvard on Feb. 6 to accept the award.Coincidentally, Hilton’s latest movie The Hottie & the Nottie will be released two days later, on Feb. 8. She plays the hottie. Natch. Her resumé also includes a brutal death in 2005’s House of Wax and bumbling ineptitude in TV’s The Simple Life.Also on slate for Hilton is a co-starring role in the upcoming horror musical Repo! The Genetic Opera!, which was filmed in Canada. She began work on that project after completing a 23-day jail sentence in Los Angeles last June. Her crime, of course, was violating probation in a DUI reckless driving case.In related news, MTV is looking for the next leading lady for the Legally Blonde production on Broadway. The movie centred on seemingly ditzy blonde Elle Woods getting her law degree at Harvard University.

According to a casting representative, the network will hold auditions on Jan. 21 in Orlando, Fla., for Elle, who was played by Reese Witherspoon in the stellar 2001 big-screen flick.

In case you’re interested, it’s an open call seeking non-union talent only. Candidates must be 18 years or older with strong acting, vocal and dancing skills. Current cast member Richard H. Blake mentioned on his website that the show is also going to launch an MTV reality show to find the perfect match.

The production’s original Elle, Tony nominee Laura Bell Bundy, is leaving the show after an 11-month run.

melissa@tvguide.ca

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