The Grinch and Max the Dog Present Fran Drescher With the "Who-Manitarian of the Year" Award as Universal Studios Hollywood Prepares to Ring in the 18 Days of "Grinchmas" With Tons of Real Snow, Celebrity Tree Lightings and Who-liday Cheer

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Grinch™ and Max the Dog heralded the arrival of Universal Studios Hollywood's(SM) festive "Grinchmas™" holiday celebration with the presentation of the "Who-Manitarian of the Year" award to actor, producer, writer and women's health advocate Fran Drescher. "Grinchmas" begins this weekend, Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, then continuing daily from December 17 to January 1, 2012.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111208/LA19903)

Fran Drescher, star of the hit television series, "Happily Divorced," is President and Founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring all women's cancers are diagnosed in Stage 1, when they are most curable. The Foundation also serves as a cancer awareness and educational platform, and advocates for improved women's cancer healthcare legislation.

The family-friendly "Grinchmas" celebration will ring in a jolly Who-liday season with The Grinch™, Max, tons of fresh snow and nightly celebrity readings of the Dr. Seuss classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." A whimsical, curving "Grinchmas" tree will tower 60 feet above the center of a snow-covered winter wonderland and will be lit in nightly ceremonies that will feature a colorfully costumed Who-ville choir caroling and spreading holiday cheer. The Grinch™ and Max will star with the Whos in these enchanting Who-bilation performances.

Prior to select "Who-bilations" and tree-lightings, celebrities from the worlds of film, television and music will take the stage to help Universal Studios Hollywood celebrate "Grinchmas" as they share their entertaining interpretations of the heart-warming tale of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Throughout "Grinchmas," The Grinch™, Max and the Who-ville Whos will be on hand to meet fans and take memorable holiday photos, while families gather to enjoy traditional winter fun, romping together in a playground of real snow, made fresh daily, and building their own Southern Californian snowmen.

"Grinchmas" will also provide fans of the blockbuster movie a close-up view of the original Who-ville film sets, featured in the "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie, aboard the world-famous behind-the-scenes Studio Tour. As the tram rolls to a stop amid the fanciful Who-ville buildings, guests will experience a one-of-a-kind performance by a Whos Who of Who-ville re-enacting favorite scenes and songs from the film.

"Grinchmas" is included in the price of theme park admission. More information, including updates on the "Grinchmas" celebrity readings, will be available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.

As families prepare for holiday gift giving, Universal Studios Hollywood's popular "Buy A Day, Get 2012 Free" annual pass offers tremendous value and visits throughout 2012 for the price of a single day's admission. Plus, guests who purchase the "Buy A Day, Get 2012 Free" will be able to experience Universal Studios Hollywood's new cutting-edge thrill-ride, "Transformers:  The Ride 3D," when it opens next Spring.

Now through December 31, the spirit of the holiday transforms Universal CityWalk®, as the new high-tech, outdoor concert arena, "5 Towers" comes alive with the sights and sounds of cheerful holiday music, choreographed in unison to hundreds of thousands of twinkling LED lights illuminating the venue.

Inspired by the vibrancy of the holiday season, the venue's five soaring 42 ft. light tower sculptures will mesmerize visitors as they alternate from pulsing snow white strobe lights and giant twirling red and white colored candy canes, to ice blue glowing light pillars and a flashing white snow fall. Nightly tree-lightings at the gigantic 40 ft. tall Christmas tree, glistening with 100,000 LED lights, will also treat visitors to a wildly over-the-top and completely captivating multimedia holiday light show. Visits from a rock 'n' roll Santa, along with free concert performances, DJ appearances and an eclectic array of talented street performers will make Universal CityWalk a must-see L.A. holiday destination. Admission to Universal CityWalk is free.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of the Universal Parks & Resorts division of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

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