Jon Lovitz, Teri Polo, Allison Sweeney, Fred Savage and 'Glee's' Dot Marie Jones Among Hollywood 'Who's Who' Featured in 'Grinchmas Who-bilation' at Universal Studios Hollywood

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrities from the worlds of film, television and music will help Universal Studios Hollywood(SM) guests celebrate the holiday season—and encourage families to read together—with nightly readings of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" during the theme park's "Grinchmas™" celebration, from December 18 through January 2, 2011.

New celebrities to the roster include Jon Lovitz, star of the upcoming film, "Casino Jack" and proprietor of his namesake comedy club on CityWalk, "Jon Lovitz Comedy Club," Teri Polo, star of Universal Pictures' "Little Fockers," host of "Biggest Loser" and "Days of our Lives" star Allison Sweeney, and Dot-Marie Jones, who plays the role of Coach Beiste on "Glee."

Scheduled celebrity readings will take place twice nightly beginning at 4:40 p.m. and 7:25 p.m., just prior to the "Grinchmas" tree lighting and Who-ville "Who-bilation" ceremony as follows:  Brandy and Yvette Nicole Brown of "Community" on Dec. 18; actor Fred Willard and "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" band musical director, Rickey Minor on Dec. 19; Joey Lawrence and Tippi Hedren on Dec. 20; Bob Newhart and Latin recording artist, Luz Rios on Dec. 21; "Little Fockers" star Teri Polo and Corey Feldman on Dec. 22; "Biggest Loser" host Allison Sweeney and "Access Hollywood" reporter Maria Menounos on Dec. 23; Florence Henderson on Dec. 24; "The Nanny" star Benjamin Salisbury and "Dante's Peak" star Kirk Trutner on Dec. 25; "The Wonder Years" Fred Savage and "Modern Family" star Nolan Gould on Dec. 26; Jon Lovitz and Wayne Brady on Dec. 27; "Knott's Landing" star Donna Mills on Dec. 28; "Covert Affairs" star Christopher Gorham on Dec. 29; Alexandra Daddario of "White Collar" and "Glee" star Dot-Marie Jones on Dec. 30; KNBC's "Today in L.A." traffic and weather anchor Sean Murphy on Dec. 31; and "White Collar" star, Tiffani Thiessen on Jan. 2.

Recent readers included "True Blood" star Stephen Moyer, Jeffrey Tambor, who portrayed the Mayor of Whoville in the blockbuster film, "Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," star of the "The Breakfast Club," Molly Ringwald and "Glee" star Iqbal Theba.

"Grinchmas" will immerse guests in a festive holiday atmosphere.  A whimsical, curving "Grinchmas" tree will tower 60 feet above the center of a snow-covered "Grinchmas" winter wonderland and will be lit in a nightly tree-lighting ceremony that will feature a colorfully costumed "Whoville" choir caroling and spreading holiday cheer.  The Grinch and Max will be on hand to meet fans and take memorable holiday photos.  Families will also be able to enjoy traditional winter fun, romping together in a playground of snow and building their own snowmen.

"Grinchmas" will also provide fans of the blockbuster movie a close-up view of the original "Whoville" film sets, featured in the classic "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," aboard the world-famous behind-the-scenes Studio Tour.  As the tram rolls to a stop amid the fanciful "Whoville" buildings, guests will experience a one-of-a-kind performance by "Whoville's" residents re-enacting favorite scenes and songs from the film.  Aboard the Studio Tour, guests will also pay a visit to the Grinch's Lair, where they will find themselves on a quest to help the Grinch and Max the Dog return the stolen gifts to Whoville.  A new feature to this year's ""Grinchmas" event, the Grinch's Lair will send guests spiraling towards Mt. Crumpit, as they band together with the Grinch to restore "Grinchmas" to Whoville.

Guests who attend Universal Studios Hollywood's "Grinchmas" celebration will be able to purchase the "Buy a Day and get 2011 Free" annual pass, a tremendous value allowing them to visit Universal Studios Hollywood throughout the coming year. "Grinchmas" and the celebrity readings are included in the price of theme park admission.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of NBC Universal.  NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.  Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric (NYSE: GE), with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

About Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. The primary focus of the Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. is to protect the integrity of the Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into ancillary areas. This effort is a strategic part of the overall mission to nurture and protect the relationship consumers have with Dr. Seuss characters. Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said he never wanted to license his characters to anyone who would "round out the edges." That is one of the guiding philosophies of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Audrey S. Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, heads Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

SOURCE Universal Studios Hollywood