Ask Stacy for 9/8/18

Stacy Jenel Smith
Fri, 07 Sep 2018 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

DEAR STACY: What can you tell us about the new "Grinch" movie? Why did they make it? — T.D.

DEAR T.D.: "The Grinch," with Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, is due Nov. 9 from Universal. It is not merely a retelling of the famous Dr. Suess tale that became an animated TV classic with Boris Karloff in 1966, and a big-screen live-action hit with Jim Carrey in 2000. The new animated Grinch is an origin story, a different story "filled with imaginative imagery and has tremendous heart," Illumination Entertainment chief Chris Meledandri told a crowd at CinemaCon earlier this year. Perhaps every generation deserves its own Grinch.
Updated: Sat Sep 08, 2018

DEAR STACY: What can you tell us about the new "Grinch" movie? Why did they make it? — T.D.

DEAR T.D.: "The Grinch," with Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, is due Nov. 9 from Universal. It is not merely a retelling of the famous Dr. Suess tale that became an animated TV classic with Boris Karloff in 1966, and a big-screen live-action hit with Jim Carrey in 2000. The new animated Grinch is an origin story, a different story "filled with imaginative imagery and has tremendous heart," Illumination Entertainment chief Chris Meledandri told a crowd at CinemaCon earlier this year. Perhaps every generation deserves its own Grinch.

DEAR STACY: I watched "Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland" and I thought the actor who played Michael was amazing. Can you tell more about him? — Kaylee

DEAR KAYLEE: The title star of Lifetime's 2017 movie is Michael Jackson impersonator Navi. He plies his craft doing concerts, corporate and private party appearances in the U.K., where he lives, and all over the world. His tour company touts the fact that Jackson himself approved of the Trinidad-born performer's act, even hiring Navi to promote concerts and serve as a decoy for him. A website clip shows the late star enthusiastically applauding Navi. Navi is in his forties and has been imitating MJ since he was 15. His remarkable resemblance to Jackson is helped by the fact that he broke his nose as a teen, and had it "done" in the style of his idol.

DEAR STACY: Whatever happened to Cheri Oteri of "Saturday Night Live" fame? — Jan

DEAR JAN: Although Oteri's career didn't take off in the way of many other "SNL" alumni, she has worked continually since her 1995-2000 stint on the show. Bombs including "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" and "Southland Tales" didn't do her any favors. "Scary Movie" scored her a hit, but she wasn't in the sequels. She's done a lot of voice work on big screen (she played Sleeping Beauty in "Shrek the Third") and small ("Glenn Martin DDS," "Puppy Dog Pals"). And she's done lots of series guest star stints. She created and does the lead voice in the upcoming Nickelodeon series "Abby Hatcher Fuzzly Catcher."

DEAR STACY: I was surprised to learn that Harry Anderson had died. How old was he and what was the cause? — Vicki

DEAR VICKI: The one-time "Night Court" star was 65 when he died last April. It was determined that he had suffered a cardioembolic cerebrovascular accident complicated by influenza.